3 Ways to Freeze Swiss Chard

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2024 Author: Samantha Chapman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 09:13

Swiss chard is a very nutritious leafy vegetable. It can be used raw in salads, or cooked like spinach or kale. If you have a lot of chard and don't want to waste them, you can store them by blanching and freezing them for up to a year.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Preparing The Chard

Step 1. Rinse the chard

You can mix different varieties of chard, for example green or white. Freeze chard 6 hours after harvesting to preserve its nutrients.

If you are harvesting chard from your garden, do it in the morning and cut at the base of the stem for best results

Step 2. Cut the thick stems off the leaves

Set the stems aside to prepare and freeze them separately.

Step 3. Slice the chard

Cut according to your preparation preferences.

Put a ribbon around the leaves vertically. Cut strips about 2.5 cm horizontally.
Slice the leaves like spinach. Place the leaves on top of each other and cut them twice vertically. Group them again and cut them 3 to 6 times horizontally, depending on the size of the leaves.
Cut them in halves or quarters if you prefer larger leaves.

Method 2 of 3: Blanch the Chard

Step 1. Prepare a large pot of water for boiling

Use a very large saucepan rather than a frying pan to have enough space.

Blanching stops the production of enzymes. It prevents plants from ripening for several days, or even weeks. It is recommended that you preserve the nutritional content of all leafy vegetables if you cannot consume them within a few days

Step 2. Fill a large bowl with cold water

Add 2 to 3 cups of ice cubes and place the bowl near the stove.

Step 3. Bring the water to a boil

Add the chard leaves to the water. If you have more than 4 cups of chard to boil, do it in several rounds.

Step 4. Set the timer for 2 minutes

Remove the leaves with a slotted spoon after 2 minutes. Put the chard directly into the bowl with ice water.

Step 5. Remove the chard from the bowl after 2 minutes

Spin it in a salad spinner. Dab it with absorbent paper to remove excess moisture.

Step 6. Repeat with the other blocks as needed

Cut the stems into 2.5cm ribs, and blanch for 3 minutes. Then, put them in ice water for 3 minutes before drying them in the colander.

Method 3 of 3: Storing Chard

Step 1. Spread out all the leaves on kitchen paper

Step 2. Divide the leaves into portions

You can weigh them on a scale, or divide them into portions in small cups.

Step 3. Squeeze the portions together to pack them tighter

In this way, you will also remove excess water.

Step 4. Place the chard in freezer bags, leaving only 5cm of space between the top of the package

You can also use freezer containers. Close the cap tightly.

Step 5. Separate the stems into portions

Thanks to their fragrance, the stalks can be stir-fried with onions or celery. Place the stems in freezer bags.

Step 6. Label each container with the freezing date

Use within 10-12 months.

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