For those who’re a chard lover you’ll undoubtedly wish to put “freezing swiss chard” in your fall to do checklist!  

There’s little question about it, chard is likely one of the most colourful greens you’ll develop in your backyard. It is available in a rainbow of hues that aren’t discovered in lots of different greens – reds, pinks, oranges, yellows, and even the stripes of the Peppermint Stick selection.

And since chard is extremely straightforward to develop, you a lot end up with greater than you may presumably eat recent. After you drop off a number of bundles to favourite neighbors and associates, it’s time to start out turning your consideration to preserving some for the deep darkish winter.

For those who’ve already perused my article on tips on how to shortly freeze kale, the tactic for freezing swiss chard will probably be very acquainted.

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You can begin freezing swiss chard at any level throughout the rising season. You possibly can freeze small leaves, large leaves…any sized leaves you’d like! I like to attend till the leaves are full measurement (or greater! Try the above picture of one among my monstrous leaves.) as a result of then I would like much less leaves to replenish a quart measurement freezer bag.

One other vital observe that may blow your thoughts: you may be happy to combine kale, collards, chard and beet greens all in the identical freezer baggage. The tactic of preserving them is identical, so it’s completely wonderful (and sometimes handy) to mix them.

I personally use them interchangeably and I favor once they’re combined collectively so I get a wide range of textures and vitamins. And truthfully, as soon as they’re cooked in a dish it’s very troublesome to inform them aside.

Instructions for Simply Freezing Swiss Chard

It’s true – you may freeze chard uncooked! I used to steam it first, however after a tip from a buddy, I began freezing it uncooked.

I couldn’t actually inform the distinction between the 2 strategies. So, after all, I opted for the trail that will get the chard into the freezer faster.

There actually is such a factor as straightforward meals preserving!

Step 1: Harvest

You’ll be shocked how a lot chard you may match right into a quart freezer bag if you’re actually packing it in. So, attempt to harvest as a lot as doable out of your vegetation.

Be certain that there are nonetheless a number of leaves left on every plant so it could possibly photosynthesize and continue to grow. If it’s spring or summer time there will probably be loads of time for the plant to provide extra leaves.

If it’s fall, plant development can have slowed down significantly and new leaves gained’t develop again as shortly. They may not develop in any respect in case you stay in a northern local weather and it’s near winter. So, think about how a lot chard you’d wish to hold within the backyard for recent harvesting.

For those who even have kale, collards, or beet greens, think about including these to the harvest to bulk it up.

Use a pair of clippers or scissors to chop the stem close to the place it emerges from the bottom.

Step 2: Chop

You possibly can freeze the chard stems and leaves collectively in the identical container, or hold them separate in case you favor. Minimize the stem off the place it meets the leaf. Stack a number of leaves on prime of each other after which chop them into chew measurement items.

Then use your knife to cut the stems into small items.

Step 3: Wash

For those who are inclined to have worms and bugs in your chard (I do!) you may wish to wash the leaves and stems earlier than processing.

Dry it in a salad spinner after washing.

Step 4: Dry

For those who rinsed your chard, attempt to dry the leaves off a bit earlier than freezing. This may lower down on the ice crystals that type because of moisture.

Use a towel to pat them dry, or give them a number of turns by your salad spinner when you have one. (I’ve had this one for a few years and use it a number of occasions per week.)

Step 5: Load into containers

On this step you may have a alternative on the way you need the completed product to perform.

For those who don’t thoughts the chard leaves and stems freezing into one large chunk, merely pack them as densely as doable into freezer baggage. That is what I do.

For those who’d just like the leaves and stems to be free and simply damaged aside, unfold them on a cookie sheet and pre-freeze them within the freezer for 60 minutes. Then pack into freezer baggage.

I don’t discover this to be a crucial step as a result of even if you freeze the chard in a block it’s fairly straightforward to interrupt off a bit.

You may strive a number of baggage with every of the 2 strategies and determine which you want higher.

See under for notes about different containers to make use of.

Step 6: Retailer

The very best place to retailer your frozen swiss chard is in a chest freezer. For those who’re getting critical about straightforward meals preserving you’ll wish to put money into one.

The freezer contained in your kitchen fridge (upright freezer) goes by periodic defrost cycles, which is why your ice cream is a bit smooth typically if you dig it out for a late night time snack.

A chest freezer stays at a continuing temperature of zero levels F. That is higher for lengthy lasting frozen meals high quality.

If you freeze your chard it can last as long as one 12 months. I guess you’ll use all of it earlier than then!

Containers for Freezer Storage

We’re making an attempt to scale back our total plastic use in our home. For a lot of of my frozen meals objects I take advantage of vast mouth glass quart, pint and half pint glass canning jars.

Chard and different greens are troublesome to take away from these jars, so I’ve defaulted to utilizing freezer baggage as a substitute.

I attempt to take care of my baggage so that they final a number of seasons in a row after which they’re typically downgraded to carry different random family objects. However, they nonetheless do put on out and have to be thrown away.

If in case you have the funds, or plan to simply freeze small quantities of meals, you possibly can put money into Stasher baggage (or another reusable silicone based mostly bag).

You can too use plastic tupperware kind containers for freezing greens.

See all of my really useful backyard instruments, books, seeds, and simple preserving provides in my Amazon storefront.

How A lot Chard to Freeze

I discover {that a} quart-sized quantity of frozen swiss chard is one or two servings relying on how I’m utilizing it in a recipe.

That’s why it’s so handy to make use of the quart freezer baggage, regardless that I’m not loopy concerning the plastic. 

I like to recommend preserving a file of how a lot meals you’re preserving every year so you may consider whether or not you’re placing away an excessive amount of, not sufficient, or precisely how a lot you want.

It’s greatest to attempt to eat your frozen chard and different greens inside one 12 months.

I checked my information and I often freeze 15 quart baggage of combined greens (kale, chard, collards, and beet greens) for winter and have a tendency to make use of them up by the start of the harvest season the following spring.

Upon getting recent greens popping out of your backyard you’re not going to wish to dig out these frozen baggage!

Concepts for Utilizing Frozen Chard

I like to make use of frozen chard in smoothies, soups, stews, and stir-fries all through the darkish winter months. I merely take out a freezer bag and use the entire chunk, or lower off what I would like with a knife.

I don’t often defrost it first. I throw it in frozen.

Frozen greens by no means have the identical consistency as their uncooked counterparts, so frozen chard is greatest utilized in cooked dishes.

In any recipe that requires frozen spinach, I substitute frozen chard or different greens as a substitute.

Favourite Recipes for Utilizing Frozen Chard

Studying tips on how to protect your additional greens is just one a part of the equation. Upon getting that down you can begin looking for recipes that spotlight the greens you’ve put away. That’s the enjoyable half!

Listed below are a few of my favourite recipes I’ve found through the years which might be an incredible complement to frozen chard.

Curried Coconut Quinoa and Greens with Roasted Cauliflower from Cookie and Kate

Rainbow Chard Bowls from Love and Lemons

Finest Vegetarian Lasagna from Love and Lemons

White Chard Stew from 101 Cookbooks

Having your individual tasty greens from the backyard simply accessible in your freezer will encourage you to include them into a number of tasty winter meals. And in case you’re making an attempt to eat extra wholesome meals, darkish leafy greens are all the time on the prime of the lists of essentially the most nutrient wealthy greens.

So, seize some clippers, your harvest basket, and spend a while harvesting and freezing swiss chard this week.

Learn extra about freezing greens:

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