Can You Freeze Chard – How To Freeze Chard In Simple Steps?

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Can You Freeze Chard: Whether you want to use it in a salad or stews, soups, frittatas, casseroles, and quiches, swiss chard is an allrounder green that can be both eaten raw or cooked.

This vegetable is available only during the summer season, therefore, buying this in bulk freezing makes it available to use around the year.

Unlike other greens, it is a hardy one that rules out the possibility of wilting after thawing. However, it must be prepared before freezing. Read on to learn more about how to freeze swiss chard and defrost and use them.

Can You Freeze Chard

Can You Freeze Chard?

Yes, chard can be frozen without the fear of it getting wilted when thawed, like other greens. One must either blanch swiss chard or flash freeze them to keep the freshness and crunch for a more extended period.

How To Prepare Chard Before Freezing?

To freeze it well swiss chard needs to be prepared well before freezing. To do that follow the steps given below:

  • Begin by picking the greenest leaves and stalks of swiss chard.
  • Run the chard under flowing water and make sure to remove any debris or dirt you can find.
  • Chop the base of the chard stems with a knife.
  • Separate leaves from stems while cutting as it is great to freeze them separately.

How To Freeze Chard?

There are two methods of freezing swiss chard. You can either blanch them and freeze them or flash freeze them. Both methods are given below.

Blanching

To blanch the swiss chard, begin by following the given steps.

  • Boil a pot of water.
  • Keep ice water in a bowl nearby.
  • Keep the prepared swiss chard in a colander.
  • Put the colander into the boiling water.
  • Let the swiss chard blanch for half a minute or until its color changes to a bright green.
  • Plunge the greens into ice water and stop the process of cooking.
  • Shake the extra water off the swiss chard and pat them dry with a kitchen or paper towel.
  • Prepare two freezer-safe bags to store the swiss chard- one for the leaves, and another for the stems.
  • Place the swiss chards into freezer-safe bags, squeeze out extra air, label them, and store them in the freezer.

Flash Freezing

Flash freezing is another method that can be used to freeze swiss chard. Follow the given steps to flash freeze:

  • Pour ice water into a large bowl. The water should be extremely cold, almost close to freezing.
  • Plunge the Swiss chard into ice water. Let the Swiss chard sit in the ice water for 15 minutes.
  • Drain the Swiss chard.
  • Pat the leaves and stalks dry with a kitchen towel or paper towel.
  • Separate the leaves from the stem.
  • Lay the leaves and stems on a baking pan lined with wax paper.
  • Place the baking pan into the freezer for at least one hour.
  • After an hour pack the leaves and stems separately in two different freezer-safe bags.
  • Label the bags after sealing them well and place them in the freezer.

To get deeper insights into the Flash Freezing Food check out our other articles and know how the entire process works.

Does Chard Freeze Well?

Yes, you will be surprised to experience how well the greens freeze. Proper preparation such as blanching or flash freezing is the key to freezing the greens successfully.

However, it would help if you took care not to cook the greens during blanching because that will lead the greens to turn into mush. Thereafter store them properly in freezer-safe bags to preserve the flavor and texture.

How Long Does The Frozen Chard Last?

Frozen swiss chard keeps for at least 6 months when kept in the freezer. If the temperature of the freezer is maintained steadily at zero degrees Fahrenheit, the chards are going to last for a year.

However, it is best to use the chard within a month to enjoy the freshness, texture, and flavor.

Tips To Freeze Chard

You should keep in mind a few things before and during freezing the swiss chard. They are

  • Take care not to blanch the swiss chard for more than 30 seconds during blanching and plunge it into ice-cold water immediately. This will ensure that your swiss chards do not turn into mush and their texture and flavors will be retained.
  • During flash-freezing make it a point to freeze the chard on a baking tray and place them separately from each other. This will ensure that the greens do not clump together while freezing.
  • Pack and store the stems and leaves separately to ensure that all of them freeze well and you can use them the way you need after defrosting.

Read More: Can You Freeze Swiss Chard

How To Thaw Frozen Chard?

Defrosting the swiss chards must be done slowly to prevent the texture and flavor from degrading. Microwaving the frozen greens is a big no-no. Take out a pack of frozen chard from the freezer and keep it in the fridge overnight to defrost.

However, if you wish to use the swiss chard in stews, soups, stir-fries, or any such cooked item, you can skip the defrosting part completely. Put the frozen chard directly into the cooking pan and let the heat thaw them out.

How To Use Defrosted Chard?

Defrosted swiss chard can be used in multiple ways. Here are a few ways to use them.

  • Salad: Raw swiss chard can be used with other salad greens.
  • Stir Fry: Add frozen swiss chard to the stir-fries of your choice.
  • Soups and Stews: Frozen swiss chard can be used in any soup or stew just like how you use any greens.
  • Saute: Heat some olive oil and add garlic to it. Add frozen Swiss chard and saute it. Sprinkle black pepper and squeeze some lemon juice onto it before serving. You can also saute swiss chard in chili-flavored oil and sprinkle sesame seeds over it before serving.
  • Omelets and Frittatas: Chopped swiss chards are an interesting addition to any omelet or frittata.
  • Wrap: Swiss chard can be used as a wrap just like a tortilla wrap. You can add fillings of your choice and they can range from shrimp to ground beef with vegetables or beets or carrots with hummus.

Do Refer:

FAQ On Can You Freeze Chard

1. How long does the chard remain fit for use after freezing?

Chard can stay for up to six months when stored in the freezer. Post that the texture and taste start to degrade.

2. Can Chard Be eaten raw after thawing?

Yes, you can eat the swiss chard raw after defrosting them in the freezer. You can add them to salads along with other greens.

3. Is flash freezing necessary for freezing chard?

Yes, flash freezing is absolutely necessary by putting the chard on a baking sheet and popping it in the freezer. If you miss this step you ruin the chances of keeping swiss chard fresh when frozen.

Bottom Line

Swiss chard is a healthy vegetable packed with vitamins K and A and antioxidants. We hope that the above information about freezing them is of use. Do comment below if you have any further questions and we will get back to you.

Follow our website to learn more about freezing and blanching vegetables and ways to use them.

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