Benefits of Blanching Kale Before Freezing
Kale is a great, leafy green vegetable that is high in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It’s a great source of fiber and can help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Though it is beneficial to keep kale in the freezer, blanching kale before freezing it can bring additional benefits. This article will explore the advantages of blanching kale before freezing.
What is Blanching?
Blanching is a process of quickly scorching food in boiling water or steam, whereby most enzymes in the food are inactivated. This helps preserve the nutritional qualities, color, taste and texture of the food being processed. As a result, blanching helps to prepare fresh vegetables for removing their skins, freezing, canning, and drying.
Nutritional Benefits
By blanching kale before freezing, the action of enzymes is stopped, allowing the nutritional value of not only kale but other vegetables to be preserved. The high nutritive value of these vegetables helps build stronger bones, ward off infection, fuel the body, and has even been shown to reduce the risk of cancer. Nutritious vegetables like kale can be kept in the freezer for longer periods of time, so blanching them before storing is a great way to ensure they maintain their optimal health benefits.
Preserving Quality
Blanching helps preserve the taste, texture, and color of kale. Kale that has been blanched will have a better cooked texture when reconstituted than kale that has not been blanched. Additionally, blanching ensures that most of the bitter-tasting compounds that occur naturally in kale are destroyed, which results in a milder-tasting vegetable.
Efficiency
By taking the time to blanch kale before freezing, you can save time and effort when it comes time to cook it. Kale that has been blanched is much easier to cook from frozen. You can even cook it by steaming it directly from frozen if you don’t have access to a stove. Additionally, if you blanch kale and freeze it without packaging it, you can simply remove what you need, when you need it, from the freezer.
Preparation for Blanching Kale
Before you blanch kale before freezing, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, you should be sure to wash fresh kale with cold water to remove any dirt and bacteria. Once the kale is washed, you need to select the pieces of kale that are the most uniform size. This will allow for even blanching.
Quick Blanching Method
The quick blanching method is commonly used when blanching kale before freezing. This requires submerging the kale in boiling water or steam for a few minutes. The exact time can depend on the size of the pieces, but usually between one to three minutes is sufficient.
Once the kale has been blanched, you should rinse it off with cold water or an ice bath to stop the cooking process and preserve the vegetable’s flavor and texture. Then, you can spread the kale out on a paper towel or drying cloth and pat dry.
Freezing Method
Once the kale has been dried off, you can package it for freezing. Depending on your preferences, you might choose to freeze it in bags or air-tight containers. When freezing, be sure to remove as much air as possible. This will help preserve the kale for longer periods of time.
Uses for Blanched and Frozen Kale
Frozen, blanched kale can be used in a variety of dishes. It can be added to soups, stews, casseroles, stir fries, salads, smoothies, and much more. Additionally, blanched kale can be cooked from frozen by steaming, microwaving, or even pan-frying.
Stir-Fries
Kale can be used to make a delicious stir-fry. This dish can be made with any type of vegetable, meat, seafood, or tofu. It’s a great way to get your daily intake of vegetables. To cook, add some oil to a hot pan and add the prepared kale. Let it cook for a few minutes, then add the remaining ingredients and cook until everything is fully cooked.
Smoothies
Blanched kale can be added to smoothies for a boost of nutrition. This is a great way to get a serving of vegetables without having to eat them. To make a kale smoothie, simply blend together a few of your favorite fruits, yogurt, and blanched kale.
Casseroles
Casseroles are a great way to use frozen, blanched kale. This dish is perfect for packing in lots of vegetables and flavors. To make a kale casserole, start by sautéing some onion and garlic in oil. Then, add the blanched kale, a few of your favorite vegetables, and a few spices. Finally, top with a layer of cheese and bake for 25 minutes.
Health Benefits of Blanching Kale Before Freezing
Blanching kale before freezing helps preserve the nutritional value, taste, texture, and color of the vegetable. Additionally, blanching helps preserve the amount of vitamins and minerals in kale, which can help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Furthermore, blanching helps to make the kale easier to cook from frozen, thus saving time and effort.
Preserving Nutrients
The process of blanching helps preserve the nutritional value of kale. It helps to reduce the amount of enzymes that can break down vitamins and minerals. This helps to preserve the amount of these important nutrients in the kale, which can be beneficial to overall health. Studies have shown that increasing your intake of vegetables like kale can help reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.
Preserving Color and Texture
Blanching also helps to preserve the color and texture of kale. Kale that has been blanched will have a better cooked texture when reconstituted than kale that has not been blanched. Additionally, blanching helps preserve the bright green color of kale, which helps to make it more appeasing to eat.
Helps Remove Bitterness
Blanching also helps remove some of the natural bitterness that exists in kale. By removing some of the bitterness, kale can become more palatable and enjoyable to eat.
Summary and Conclusion
Overall, blanching kale before freezing can provide many benefits that can help improve the health and quality of the vegetable. It helps preserve the nutritional value, color, texture, and flavor of kale, making it more enjoyable to eat. Additionally, blanching helps to make it easier to cook kale from frozen, saving time and effort. For all of these reasons, blanching kale before freezing is a great way to ensure it preserves its optimal health benefits.
