Different Uses For Kale - How To Use Kale Plants Post Harvest

What can I do with kale from my garden?

Here are a few ideas:

Toss it with Pasta. Kale and pasta go together beautifully. ...
Serve it in a Salad. Chop it up and toss it in with other salad veggies. ...
Add Kale to Scrambled Eggs. I don't have a photo of this, but I've made it for my lunch a few times. ...
Make Kale Chips. ...
Easy Kale Skillet Side Dish.

How do you keep kale fresh after harvesting?

To store freshly picked kale, wash all of the leaves and then blot them dry with a cloth. Store the whole leaves intact by placing them in a resealable plastic bag along with a paper towel so that the leaves don't get soggy or slimy.

Does Kale regrow after cutting?

If you harvest kale correctly, the plant will continue to grow and produce leaves. ... If you cut the plant off at the top or harvest the smaller leaves growing in the center, it is very likely that you will kill the plant. You need to leave that center area at the top of the stem for the plant to keep on producing.

How long do kale plants last?

So How Long Does a Kale Plant Live? Normally Kale is biennial, so it will only live for two years. But there are Kale variants, that can live more than two years like Tree Kale for example.

What is the best way to eat kale?

Often labeled as a superfood, kale is one of the healthiest and most nutrient-dense foods you can eat. This leafy green comes in a variety of colors, shapes, and textures. It's often eaten raw in salads and smoothies but can also be enjoyed steamed, sautéed, boiled, or baked.

How do you get the bitterness out of kale?

See, much like raw broccoli or sweet potato, raw kale can be bitter and too chewy. Heat (and massaging) tenderises the kale's tough fibres and reduces bitterness, and when sautéed with flavourful ingredients, the kale takes on the delicious flavours.

Can you freeze kale raw?

You can freeze kale without blanching, but plan to use it within four to six weeks. ... For frozen kale that lasts eight to 12 months, blanch leaves and stems. Blanch leaves for 2.5 minutes, covering the boiling water pot with a lid to steam-heat floating leaves. Blanch stems for 3 minutes.

What can I do with too much kale?

10 Ways to Love Kale Mor More

Massage it in a salad. ...
Make kale chips. ...
Pair it with nuts. ...
Try dinosaur kale. ...
Throw it in the soup. ...
Make it the green in “a grain, a green, and a bean.” ...
Put kale in a burger. ...
Put it in a green smoothie.

How do you keep Kale crispy?

How do you keep baked kale chips crispy? To keep kale leaves crispy, they must be thoroughly baked to remove all moisture and cooled to room temperature before storing. Store the chips in an airtight container at room temperature up to 5 days, or more, depending on the humidity in your house.

Does Kale come back every year?

Kale is a biennial that many people grow as an annual, advises Cornell University. Some varieties of kale are perennial plants that come back year after year.

How do you pick kale so it keeps growing?

How to Harvest Kale

Kale is ready to harvest when the leaves are about the size of your hand.
Pick about one fistful of leaves per harvest. ...
Avoid picking the terminal bud (found at the top center of the plant) because this will help to keep the plant productive.
Kale will continue growing until it's 20°F.

Should I cut the flowers off kale?

You can eat the stems or discard them—it's up to you. If you cook the kale, the stems will become more tender. ... When the weather warms, your kale plants will send up flower stalks and produce pretty yellow flowers. The plants become ornamental in the garden, and you can cut the flowers for arrangements.

What can you not plant with kale?

Kale (Brassica oleracea) is a leafy green vegetable and member of the cabbage family. Varieties include lacinato, red Russian, and dinosaur kale. Avoid planting kale with other brassicas (like broccoli, kohlrabi, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and Swiss chard), as they can fall prey to the same pests and diseases.

Why is my kale plant turning yellow?

Several types of pathogens can cause the leaves of your kale plants to turn yellow and thin out. While factors such as nutritional deficiencies and fungal infections can produce these symptoms, yellowing leaves on kale are usually due to bacteria.

Which is healthier spinach or kale?

The Bottom Line. Kale and spinach are highly nutritious and and associated with several benefits. While kale offers more than twice the amount of vitamin C as spinach, spinach provides more folate and vitamins A and K. Both are linked to improved heart health, increased weight loss, and protection against disease.

Do you eat the stem of kale?

First things first: Kale and collard stems are tough, chewy, and fibrous. While we enjoy the occasional raw collard or kale salad, you should never eat the stems raw. ... Otherwise, the exteriors will burn before the stems have cooked through, making them both bitter and too tough to chew.

How often should I eat kale?

Kale is a warrior that fights against heart disease, cancer, inflammation and toxins. To make the most of all it has to offer, chow down on 1 1/2 cups a few times a week. At 33 calories a cup, that is a really strong nutritional investment.

What seasoning is good on kale?

What Are Some Of The Best Kale Spices?

Garlic. With its pungent earthy notes and strong nuttiness, garlic adds an intense umami kick to kale. ...
Lemon. Strongly flavored greens are often better with sources of acid, which is why collard greens are traditionally served with vinegar. ...
Red pepper flakes. ...
Black pepper. ...
Extra virgin olive oil. ...
Mustard.

What does kale do to your poop?

Kale is more than a food trend, it's also one of nature's best natural laxatives. Dark leafy greens like kale, collards, Swiss chard, and spinach contain magnesium, a mineral that helps soften stools, making them easier to pass.

Why does kale taste so bad?

A diet that is too high in sweet, sugary foods will make foods like kale taste unappetizing. Eliminating all the sugary stuff trains the taste buds to appreciate kale and other strongly flavored greens. Another reason why kale might taste bad is because it's been improperly prepared.