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Mastering How To Preserve Kale has never been easier! With this simple step-by-step guide, you’ll learn freezing and dehydrating methods — expert tips included for maximum nutrition retention!

Preserving Guide: How To Preserve Kale
Kale is one of the most nutritious leafy greens available, packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support overall health. Not to mention, they help make a mean salad!
However, fresh kale has a relatively short shelf life and can quickly turn from crisp superfood to wilted waste in your refrigerator.
Learning how to preserve kale properly not only saves money and reduces food waste but ensures you always have this nutritional veggie ready for smoothies, soups, and more!
Table of Contents

When To Harvest Kale
You should harvest your kale when the leaves are about the size of your hand.
How To Store Kale
Store fresh kale in the refrigerator.
Dehydrating Kale
- CUT: Select young, tender leaves. Wash. Cut large leaves crosswise into several pieces.
- DIPPING: Water or steam blanch until wilted
- DEHYDRATOR: 10-16 hours
- APPEARANCE WHEN DRY: brittle
Canning Kale
Canning kale is not recommended!

Freezing Kale
PREPARING KALE
- Select young, tender green leaves.
- Wash thoroughly and cut off woody stems.
FREEZING KALE
- Water blanch greens 2 minutes.
- Cool, drain and package, leaving 1/2-inch headspace.
- Seal and freeze.
🍎🫙 Get a free Preserving Guide for all the details to dehydrate, can, and freeze 42 fruits and vegetables — get the FREE GUIDE here!
Expert Tips
- Storage Time: Fresh kale typically lasts 5-7 days in the refrigerator, while properly preserved kale can last 8-12 months when frozen and 1-2 years when dehydrated.
- Preserved Vitamins: Preserved kale retains most of its nutritional benefits, though some vitamin C may be lost during processing. Blanching before freezing actually helps preserve nutrients better than freezing raw kale. Dehydrated kale concentrates many nutrients, making it even more nutrient-dense per serving than fresh kale!
- Preserving for Smoothies: For smoothies, wash and chop fresh kale, then freeze it in portion-sized bags or ice cube trays. This method preserves the nutritional content while making it easy to add the perfect amount to your morning smoothie without any bitter taste from wilted leaves!
More Tips For Preserving The Harvest
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