How To Store Kale To Keep It Fresh

Kale is a power vegetable (also called a superfood) that has become trendier thanks to viral recipes like Kale Caesar Salad, but this leafy green is one of the most versatile vegetables. Because it's packed with nutrients, keeping kale fresher, longer, should be at the top of everyone's to-do lists.

When it comes to prolonging the life of your kale, it's smart to understand the best ways to store it. Kale can be refrigerated, frozen, and dried. Fresh kale can be enjoyed hot in casseroles or cold in salads, frozen kale is a delicious addition to smoothies or pesto and dried kale makes a hearty snack or recipe topper.

If you think you know how to store kale properly, it may surprise you to learn this versatile leafy green can sometimes be difficult to store.

What Is Kale?

Kale is a leafy cabbage that can be green or purple in color with flat or dimpled leaves, with the most common type of kale being dark green. It can be enjoyed year-round thanks to hearty leaves that grow well in both hot and cold temperatures, and is packed with nutrients including calcium, iron, vitamins A and C, fiber, and protein.

A cruciferous vegetable (genus Brassica), kale is most closely related to cabbage, but others include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and chard.  Unlike other leafy greens (think spinach and collard greens) that shrink when cooked, kale maintains its shape and can be baked or sautéed, as well as enjoyed cold.

While there are many different types of kale, common varieties include: curly kale, dinosaur kale, red kale, and baby kale.

How To Pick The Best Bunch Of Kale

Extending the shelf life of kale at home starts with picking the freshest bunch of kale at the farmers' market or grocery store:

• Look at their color. When picking kale, looking at both the stalks and the leaves is important. The stalks should look green and hearty and leaves should be small to medium in size. Any kale that shows yellowing or discoloration of stalks should be avoided. 
• Make sure they're firm. Kale leaves should be firm. If leaves look wilted, or wet and mushy, the kale has gone bad.
• Keep them dry. The key to keeping kale fresher, longer, is keeping the vegetable dry.

3 Ways To Store Kale

Keeping kale fresh helps to maintain all the nutrients and flavors of this superfood. Kale can be stored in three ways: fresh, frozen, and dried.

Refrigerate Kale

Refrigerating kale is a great way to have it at-the-ready for any number of recipes. Before placing it in the refrigerator, make sure all leaves are dry. Keeping the kale dry helps to ensure the leaves don’t begin to wilt and turn mushy and fresh kale should not be washed until you plan to use it. When dry, wrap the kale in a paper towel before placing it inside a plastic storage bag. Keep kale in the crisper of your refrigerator away from ethylene-producing produce for the longest shelf life (7 to 10 days).

Freeze Kale

Farmers market hauls often result in more kale than can be enjoyed before it goes bad. Thankfully, this superfood can be easily frozen with a few simple steps. Like other vegetables, kale needs to be blanched before freezing, which can be done by properly cleaning (removing the leaves from stalks) and quick-boiling the kale. When the leaves are removed from the boiling water, place them in ice water before drying thoroughly. When the leaves are dry, place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and allow to freeze solid. Once frozen, place them in an airtight storage container. Frozen kale lasts six to eight months in the freezer.

Dry Kale

While dried kale cannot be enjoyed the same way as fresh kale, it’s equally delicious and makes a great recipe addition or snack. Drying kale is a good option for an abundance of produce and can be done in an oven or dehydrator. If using the oven, set the temperature at the lowest possible setting and place cleaned kale leaves on a baking sheet. Cook the kale until dry and crispy, checking periodically to make sure the kale leaves are not burning.

Favorite Kale Recipes

Chopped Kale Salad with Toasted Breadcrumbs

Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake Recipe