Curly Kale

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Curly Kale
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Nell Merionwen

Joined: 02 Jun 2008
Posts: 16300
Location: Beautiful Derbyshire

Posted: Sat Dec 01, 12 4:18 pm Post subject: Curly Kale
can you just bung it in the freezer or does it require blanching first?

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4656
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Sat Dec 01, 12 4:21 pm Post subject:
I have bunged, but it gets brittle so you can end up with kale mush at the end if you're not careful. Blanching also lets you pack more in

Nell Merionwen

Joined: 02 Jun 2008
Posts: 16300
Location: Beautiful Derbyshire

Posted: Sat Dec 01, 12 4:25 pm Post subject:

NorthernMonkeyGirl wrote:

I have bunged, but it gets brittle so you can end up with kale mush at the end if you're not careful. Blanching also lets you pack more in

It will be made into soup and blended so mush isn't a problem.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Sat Dec 01, 12 4:44 pm Post subject:

Nell Merionwen wrote:

NorthernMonkeyGirl wrote:

I have bunged, but it gets brittle so you can end up with kale mush at the end if you're not careful. Blanching also lets you pack more in

It will be made into soup and blended so mush isn't a problem.

Then, no, it doesn't need blanching.

Nell Merionwen

Joined: 02 Jun 2008
Posts: 16300
Location: Beautiful Derbyshire

Posted: Sat Dec 01, 12 4:46 pm Post subject:

Nick wrote:

Nell Merionwen wrote:

NorthernMonkeyGirl wrote:

I have bunged, but it gets brittle so you can end up with kale mush at the end if you're not careful. Blanching also lets you pack more in

It will be made into soup and blended so mush isn't a problem.

Then, no, it doesn't need blanching.

I can handle mush as long as it doesn't go slimy.

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4656
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Sat Dec 01, 12 7:30 pm Post subject:
For slimy you'll want pre-frozen spinach in a bag from the supermarket. Ick.

wildfoodie

Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 2169

Posted: Sun Dec 02, 12 7:28 pm Post subject:
It's a good idea to blanch all greens otherwise they'll continue to decay ( albeit at a slower rate) I once packed a container of unblanched fat hen for the feezer, 3 months later I took it out thawed it and lifted the lid...there was a sort of silage smell....

oldish chris

Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Posts: 4148
Location: Comfortably Wet Southport

Posted: Mon Dec 03, 12 9:32 am Post subject:
I can't see the need to preserve kale. I leave my kale leaves on the plant, all winter. In mid-winter there is a bit of a problem is that when the recently picked leaves start to thaw out in the kitchen, the whitefly come to life and fly around the place. I grow "Pentland Brig", the advantage being that when the plant starts to flower in early spring, the flower shoots can be eaten like broccoli.

wildfoodie

Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 2169

Posted: Mon Dec 03, 12 11:56 am Post subject:

Quote:

I leave my kale leaves on the plant, all winter.

where they're still attached to the plant and therefore alive, despite possible appearances to the contrary.
when you pick leaves you cut them off from their life support system - it should be obvious that they will eventually die.
I agree that leaving very hardy plants in situ till they're needed is by far the best way to keep them.
Kale is clearly a lot more robust than fat hen, so perhaps its not so critical. But I'd still blanch first.

VM

Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 1748
Location: Lincolnshire

Posted: Mon Dec 03, 12 12:44 pm Post subject:
Ditto re keeping in situ in garden/allotment. W've also kept less hardy ones, like Cavolo Nero, going for a long time over winter in the polytunnel. But we are in the middle of Manchester so probably warmer than some places.

Nell Merionwen

Joined: 02 Jun 2008
Posts: 16300
Location: Beautiful Derbyshire

Posted: Mon Dec 03, 12 12:47 pm Post subject:
Unfortunately I don't think my veg box scheme will be best pleased if I ask them to keep my veg attached to the plant while we graze at will.

wildfoodie

Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 2169

Posted: Mon Dec 03, 12 12:50 pm Post subject:

agree cavalo nero - I had one plant for nearly 2 years - was waiting to see if it would keel over and die - it didn't and I got bored waiting so grubbed it up. It's very hardy, and you can stimulate new growth by removing all the leaves except the growing tip, feediing generously then waiting. Not sure if this technique will work all year round, I tried in early spring. it probably would have leafed up anyway.

wildfoodie

Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 2169

Posted: Mon Dec 03, 12 1:11 pm Post subject:
you could try making Kim Chi - korean speciality - supposed to have great health benefits and a good keeper. https://www.chow.com/recipes/29505-basic-napa-cabbage-kimchi-kimchee

nats

Joined: 12 Jun 2007
Posts: 2374
Location: Swindon but not a Swindonian

Posted: Mon Dec 03, 12 1:56 pm Post subject:
Kale - yeough Frozen spinich? Useful for hiding veg in things!

oldish chris

Joined: 14 Jun 2006
Posts: 4148
Location: Comfortably Wet Southport

Posted: Mon Dec 03, 12 2:08 pm Post subject:

Nell Merionwen wrote:

Unfortunately I don't think my veg box scheme will be best pleased if I ask them to keep my veg attached to the plant while we graze at will.

one of those strange thoughts flashed through my pea-sized: could they put the whole plant in the veg-box (bit like sprouts on a stem)? You could then put the stem in water, left out in the cold.

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