Kale yeah! Kale has certainly been elevated to celebrity status in the last decade, far from its days of blessing the Pizza Hut salad bar. Kale today has punny merchandising, is used in flower arrangements, and people are even making chips with these luscious leaves! True fans of this leafy green know that it is extremely nutrient-dense and delicious, and there are many different varietals to try, from the wrinkly ‘dinosaur’ ‘Lacinato’ kale to beautiful purple-red ‘Russian’ varieties.
Kale Farmers in Michigan
Kale is readily available throughout Michigan! Find farms growing kale by zip code or growing practices using our Find Food and Farms Directory.
How Kale is Harvested
Kale leaves are harvested off of the central stem, so if you walk into a field of kale, you may giggle seeing what looks like a kale ‘tree’! The kale plant will continue to grow, and actually does well in low temperatures, making it available in Michigan’s cool climates well into the fall, and extending into winter with hoop house growing.
How to Freeze Kale
It’s a snap to freeze kale for use up to six months later! To freeze kale, you’ll first want to blanch it. Blanching is a process in which a vegetable is cooked by quickly boiling it for a minute or two, and then steeping it in ice water to stop the cooking process. To do this with kale, first remove the leaves along the stem by folding it in half, and then sliding your knife along the stem to cleanly cut the leaf. I like to further chop my kale for easy use in recipes down the road. Add your kale leaves to a pot of boiling water for a minute or two, just until it starts to wilt. Remove and add to a bowl of ice water to ensure it isn’t overcooked.
Once your kale is blanched, add it to a clean kitchen towel and pat or wring out any excess moisture. Date a sealable freezer bag, add your kale and then squeeze out any remaining air before adding it to your freezer.
How do you enjoy kale? Head to our Cooking with Hardy Greens guide for recipes and tips!
Claire Butler is the Content Strategy Specialist for Taste the Local Difference. Contact her at [email protected].