Do Collard Greens Go Bad?

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Collard green is a member of the cabbage family. It has a beautiful green color. It features strong stems with big leaves. Its appearance is very similar to that of spinach; however, its leaves taste a bit more bitter and stronger than those of spinach.

They are most commonly grown in Greece when the temperature is mild to cold. Collard greens have the ability to withstand high temperatures, including light frost.

Like most green vegetables, they do not have a long shelf life and go bad very soon. The leaves go slimy and discolored. Even when refrigerated, they only last a couple of days.

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How to store Collard greens?

Collard green is an amazing vegetable in terms of health benefits. It includes a lot of vitamins and minerals. They are used in making stews, soups, and several other cuisines.

Unlike other vegetables, the green leafy vegetables go bad early. Collard greens go bad soon if you do not take care of them properly. It is a fragile vegetable. Its usage mainly depends on the extent of storage conditions.

Here we have shared some storage tips that will help you keep your greens fresh and usable for a long time.

Do not wash

Never wash collard greens before storing them, as washing green vegetables promotes decay. They become slimy and moist.

Store in a zip lock bag

Always store collard greens in a zip lock bag as covering them is very important. If collard greens are not covered before storing, they get dehydrated. Squeeze out as much air as possible from the storage bag containing greens before putting it in the fridge or pantry.

Refrigerate it

Cover collard properly and store them in the fridge. Refrigeration can keep collard greens fresh up to four to five days.

Store it at a cool, dry place

If you are storing collard greens outside of the fridge, make sure to choose a place that is dry and well ventilated.

Can you freeze Collard greens?

Due to their fragile nature, collard greens are often frozen to store for a longer time. Freezing preserves the taste and prevents discoloration. Before freezing the collard greens, it is preferred if you blanch them first.

For blanching, wash and put collard greens in a perforated container. Submerge the container into hot water for three minutes, take it out. Now again, submerge this container into cold water for three minutes, take it out, and dry it with a paper towel. Store it into a zip lock bag and then freeze.

If you do not want to blanch, then you can also make a paste of it. To make a paste blend your collard greens with a little bit of water or oil; it becomes a smooth paste. Take it out into small containers and put it into the freezer. When frozen, you can transfer this solidified mixture into ziplock bags and then put it back into the freezer.

How long do Collard greens last?

Green vegetables are rich sources of vitamins, fiber, and protein. We can cook collard greens separately or with other vegetables. Fresh collards have an enriched color and flavor. They may look like big mean vegetables on the outside but are very fragile. They have a small shelf life, and their usage mainly depends on the extent of their storage. They turn slimy and develop a bad order if not stored properly.

Always store collards in an airtight bag after purchase. When stored in a cool, dry place, they can remain refresh for three days. When stored in the freezer, the collards can remain fresh up-to five days. The longest collards last is when they are frozen. Frozen collards can last up to 10 months or more.

How to tell if Collard green is bad?

You must have heard how eating greens is good for your health, and it is true, but there is an important word that we forget to add in this sentence, and that word is “right.” Only eating the right greens is good for your health. Eating a rotten or, one can say, not so right green can make you sick for days and, in some cases, is life-threatening.

Here we have shared some amazing small signs through which you can detect if the collard you are storing, purchasing, or cooking is fresh or not.

Bad odor: collard greens have a natural sulfuric smell and when cooked properly. The smell becomes more pungent. However, the bad or rotten collards have a foul or bitter smell.
Soft and mushy: collard greens have firm long leaves that produce a crunch when cut. So, if the leaves are soft and mushy and a bit moist to touch, then they are certainly rotten.
Discoloration: as the name suggests, the collard greens have a beautiful green color. Bad or old collard has dulled yellow-colored leaves.