Does Kale Go Bad?

A pantry full of kale is just like a  dream come true for diet lovers. Kale is a fresh, green, leafy vegetable that is not only wholesome but delicious too. You can get more iron than one beef serving and more calcium than a glass of milk from one serving.

You may buy kale in bulk if you have recently started your diet plan. Unfortunately, it will go bad after some time like any other food item. But you can take care of some precautionary measures to extend the shelf life of your lovely kale. This article will guide you about all the necessary storage conditions for your kale, so you do not have to worry about it.

How to store your kale?

Kale can stay fresh for about two weeks in your pantry, provided it is given the suitable temperature, aeration, and light. You can increase its shelf life by taking some tips and tricks into account.

For storing kale, you need to make sure that we buy the freshest kale from the market to sustain it for a long time. You can follow the given guidelines to secure your kale properly. It will keep it fresh for an extended time.

Keep it away from sunlight

If you have just brought home freshly bought kale and are too busy to place it in the refrigerator, you should ensure that it is kept away from sunlight. The sunlight will quickly remove moisture from the kale and will wilt away in a few hours. The wilted kale turns pale in one or two days, and you would not want to use it later on.

Place your kale in the refrigerator

The refrigerator is the best place for your greens. It keeps them fresh, crisp, and green. You can keep your kale in a plastic bag, but you need to ensure that it is not properly sealed because your kale needs proper aeration.

You can also wrap your kale in a paper towel so it could absorb the moisture that comes out of it due to guttation. The kale will not go mushy if you use it. You can also refrigerate your kale in cooked form.

Do not wash your kale before refrigerating it

When you have to store your kale for a week in your fridge, you need to keep it dry. If it is already a little wet, spread it onto some trays, so the moisture dries off a little. The wet kale goes bad early because the water content makes it mushy.

Also, check if there is any bad leaf in your kale; if there is one, remove it, or it will damage the rest of your kale.

Can you freeze your kale?

You can extend the storage life for your kale if you keep it in the freezer. There is a slight change in the texture of your kale when you freeze it. If you intend to free your kale raw, you need to throw it right in your pan. The thawed raw kale becomes hard to use as it leaves all the water away. You can use your frozen raw kale for your smoothies if you do not want to cook with it.

You can also place your fully cooked kale in your freezer and can use it whenever you like. You can also blanch your kale before freezing it. You need to cut off the stem, cut it into the desired size, wash it, and blanch it.

How long does the kale last?

The fresh green kale gives you a good shelf life of more than a week if kept in a dry and cool place and away from sunlight. It will retain its freshness. The refrigerated kale will not spoil for up to two weeks in your fridge. It needs to be dried and properly aerated, so it does not spoil before time.

The wet kale can go bad in just two days. The frozen kale lasts the longest. It stays fresh till the time you use it. You can not put it back in the freezer once it is thawed. The kale also needs to be properly sealed; otherwise, it will have a freeze burn. The frozen kale can live up to a year in your freezer.

How to tell if kale is bad?

You can identify if the kale is bad with your senses if you know some basic points about rancid kale. The following points will help you in guiding if the kale is bad.

• The bad kale is mushy and leaves the water.
• There are black spots on the leaves that might be due to some fungal infection.
• If the kale is wilted, it does not mean it is bad. It can still be used if there are not any spots on it.
• You can also notice a sulfur-like smell from your kale if it is bad.

Sources

• Can it go bad
• Does it go bad
• Gardner’s path