Freezing Kale?

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a bunch of
fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for my lovebird who
adores it (and it gives her necessary iron not to mention something to
chew
on). It's not available in loose leaves like baby spinach and some other
greens. I had to buy a big honkin' bunch of it. Can I wash it, pack it
in
some freezer bags and freeze it?

Jill
--
I used to have a handle on life...but it broke off.

Forgive me, Jill, but I will answer a question that probably everyone knows;
freezing spinach. I bought a big package of fresh spinach at Costco and had
eaten only 2 bunches of it. I had to leave for 5 days, so I stuck it in the
freezer just the way it was, in the bag. I took it out when I came home last
night; this morning it is mushy and watery. Doesn't look like it could be
salvagable. I also stuck in 4 full stocks of baby bok choy. I will look to
see what it did, too.
Dee Dee

Dee Randall said:

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a
bunch of fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for my
lovebird who adores it (and it gives her necessary iron not to
mention something to chew
on). It's not available in loose leaves like baby spinach and some
other greens. I had to buy a big honkin' bunch of it. Can I wash
it, pack it in
some freezer bags and freeze it?

Jill
--
I used to have a handle on life...but it broke off.

Forgive me, Jill, but I will answer a question that probably everyone
knows; freezing spinach. I bought a big package of fresh spinach at
Costco and had eaten only 2 bunches of it. I had to leave for 5 days,
so I stuck it in the freezer just the way it was, in the bag. I took
it out when I came home last night; this morning it is mushy and
watery. Doesn't look like it could be salvagable. I also stuck in 4
full stocks of baby bok choy. I will look to see what it did, too.
Dee Dee

So how do they manage to sell frozen spinach and other frozen greens? There
must be some way I can keep this. The thing is, you can't feed greens to a
lovebird every day or they will develop diarrhea. But it's good for them
about once a week. Granted, the bunch of kale was only 89 cents but I hate
to waste it.

Jill

jmcquown said:

I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a bunch of
fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for my lovebird who
adores it (and it gives her necessary iron not to mention something to chew
on). It's not available in loose leaves like baby spinach and some other
greens. I had to buy a big honkin' bunch of it. Can I wash it, pack it in
some freezer bags and freeze it?

Jill

http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/index.html

Freezing
Greens
(Including Spinach)

Preparation – Select young, tender green leaves. Wash thoroughly and
cut off woody stems. Water blanch collards 3 minutes and all other
greens 2 minutes.

Cool, drain and package, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Seal and freeze.

Susan N.

In article <[email hidden]>,

Dee Randall said:

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a bunch of
fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for my lovebird who
adores it (and it gives her necessary iron not to mention something to
chew
on). It's not available in loose leaves like baby spinach and some other
greens. I had to buy a big honkin' bunch of it. Can I wash it, pack it
in
some freezer bags and freeze it?

Jill
--
I used to have a handle on life...but it broke off.

Forgive me, Jill, but I will answer a question that probably everyone knows;
freezing spinach. I bought a big package of fresh spinach at Costco and had
eaten only 2 bunches of it. I had to leave for 5 days, so I stuck it in the
freezer just the way it was, in the bag. I took it out when I came home last
night; this morning it is mushy and watery. Doesn't look like it could be
salvagable. I also stuck in 4 full stocks of baby bok choy. I will look to
see what it did, too.
Dee Dee

Greens need to be wilted before freezing or they are ruined...
Light steaming should work.
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a bunch of
fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for my lovebird who
adores it (and it gives her necessary iron not to mention something to
chew
on). It's not available in loose leaves like baby spinach and some other
greens. I had to buy a big honkin' bunch of it. Can I wash it, pack it
in
some freezer bags and freeze it?

Jill

Nay, you must blanch it first. A few minutes in boiling water, drain,
freeze. Or cook it completely then freeze.

--
Peter Aitken

jmcquown wrote on 21 Aug 2005 in rec.food.cooking

Quoted message said:

Dee Randall said:

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a
bunch of fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for
my lovebird who adores it (and it gives her necessary iron not to
mention something to chew
on). It's not available in loose leaves like baby spinach and
some other greens. I had to buy a big honkin' bunch of it. Can
I wash it, pack it in
some freezer bags and freeze it?

Jill
--
I used to have a handle on life...but it broke off.

Forgive me, Jill, but I will answer a question that probably
everyone knows; freezing spinach. I bought a big package of fresh
spinach at Costco and had eaten only 2 bunches of it. I had to
leave for 5 days, so I stuck it in the freezer just the way it
was, in the bag. I took it out when I came home last night; this
morning it is mushy and watery. Doesn't look like it could be
salvagable. I also stuck in 4 full stocks of baby bok choy. I
will look to see what it did, too. Dee Dee

So how do they manage to sell frozen spinach and other frozen
greens? There must be some way I can keep this. The thing is, you
can't feed greens to a lovebird every day or they will develop
diarrhea. But it's good for them about once a week. Granted, the
bunch of kale was only 89 cents but I hate to waste it.

Jill

Blanching might work. Note the might.

--
The eyes are the mirrors....
But the ears...Ah the ears.
The ears keep the hat up.

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dee Randall said:

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a
bunch of fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for my
lovebird who adores it (and it gives her necessary iron not to
mention something to chew
on). It's not available in loose leaves like baby spinach and some
other greens. I had to buy a big honkin' bunch of it. Can I wash
it, pack it in
some freezer bags and freeze it?

Jill
--
I used to have a handle on life...but it broke off.

Forgive me, Jill, but I will answer a question that probably everyone
knows; freezing spinach. I bought a big package of fresh spinach at
Costco and had eaten only 2 bunches of it. I had to leave for 5 days,
so I stuck it in the freezer just the way it was, in the bag. I took
it out when I came home last night; this morning it is mushy and
watery. Doesn't look like it could be salvagable. I also stuck in 4
full stocks of baby bok choy. I will look to see what it did, too.
Dee Dee

So how do they manage to sell frozen spinach and other frozen greens?
There
must be some way I can keep this. The thing is, you can't feed greens to
a
lovebird every day or they will develop diarrhea. But it's good for them
about once a week. Granted, the bunch of kale was only 89 cents but I
hate
to waste it.

Jill

Jill, I have thoroughly cooked spinach and frozen it inside ziplock bags
after it's cooled. To me, when I say thoroughly cook, I mean only about 2
minutes, though. To save greens, I feel that I could do that with any green
if I had the time.
Everything that I threw into the freezer before I left, and then I left out
last night to thaw, was completely waterlogged in its own raw contents;
somehow the water rendered itself out.
As far as to your kale needed for the birds, you can buy it once a week,
give your bird a little and you have the rest. A great way to make sure you
get your greens. If you buy kale by the pound, which is the only way you
can buy it here, NOT by the bunch, then buy a little less. I have bought
produce that has rung up at less than 15 cents. Who cares? Certainly not
the check-out person.
Bye,
Dee Dee

"Dee Randall" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dee Randall said:

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a
> bunch of fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for my
> lovebird who adores it (and it gives her necessary iron not to
> mention something to chew
> on). It's not available in loose leaves like baby spinach and some
> other greens. I had to buy a big honkin' bunch of it. Can I wash
> it, pack it in
> some freezer bags and freeze it?
>
> Jill
> --
> I used to have a handle on life...but it broke off.
>

Forgive me, Jill, but I will answer a question that probably everyone
knows; freezing spinach. I bought a big package of fresh spinach at
Costco and had eaten only 2 bunches of it. I had to leave for 5 days,
so I stuck it in the freezer just the way it was, in the bag. I took
it out when I came home last night; this morning it is mushy and
watery. Doesn't look like it could be salvagable. I also stuck in 4
full stocks of baby bok choy. I will look to see what it did, too.
Dee Dee

So how do they manage to sell frozen spinach and other frozen greens?
There
must be some way I can keep this. The thing is, you can't feed greens to
a
lovebird every day or they will develop diarrhea. But it's good for them
about once a week. Granted, the bunch of kale was only 89 cents but I
hate
to waste it.

Jill

Jill, I have thoroughly cooked spinach and frozen it inside ziplock bags
after it's cooled. To me, when I say thoroughly cook, I mean only about 2
minutes, though. To save greens, I feel that I could do that with any
green if I had the time.
Everything that I threw into the freezer before I left, and then I left
out last night to thaw, was completely waterlogged in its own raw
contents; somehow the water rendered itself out.
As far as to your kale needed for the birds, you can buy it once a week,
give your bird a little and you have the rest. A great way to make sure
you get your greens. If you buy kale by the pound, which is the only way
you can buy it here, NOT by the bunch, then buy a little less. I have
bought produce that has rung up at less than 15 cents. Who cares?
Certainly not the check-out person.
Bye,
Dee Dee
==============>

That might work... also, what about drying it? Then it could be crumbled
into her other food and/or added to her water...? I dunno. I never had
birds. Thank you Mr. Hitchcock for that! To this day I watch seagulls like
a proverbial hawk... days to the beach are tough. : /

--
Syssi

jmcquown said:

I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a bunch of
fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for my lovebird who
adores it (and it gives her necessary iron not to mention something to chew
on). It's not available in loose leaves like baby spinach and some other
greens. I had to buy a big honkin' bunch of it. Can I wash it, pack it in
some freezer bags and freeze it?

Kale is pretty tough. You could certainly try it out with some of your
'bunch'. A southern cook neighbor freezes collards and says it helps
tenderize them. These greens, unlike spinach, suffer no harm from
freezing in the fields. Give it a shot.

jmcquown said:

I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a bunch of
fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for my lovebird who
adores it (and it gives her necessary iron not to mention something to chew
on). It's not available in loose leaves like baby spinach and some other
greens. I had to buy a big honkin' bunch of it. Can I wash it, pack it in
some freezer bags and freeze it?

Jill

Just replied to this via email, but have had another thought--try
growing a kale plant in a pot and you will have fresh kale for the
bird all the time.

gloria p

In article <[email hidden]>,

Puester said:

jmcquown said:

I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a bunch of
fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for my lovebird who
adores it (and it gives her necessary iron not to mention something to chew
on). It's not available in loose leaves like baby spinach and some other
greens. I had to buy a big honkin' bunch of it. Can I wash it, pack it in
some freezer bags and freeze it?

Jill

Just replied to this via email, but have had another thought--try
growing a kale plant in a pot and you will have fresh kale for the
bird all the time.

gloria p

Good idea!
Live kale lasts for months and months!
I have some in a pot still that I planted in November of last year.
2 of the 3 are still alive! They have bolted, bloomed and thrown more
leaves out the top so look wierd, but I've kept them alive just to see
how long they will live.

And I occasionally give some leaves to the cockatoo.
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dee Randall said:

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a
bunch of fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for my
lovebird who adores it (and it gives her necessary iron not to
mention something to chew
on).

Are you talking about a bird or a girlfriend?

--
Jennifer Lopez Lingerie *plus* Gourmet Goodies
www.cafepress.com/dwacon

Dee Randall said:

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dee Randall said:

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
> I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a
> bunch of fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for my
> lovebird who adores it (and it gives her necessary iron not to
> mention something to chew
> on). It's not available in loose leaves like baby spinach and some
> other greens. I had to buy a big honkin' bunch of it. Can I wash
> it, pack it in
> some freezer bags and freeze it?
>
> Jill
> --
> I used to have a handle on life...but it broke off.
>

Forgive me, Jill, but I will answer a question that probably
everyone knows; freezing spinach. I bought a big package of fresh
spinach at Costco and had eaten only 2 bunches of it. I had to
leave for 5 days,
so I stuck it in the freezer just the way it was, in the bag. I took
it out when I came home last night; this morning it is mushy and
watery. Doesn't look like it could be salvagable. I also stuck in 4
full stocks of baby bok choy. I will look to see what it did, too.
Dee Dee

So how do they manage to sell frozen spinach and other frozen greens?
There
must be some way I can keep this. The thing is, you can't feed
greens to a
lovebird every day or they will develop diarrhea. But it's good for
them about once a week. Granted, the bunch of kale was only 89
cents but I hate
to waste it.

Jill

As far as to your kale needed for the birds, you can buy it once a
week, give your bird a little and you have the rest. A great way to
make sure you get your greens.

I don't *like* kale! I eat plenty of spinach and other greens, but kale
just doesn't taste good to me.

If you buy kale by the pound, which

Quoted message said:

is the only way you can buy it here, NOT by the bunch, then buy a
little less. I have bought produce that has rung up at less than 15
cents. Who cares? Certainly not the check-out person.
Bye,
Dee Dee

They only sell it by the bunch. And it's a BIG bunch. I suppose that's
good for people who like kale 🙂

Jill

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dee Randall said:

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Dee Randall wrote:
> "jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
> news:[email hidden]...
>> I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a
>> bunch of fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for my
>> lovebird who adores it (and it gives her necessary iron not to
>> mention something to chew
>> on). It's not available in loose leaves like baby spinach and some
>> other greens. I had to buy a big honkin' bunch of it. Can I wash
>> it, pack it in
>> some freezer bags and freeze it?
>>
>> Jill
>> --
>> I used to have a handle on life...but it broke off.
>>
>
> Forgive me, Jill, but I will answer a question that probably
> everyone knows; freezing spinach. I bought a big package of fresh
> spinach at Costco and had eaten only 2 bunches of it. I had to
> leave for 5 days,
> so I stuck it in the freezer just the way it was, in the bag. I took
> it out when I came home last night; this morning it is mushy and
> watery. Doesn't look like it could be salvagable. I also stuck in 4
> full stocks of baby bok choy. I will look to see what it did, too.
> Dee Dee

So how do they manage to sell frozen spinach and other frozen greens?
There
must be some way I can keep this. The thing is, you can't feed
greens to a
lovebird every day or they will develop diarrhea. But it's good for
them about once a week. Granted, the bunch of kale was only 89
cents but I hate
to waste it.

Jill

As far as to your kale needed for the birds, you can buy it once a
week, give your bird a little and you have the rest. A great way to
make sure you get your greens.

I don't *like* kale! I eat plenty of spinach and other greens, but kale
just doesn't taste good to me.

If you buy kale by the pound, which

Quoted message said:

is the only way you can buy it here, NOT by the bunch, then buy a
little less. I have bought produce that has rung up at less than 15
cents. Who cares? Certainly not the check-out person.
Bye,
Dee Dee

They only sell it by the bunch. And it's a BIG bunch. I suppose that's
good for people who like kale 🙂

Jill

Where I live, it's only sold by the pound. I've bought as little as two
stocks in the winter, just to add to a soup. Many years ago I've bought it
in bunches; I know because I always wanted the biggest bunch. Yum, yum,
kale!
Dee Dee

On Sun 21 Aug 2005 07:18:55a, jmcquown wrote in rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a bunch
of fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for my lovebird
who adores it (and it gives her necessary iron not to mention something
to chew on). It's not available in loose leaves like baby spinach and
some other greens. I had to buy a big honkin' bunch of it. Can I wash
it, pack it in some freezer bags and freeze it?

Jill

If this hasn't been said before, ALL leafy greens; e.g., kale, spinach,
turnip, mustard, etc., must be cooked or at least well blanched before
freezing. As you know from cooking other greens, after any cooking
process (apart from frying), the greens will be quite soft and never
crisp. I've never had a bird other than a canary, so I have no idea if
this would be appealing to your lovebird, but somehow I doubt it.

Your experience with freezing raw kale is the very reason why I will never
again freeze a head of cabbage for making stuffed cabbage rolls!

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
____________________________________________

My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four,
unless there are three other people.

---
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Virus Database (VPS): 0533-5, 08/20/2005
Tested on: 8/21/2005 7:22:35 PM
avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2005 ALWIL Software.
http://www.avast.com

Wayne Boatwright said:

On Sun 21 Aug 2005 07:18:55a, jmcquown wrote in rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a
bunch of fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for my
lovebird who adores it

If this hasn't been said before, ALL leafy greens; e.g., kale,
spinach, turnip, mustard, etc., must be cooked or at least well
blanched before freezing. As you know from cooking other greens,
after any cooking process (apart from frying), the greens will be
quite soft and never crisp. I've never had a bird other than a
canary, so I have no idea if this would be appealing to your
lovebird, but somehow I doubt it.

Nope, she doesn't like cooked greens. They must be fresh. Oh well, she'll
get a few leaves a week until the bunch starts to yellow or otherwise go
bad. In the meantime she has carrots (she loves raw carrots!) and a Gala
apple (I give her slices of it) to munch on 🙂

Re: freezing cabbage - ever notice that's one vegetable you can't find in
the freezer section at the grocery store? 😉

Jill

On Sun 21 Aug 2005 07:36:48p, jmcquown wrote in rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

Wayne Boatwright said:

On Sun 21 Aug 2005 07:18:55a, jmcquown wrote in rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a
bunch of fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for my
lovebird who adores it

If this hasn't been said before, ALL leafy greens; e.g., kale,
spinach, turnip, mustard, etc., must be cooked or at least well
blanched before freezing. As you know from cooking other greens,
after any cooking process (apart from frying), the greens will be
quite soft and never crisp. I've never had a bird other than a canary,
so I have no idea if this would be appealing to your lovebird, but
somehow I doubt it.

Nope, she doesn't like cooked greens. They must be fresh. Oh well,
she'll get a few leaves a week until the bunch starts to yellow or
otherwise go bad. In the meantime she has carrots (she loves raw
carrots!) and a Gala apple (I give her slices of it) to munch on 🙂

Re: freezing cabbage - ever notice that's one vegetable you can't find
in the freezer section at the grocery store? 😉

Yes, have never seen it. However, one can buy frozen stuffed cabbage, and
the homemade version freezes well, too. Disaster is when it's frozen raw.

--
Wayne Boatwright *¿*
____________________________________________

My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four,
unless there are three other people.

---
avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean.
Virus Database (VPS): 0533-5, 08/20/2005
Tested on: 8/21/2005 7:58:00 PM
avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2005 ALWIL Software.
http://www.avast.com

In article <[email hidden]>,

jmcquown said:

Wayne Boatwright said:

On Sun 21 Aug 2005 07:18:55a, jmcquown wrote in rec.food.cooking:

Quoted message said:

I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a
bunch of fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for my
lovebird who adores it

If this hasn't been said before, ALL leafy greens; e.g., kale,
spinach, turnip, mustard, etc., must be cooked or at least well
blanched before freezing. As you know from cooking other greens,
after any cooking process (apart from frying), the greens will be
quite soft and never crisp. I've never had a bird other than a
canary, so I have no idea if this would be appealing to your
lovebird, but somehow I doubt it.

Nope, she doesn't like cooked greens. They must be fresh. Oh well, she'll
get a few leaves a week until the bunch starts to yellow or otherwise go
bad. In the meantime she has carrots (she loves raw carrots!) and a Gala
apple (I give her slices of it) to munch on 🙂

Re: freezing cabbage - ever notice that's one vegetable you can't find in
the freezer section at the grocery store? 😉

Jill

Jill,

Do try the local nursery. :-)
Kale is easy to keep alive and really does last for months, plus it's a
pretty plant. And fresh piced kale will be higher in nutrition
anyway.....

This was someone elses idea, but it was a really good one!

Full sun, water twice per week or if it wilts.

Cheers!
--
Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-[censored]." -Jack Nicholson

OmManiPadmeOmelet said:

In article <[email hidden]>,

jmcquown said:

Wayne Boatwright said:

On Sun 21 Aug 2005 07:18:55a, jmcquown wrote in rec.food.cooking:

> I may have asked this before; forgive me if I forgot. I bought a
> bunch of fresh kale. I don't like the stuff myself but it's for my
> lovebird who adores it
>
If this hasn't been said before, ALL leafy greens; e.g., kale,
spinach, turnip, mustard, etc., must be cooked or at least well
blanched before freezing. As you know from cooking other greens,
after any cooking process (apart from frying), the greens will be
quite soft and never crisp. I've never had a bird other than a
canary, so I have no idea if this would be appealing to your
lovebird, but somehow I doubt it.

Nope, she doesn't like cooked greens. They must be fresh. Oh well,
she'll get a few leaves a week until the bunch starts to yellow or
otherwise go bad. In the meantime she has carrots (she loves raw
carrots!) and a Gala apple (I give her slices of it) to munch on 🙂

Re: freezing cabbage - ever notice that's one vegetable you can't
find in the freezer section at the grocery store? 😉

Jill

Jill,

Do try the local nursery. :-)
Kale is easy to keep alive and really does last for months, plus it's
a pretty plant. And fresh piced kale will be higher in nutrition
anyway.....

This was someone elses idea, but it was a really good one!

Full sun, water twice per week or if it wilts.

Cheers!