Can I freeze collard greens without blanching?

Some people believe that freezing vegetables after blanching causes them to lose nutrients, but freezing does not impact nutritional value. Collard greens are one of the vegetables that you can freeze after blanching without any loss in nutritional value. Just be sure to let the thawed greens sit in cold water for a few minutes to get rid of some of the ice crystals that form during freezing.

Can I freeze collard greens without cooking?

Freezing can also be an effective method of preserving fresh produce, but only if the vegetables are blanched first. While freezing does not affect the nutritional value of raw veggies, it does destroy the enzymes, which is why blanching is necessary before freezing any vegetable.

Can I microwave collard greens without pre-boiling?

As a general rule, boiling water is best for steaming vegetables, similar to the way you would cook pasta or rice. However, some methods call for freezing vegetables without first boiling them. If you’re planning to freeze collard greens, you can either freeze them raw or first boil them. Again, boiling the greens before freezing them allows the nutrients to remain more accessible.

Can I freeze collard greens without grease?

Whether you blanched or not, you can freeze collard greens without first greasing them. Just make sure you rinse the greens thoroughly before freezing them. Collard greens freeze best when they are chopped, but you can also freeze them whole. To do so, cut the leaves lengthwise and lay them flat on a baking sheet. Once they are completely frozen, you can transfer them to a freezer bag.

Can I freeze collard greens without pre-boiling?

Whether you like your collard greens tender or crunchy, blanching is essential to preserving their nutritional value. The boiling process breaks down the cell walls in the collard leaves making them tender, therefore making them more palatable. Blanching also stops the chlorophyll in the collard leaves from turning them an unappetizing bright green color.