Can you freeze cooked collard greens? Collard greens are in the same family as cabbage and most other vegetables.
While included in your diet, they take part in making it a balanced and delicious one by providing a source of vitamins.
They closely resemble the cabbages but, unlike cabbages, they do not develop a heart.
Whether you are cooking them for lunch or dinner, you might be faced with the challenge of how you preserve what remains.
You might be lingering in mystery on whether or not collard greens can be frozen.
Luckily, this blog post sought to clear all the doubts and myths behind every misleading thing you have heard. Journey with me to the end and take notes.
You ought to no longer reek in mystery regarding how to preserve cooked collards while they can be frozen. In fact, freezing is the best way to store whatever remains for later use.
Can You Freeze Cooked Collard Greens?
Has anyone told you that collard greens cannot be frozen?
Nothing, absolutely nothing nor no one should stop you from tucking away any of your collard greens that remain in the freezer.
As I already mentioned in the offset of this article, freezing has all along proven to be the best way to store cooked collard vegetables.
Preserving cooked foods can always become a derailing issue, especially when you do not know what you should do with them.
I assure you that collard greens, especially cooked collard greens, should, can, and will always end up in the freezer and stay preserved as long as you want.
How Do You Prepare Cooked Collards For Freezing?
Freezing cooked collard greens is one thing, preparing them for it is another.
Although it is nothing close to rocket science, nor something that should worry you.
Always ensure that you prepare the cooked collard greens so well before storing them away in the freezer.
And this article will show you how to do this effortlessly. Preparation determines the quality of results you get.
It will be absolutely disappointing when you fail to preserve cooked collard greens well when you have a freezer.
And so, how should you prepare your cooked collard greens for freezing?
How Is This Done?
These are the steps to follow until your cooked collard greens are frozen.
These methods double as the procedures to follow when storing cooked collard greens in the freezer.
- Fill a pot with water in contrast with the number of collards you have.
- Boil water at medium heat
- Chop your collard greens into small edible sizes.
- Wash and rinse collard greens with water well
- Put all the greens in boiling water
- Leave them to boil for 3 to 5 minutes under controlled heating
- Leave the collards to cool or pass them in cool water so that they cool instantly.
- Squeeze all the water out of the collards then place them in an airtight container or freezer bag then store it in the freezer.
Do You Have To Blanch Collards Before Freezing?
Blanching involves the cooking of collard greens by briefly dipping the collards into boiling water with salt for a short while.
Then you can directly transfer them into cold water after they are boiled.
It is aimed at making the greens lose their color while retaining their taste. Most cooked vegetables can be blanched before freezing.
Note: Unlike most other vegetables, there wouldn't be the need for you to blanch collard greens before transferring them to the freezer.
After all, they are best while not blanched. Because blanching draws most of the flavor and color from vegetables.
I wouldn’t advise that you do it. Therefore, do not at all costs blanch your collards before freezing.
How Long Can You Keep Cooked Collards in The Freezer?
Now, It is so amazing, it is the reason why you should fancy freezing your cooked collard greens.
In fact, you should start considering cooking them in large quantities to save you the moment whenever you feel like serving this dish.
Folks, cooked collard greens can be kept in the freezer for days to months. These months can culminate into 12, or more extending to over a year.
You do not have to doubt whether your frozen collards will still be in a good state after all this time.
So long as you have stored the cooked collard greens in the freezer while following all guidelines.
Then, be sure that for months on end, the cooked collard greens can safely be preserved in the freezer.
Does the Taste Change?
However, trials have revealed that beyond the 12-month line, the vegetables will start having a compromised taste.
Therefore, it is best that you do not store cooked collard greens in the freezer for more than a year.
While at it, always ensure that the collards are covered in an airtight container or a polythene bag.
This is to keep away any bacteria that may dare want to thrive inside the freezer.
Can You Leave Cooked Collards Overnight?
Can cooked collard greens be left outside overnight? Yes, cooked collard greens can be left outside for the night.
However, you should assess the environment and temperatures of the location you plan to leave them in.
First, ensure that the collard greens you intend to leave outside are still freshly boiled.
Boiling helps to kill all bacteria, but leaving them outside overnight when the night is too hot, reactivates the growth of bacteria.
Therefore, always ensure that the temperatures are favorable before your Collard greens are left out for the night.
How to Reheat Frozen Collard Greens
If you need to get your frozen collard greens from the freezer, then you might be interested in knowing how you are going to reheat the frozen collard vegetables.
Reheating them is so easy, whatever you are required to do is, add them to another dish that is already cooking.
Also, frozen collard vegetables are a great way to help cool down other dishes that are so hot.
Tip: Always ensure that the temperatures at which you are reheating your frozen collard vegetables are regulated.
Benefits Of Eating Frozen Cooked Collards
Cooked collard greens have a lot of health benefits, especially when they’re frozen.
Below are highlights of some of the benefits of eating frozen-cooked collard greens.
Reduces the Risk of Cancer
Frozen-cooked collard vegetables are rich in sulfur. Sulfur is made of Gluciosionalates which are repellent to cancerous tumors and other lung diseases.
Strong Bone Formation and Strengthening
Collards are rich in Vitamin K which is vital for strong bone formation, also in Vitamin K are Proteins that are essential in blood clotting.
Improves the Health of the Liver
The liver is a vital body organ and it must always stay in good shape. Apart from exercising regularly, cooked collards are a great way of improving the health of your liver.
Collards are rich in fiber making them a great way to improve your liver’s health.
Other than these three, frozen cooked collards help you to sleep better and lower blood cholesterol.
How Long Can Cooked Collard Greens Last at Room Temperature?
Outside the freezer, collards are exposed to an array of bacteria even if it is well sealed.
Cooked collards can only last six hours at room temperature.
That leaves you with the idea that only the freezer is suitable for preserving cooked collards.
Final Thoughts
In the beginning, we were faced with 3 major questions which are;
- Can you freeze cooked collard greens?
- Can you freeze southern cooked collard vegetables?
- And can you freeze fully cooked collard greens?
In this article, we learn that nothing should stop you. Cooked collard greens can be preserved in the freezer for so long.
Do not hesitate to do so. Meanwhile, eat as many collards as you can for the good of your health, and always use the freezer, while following these guidelines to keep the rest.