Wash & Dry Fresh Kale
Learning how to wash kale is an easy skill that takes seconds to complete. In three simple steps, you can rest assured that your kale is safe to eat. PRO TIP: To cut your drying time in half, the best way to clean fresh kale is to use a salad spinner (affiliate link) instead of a bowl and towel.
Remove Stems
When it comes to destemming kale, there are two main methods from which to choose:
How to Chop?
While cutting kale is a cinch, the correct way to slice kale depends on the recipe you want to make. In general, there are two main methods for how to cut kale:
How to chop kale for a salad: I recommend using the chiffonade method to trim kale for salads. First, roll your kale leaf like a cigar and place it on a cutting board. Then, chop the tight cylinder into thin strips. You may also consider massaging kale before adding it to your salad.How to chop kale for soup & stews: If you plan to use your kale in a soup or stew, tear the kale leaves by hand into large, rough pieces. Then, add the pieces to your dish just before serving.
What to do with Leftover Stems?
Anyone can learn how to remove kale stems like a pro. Now you can put the whole plant to work by incorporating leftover stems into recipes as genius as they are tasty.
Blanch: You don’t have to trek to the grocery store every time you prepare fresh kale for cooking. Blanch your kale after chopping it, store it in the fridge or freezer, and use it whenever you’re ready. It’s that easy! Plus, you can make meal prep a breeze with my foolproof methods for Blanched Kale and How to Store Kale. Make a green smoothie: Once you have your kale chopped, the options for nutritious pick-me-ups are endless. You can prepare some of my favorite kale recipes in less than five minutes, like a Pineapple Kale Smoothie and Green Turmeric Smoothie.Give it a massage & turn it into a salad: Cutting kale for salad is a no-brainer in vegetarian cooking. Follow my foolproof guide for How to Massage Kale, and you can whip up a kale chop as delicious as my Avocado Massaged Kale Salad, Brussels Sprouts Kale Salad, or Lemon Kale Caesar Salad.Add it to soups: Looking for an effortless way to add leafy greens to soup? Satisfy your tastebuds and get significant health benefits by adding sliced kale to a soup just before serving. Tuscan Kale Soup, Chicken Veggie Soup, and Vegetable Beef Soup are some of my favorites.Make kale chips: It is no secret that kale chips are a great snack. My go-to recipe is this Garlic Kale Chips.
Blanch: If you don’t like to waste fresh produce, I have good news. Once blanched, the stalk of kale makes a good addition to smoothies and pesto recipes.Sautée or stir fry: Transform tough stems into veggie-packed side dishes by sautéeing or stir-frying them. It takes less than 15 minutes to prepare dishes as delectable as this Sweet and Spicy Kale Stems.Add into stock: One of my favorite ways to make the most of a kale harvest is to use the stems in DIY stock recipes. Simply add your kale ribs to recipes like my Homemade Chicken Stock for the best flavor.
Take it out of the fridge right before you are ready to use it: Fresh kale leaves will start to soften and lose their freshness as soon as you take them out of the fridge. Therefore, keep them in the fridge until you are ready to cut them and use them in your recipe.Cut right before using: Similarly, because cut leaves rot faster than whole leaves, it’s a good idea to prepare fresh kale just before you use it. Chopping kale right before use will ensure your recipes turn out as fresh and crisp as possible.Use a good knife: The best kitchen tools are the sharpest when chopping kale plants. Be sure to use a sharp knife (affiliate link) as you learn how to cut kale for cooking.
If you find this guide on How To Cut Kale or any one of our other How-To Guides on Foolproof Living helpful, please take a minute to leave a rating and a review. Doing so helps others who are planning to follow the processes outlined in this post.
7 Different Varieties of Kale: Feel confused when you go to the store? Not sure which type of kale is for your recipe? Be sure to check out my guide to learn about the different varieties of kale.How to Store Kale: If you love preparing kale in bulk, then proper kale storage is just what you need. Learn how to store kale in the fridge and the freezer while keeping it as fresh as possible.How to Blanch Kale: If you want to take the stress out of meal prep, blanching kale is a must. In five minutes, you can tenderize your kale and make it fridge- and freezer-safe.How to Massage Kale: Learn how to tenderize kale’s tough leaves and eliminate bitter flavor with just three simple ingredients. Massaging kale is the perfect way to prepare your leafy green for salads, slaws, and more.
