How to Freeze Swiss Chard

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to freeze swiss chard from harvesting to blanching to freezing. Frozen Swiss chard is great to use as a topping for this healthy pizza recipe, soups, stews, casseroles, pies and so much more. 

Although not as common as other leafy greens, like spinach and kale, Swiss chard offers creative options for cooked recipes, especially in Italian cuisine.

There is nothing that can compare to its silky taste when it is cooked slowly. One example that comes to mind is this Italian vegan Swiss chard and potatoes side dish with plenty of garlic and red pepper flakes. 

Whether you grow this crop in your backyard garden and are dealing with a lot of chard or buying a bunch at a farmer’s market or grocery store, here’s how to freeze chard to keep and enjoy it all winter long, whether you are adding it to soups, stir-fries, or simply sauteing it. 

As a member of the beet family, including Swiss chard in meal planning, is nutritious and offers a unique explosion of color. Chard varieties all have green leaves but have either green, white, yellow, or red stems. [source] You can even find some marketed as rainbow chard with multiple colors in a single bunch.

No matter which varieties you chose, they can all be frozen easily and enjoyed throughout the winter months.  

Harvesting tips

Gardeners who want to grow something unique and tasty should consider Swiss chard in their beds. Harvest can occur any time after thirty days, depending on whether you want to eat the tender leaves raw or cooked in a casserole, stew, or sauté dish.

Since this informative article focuses on freezing Swiss chard, it recommends waiting at least 45 to 60 days for the harvest. The large leaves and sturdy stems taste great and give you more volume to work with.

Harvesting is simple. Since both the stem and the leaves are edible, use a sharp knife or scissor to cut the Swiss chard stems low to the ground. The plants will continue to produce leaves throughout the season up until the first frost.

Washing and cleaning

One of the first steps in freezing any vegetable is to wash and clean them thoroughly.

Swiss chard leaves are rather bumpy, with lots of crevices, so they have many spaces where dirt, sand, debris, or even insects can hide. There are two ways to remove all this grittiness.

The first is simply washing every piece carefully under cold running water. Gently rub as not to bruise the leaves or stems.

An additional step to this method includes filling a sink or large bowl with cold water and allowing the chard leaves to soak for a good 10 minutes. A final rinse under cold running water ensures they are ready for the next step in the freezing process.

This is a great moment to separate the Swiss chard stalks from the leaves as a time-saving tip. Use your knife the separate these two parts.

Blanching

The process of blanching any vegetable stops the natural process that causes a loss of color, flavor, and nutrients. It is an important step in the freezing process of Swiss chard that should not be skipped. 

Follow these simple steps to prepare these fresh greens for a successful trip to your freezer. 

• Prepare a bowl of ice water large enough for your chard pieces to submerge in.
• Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. 
• Add the Swiss chard stalks and blanch for 3 minutes. 
• Remove and plunge chard stems in the bowl of ice water. This immediately stops the cooking process. 
• Transfer to a colander to drain.
• Next, repeat the same process with the chard leaves but blanch for only one to two minutes. Be sure to completely submerge them in the water with a pair of tongs.

Freezing

After blanching, you will have a colander of colorful Swiss chard leaves and stems. You are now ready to freeze your harvested crop or prize from the market so you can use it throughout the colder months.

Do not chop up the blanched leaves before you freeze them unless necessary due to the size of the storage containers or freezer space you have.

Always start with well-drained chard. To do so, use your hands to squeeze the excess moisture gently. As an alternative, use a potato ricer to squeeze out the excess water. There is no need to separate the stalks from the leaves. 

Place in resealable ziplock bags. Use a straw or a sealer to remove as much air as possible from the freezer bags. This will help reduce the formation of ice crystals and freezer burn.

Properly label your bags by indicating the date and place chard in the freezer.

That’s all there is to it.

Tips

• Avoid cutting up the leaves or stems into small pieces before freezing. This can contribute to a loss of nutrients and increases the possibility of degradation. 
• Use a large stockpot to ensure there is plenty of volume for the chard to blanch quickly. 
• There is NO NEED to add salt as we are not cooking the chard.
• When blanching the stems and the leaves, please do not leave them in too long. You do not want to cook the chard during this process. 
• Start the timer (3 minutes for stalks and 1-2 minutes for the leaves) when the water returns to a rolling boil after adding the chard pieces.

FAQ

Is blanching necessary when freezing Swiss chard?

You do not have to blanch this vegetable before freezing it. However, failure to do so means that the action of enzymes in the plant is still working. This is the mechanism that ripens vegetables when growing and makes them wilt and deteriorate after harvest. While freezing also helps to stop enzymatic action, blanching creates a much better-finished food overall.

How long will it last in the freezer?

Your frozen greens will last anywhere from six months to a year. While it may still be good after that, you will probably not want to wait that long to make some of the delicious recipes that include this tasty green vegetable.

How to use frozen Swiss chard in recipes

Now that you have a large collection of frozen Swiss chard, what can you do with it?

Frozen chard works well for many recipes. In fact, its delicate fresh flavor is so delicious yet unobtrusive that you can add it to almost any soup, stew, casserole, or stirfry you try.

In most cases, you do not need to thaw the frozen chard before using it in a recipe. 

You can use chard much like you would spinach in any recipe. Throw a handful in the next time you make soup for extra flavor and nutrients. Roast it with bulkier vegetables. Stir it into a frittata. Mix small pieces into a stirfry or even added to hearty baked goods like quick bread or savory muffins.

Food preservation

Be sure to check out these other step-by-step guides on how to freeze tomatoes, rhubarb as well as freezing green beans and parsley.

Summary

Once you learn how to freeze chard, you can have year-round delicious and nutritious greens to add to a wide variety of recipes. Harvest, preparation, blanching, and freezing Swiss chard is a simple process that never involves any complicated tricks or specific kitchen gadgets.

Add this unique leafy green to your garden and meal plan today and enjoy the mild flavor—the best way to meet the recommendation of eating more dark leafy greens.

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★★★★★ Are you planning on preserving Swiss chard? I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate this method!