Swiss chard is a nutritional powerhouse, packed with vitamins A, K, C, magnesium, potassium, iron, and more. With its earthy, slightly bitter taste, both the leaves and crunchy stems are delicious when quickly sautéed, added to soups and stews, or used as a base for salads.
But like most leafy greens Swiss chard is highly perishable. Follow these tips to store Swiss chard correctly and keep it fresh as long as possible.
Buy Quality Chard for Maximum Freshness
It all starts with choosing chard bunches with vibrant deep green leaves and crisp white stems. Avoid any bunches with yellow slimy or wilted leaves. Select chard sold loose rather than pre-packaged when possible, so you can inspect quality.
For the best flavor, buy chard within a day or two of harvest. Shop at your local farmer’s market or grocery stores with high produce turnover. Organic and local options offer maximum freshness too.
Prep Chard for Storage
Once home, prep your chard right away for storage to maintain optimum quality.
- Cut off any wilted leaves or ends of the stems.
- Rinse lightly if needed to remove any dirt or grit. Pat dry with a towel.
- Do not submerge chard in water as this speeds up deterioration.
Refrigerate Properly
To store Swiss chard in the fridge:
- Place chard in a perforated plastic bag. The holes allow airflow.
- Press out excess air and wrap the bag tightly around the greens.
- Store loose leaves in a sealed container instead of a bag.
- Keep chard in the high humidity drawer for 5-7 days max.
Keeping humidity high around chard prevents moisture loss and wilting. But don’t let chard sit in standing water, which causes spoilage.
Refresh Wilted Chard
If your Swiss chard starts to wilt, you can revive it. Soak the leaves or entire bunch in cold water for an hour or more. Drain well and pat dry before returning to the refrigerator.
This trick restores moisture and crispness to droopy chard for several more days of freshness.
Blanch and Freeze for Long-Term Storage
For longer Swiss chard storage, blanching and freezing preserves quality for 6-8 months. Here’s how:
- Bring a pot of water to boil. Prep an ice bath.
- Add chard and blanch 1 minute. Transfer to the ice bath.
- Drain chard well and pat completely dry with towels.
- Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze solid.
- Transfer frozen chard to zip-top freezer bags or containers.
Blanching stops enzyme activity that causes loss of flavor, color, and texture during freezing. Freezing chard enables enjoying its nutritional benefits year-round.
Other Tips for Keeping Chard Fresh
- Store cut, prepped chard in an airtight container and use within 3-4 days.
- Add lemon juice to cut chard to inhibit oxidation and browning.
- Don’t wash chard until ready to use to avoid moisture and quicker spoilage.
- Keep chard away from ethylene-producing fruits and vegetables which speed deterioration.
With proper storage methods, you can enjoy fresh, crunchy Swiss chard for up to a week after purchasing. Freezing also lets you save chard from your garden for savoring all winter. Follow these best practices for storing chard and you’ll be ready to create delicious recipes.
How To Store Swiss Chard
Cut stems at the base of the leaves. If any of the outer leaves are dry and wilted, you can follow the steps for how to bring wilted Chard back to life.
Put the stems and leaves in a large resealable plastic bag. Squeeze out most of the air, and then put the bag in the produce drawer of your fridge. Keep away from fruits that emit ethylene gas such as apples, avocados and melon.
If your chard leaves are big or you want to store the whole bunch, put them in a plastic grocery bag and then put another plastic grocery bag on top of it so that as much of the chard as possible is packed in plastic. For a few days, the chard leaves will lose their shape if they are in the fridge’s cold, dry air.
Option 2: Cut Leaves and Stems and use within 3 to 4 days
Follow the instructions to cut the leaves and stems described above. Then place the stems into a small baggie or resealable container. Place the cut leaves into a separate large Ziplock bag, produce bag or re-sealable container.
Refrigerate up to 4 days. After a day or two, the stems will turn a different color, but it won’t change how good they taste. Inspect to make sure there is no sign of them softening or spoilage.
How to Cook your CSA: Storing Swiss Chard
FAQ
What is the best way to store fresh Swiss chard?
How long does Swiss chard last in the refrigerator?
How do you keep Swiss chard crisp?
Can Swiss chard be preserved?
Yesiree,Swiss chard can be preserved through canning. This method is more time-consuming however. Also, since chard is a “low-acid” vegetable, it should be processed using a pressure canner for safety measures. The flavor of Swiss chard leaves is similar to spinach, but a tad sweeter.
Does Swiss chard contain purine?
Yes, and that is why it should be avoided by gout sufferers, especially in the acute phase of the disease. Other foods such as mushrooms, chocolate, oilseeds – walnuts, peanuts, chestnuts, pistachios, and hazelnuts –, legumes such as beans, lentils and peas, vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, chard, asparagus, and spinach, as well as cereals such as oats also contain purines.
How do you store Swiss chard?
Ensure that the leaves are completely dry before storing them to prevent mold or rotting. One of the best ways to store Swiss chard is to wrap it in paper towels or cloth. This method helps to absorb any excess moisture, which can cause the leaves to wilt or spoil quickly. Start by laying out a clean piece of paper towel or cloth on a flat surface.
How do you keep Chard fresh?
To keep your greens fresh, remove as much excess air from the bag as you can. Store your chard between 32 °F (0 °C) and 40 °F (4 °C) for up to 10 days. If possible, keep your fridge at 95% relative humidity. This will generally be more obtainable when using the crisper section in your refrigerator.