In terms of preparation, Swiss chard is a low-maintenance vegetable. This also applies to storage. Unfortunately, Swiss chard tends to wither quickly. In order to keep it fresh for at least a few days, it has to be put in the fridge. You can find out how exactly and which option is still available to you in our article!

Swiss chard can only be kept for a few days

Swiss chard spoils quickly

First of all, we would like to point out that with sensitive chard it is best to buy the vegetables fresh as needed and eat them on the same day. In this way, the leaves and stems retain their crispness and aroma. If you leave Swiss chard in your kitchen at room temperature, it will soon become limp and lose its precious nutrients.

Store chard in the fridge

There are two ways to store Swiss chard in the refrigerator and thus extend the shelf life to at least two days:

  • in a damp cloth
  • in a plastic bag

Wrap the chard in a damp cloth

  1. Soak a tea towel.
  2. Wring out the cloth loosely.
  3. Wrap the damp tea towel around the chard.
  4. Put the "package" in the vegetable compartment of your refrigerator.

Pack the chard in a plastic bag

  1. Place the chard in a plastic bag.
  2. Close the bag loosely.
  3. Put the whole thing back in the vegetable compartment of the fridge.

Note: Compared to leaf chard, stem chard is a little less sensitive - you can store it in a damp cloth or bag in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Freeze chard and keep it for a long time

If you have bought several pieces of the delicious vegetables in the shop or at the market and want to keep some of them for a longer period of time, it is worth preparing them immediately and freezing them. Our step-by-step instructions show you how to do this in detail:

  1. Wash and trim the chard thoroughly.
  2. Chop the veggies if needed (not a must).
  3. Blanch the chard for about a minute.
  4. Lift out the vegetables with a slotted spoon.
  5. Then immediately place the chard in ice water.
  6. Lift the vegetables out of the ice water.
  7. Drain the chard in a colander.
  8. Dry the vegetables carefully with paper towels.
  9. Put the chard in portions in freezer bags.
  10. Squeeze the air out of the bags.
  11. Seal the bags tightly.
  12. Put the freezer bags in the freezer.

This keeps chard for eight to twelve months.

tips

If you grow chard in your own garden, simply harvest the vegetables as needed. The plants can easily overwinter in your green oasis.

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

  • as a free PDF file to print out yourself

Category:

Vegetable garden