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Learn all the tips and tricks for freezing swiss chard to save time and money. Learning how to freeze swiss chard for frittatas, casseroles, and soups is a great way to preserve this healthy garden staple.
Swiss chard is a versatile vegetable that grows easily in most home gardens. When you have more than you can use at once, try your hand at freezing Swiss chard for the ultimate meal prep hack.
If you’re already googling things like “what can I do with excess swiss chard” like a cool kid, check out our posts on Can You Freeze Kale and Freezing Spinach.
Can You Freeze Swiss Chard?
Yes, it’s definitely possible to freeze chard! Having a freezer stash of prepped and ready-to-use frozen swiss chard is a delicious insurance policy for lots of dishes.
And because it’s so simple to do, you’ll never have to toss out wilted chard again!
How to Freeze Swiss Chard
*I’ll walk you through it here with some photos and tips, and you’ll also find a printable recipe card at the bottom of the post with exact measurements, etc. You can also click “jump to recipe” to skip down.
Start by washing the chard, including the leaves and stems. Once the chard is free of dirt and debris, cut it into ribbons.
Fill a medium mixing bowl halfway full with ice water. Set it aside, cause you’re going to use it in a bit!
In a large saucepan bring water to a boil. Add chard and cook for 2 minutes.
Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove chard and add to the ice water. Chill for 3 minutes. Transfer chilled chard to a strainer and allow it to drain.
Squeeze excess water out of the chard (I squeeze portions in my hand over the strainer).
You have lots of options for how to freeze it. I find it easiest to freeze in ice cube trays, on baking sheets, or in silicone trays for smaller and easy-to-use portions.
I’ve even used these silicone egg molds that are for making Instant Pot Egg Bites.
Freeze for 3 hours. Transfer to freezer bags once the chard has frozen solid.
- Use unblanched frozen chard within 4 weeks.
- Blanched frozen chard should be used within 3-6 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it depends on how you want to use it and how quickly. If you plan to use the frozen chard within a few weeks, there is no need to blanch it first.
But unblanched chard left in the freezer too long will turn brown because of enzyme actions which will change the texture, flavor, and coloring.
Both the stems and leaves of Swiss chard are edible.
If the chard has grown too large, the stems may become tough and woody (think like the ends of asparagus) and may not be very tasty. In that case, you can freeze just the leaves if you’d like.
The blanching process for chard and other leafy greens is super simple.
You’ll add the chopped leaves (and chard stems if desired) to boiling water for 2 minutes. Then transfer to ice-cold water to shock/stop the cooking process. Yup, that’s it! Easy peasy.
If stored correctly, swiss chard, like other leafy greens can last for 4-6 days in the fridge.
A lot goes into the range of storage time. Swiss chard fresh from your garden or a farmer’s market will have a longer fridge storage life than chard from the grocery store.
How to Use Frozen Swiss Chard
Throw some Swiss chard into a Gluten-Free Quiche, Instant Pot Tortellini Soup, Vegetarian Breakfast Casserole, or Creamy White Bean Soup, and go live your best life.
It’s also delicious mixed into make ahead scrambled eggs or incorporated into Instant Pot egg bites.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- There is no need to thaw the frozen chard before adding it to soups or stews.
- Do thaw chard before adding it to casseroles and egg dishes.
- I prefer to freeze swiss chard in 1/4 to 1/2 cup portions for adding to things like Instant Pot Lentil Soup, Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce, or a Dairy Free Frittata. I love the 1/2-cup Souper Cubes for that.
More How-To Tutorials to Check Out
- How to Freeze Fresh Produce
- Freezing Peaches
- How to Freeze Peppers
- Freezing Raspberries
- How to Freeze Corn on the Cob
- Freezing Potatoes
- Freezing Pumpkin
- Freezing Blueberries
- Freezing Tomatoes the Easy Way
- How to Freeze Rhubarb
- How to Freeze Pesto
- How to Freeze Garlic
- Freezing Peas
- How to Freeze Onions
- How to Freeze Asparagus
Freezing Swiss Chard
Ingredients
- 20 oz swiss chard (~2 large bunches)
Instructions
How to Blanch Swiss Chard
- Wash chard.20 oz swiss chard
- Loosely chop into ribbons.
- Fill a bowl halfway with ice water. Set aside.
- In a large saucepan bring water to a boil. Add chard and cook for 2 minutes.
- Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove chard and add to the ice water. Chill for 3 minutes.
- Transfer chilled chard to a strainer and allow it to drain.
How to Freeze Swiss Chard
- Squeeze excess water out of the chard (I squeeze portions in my hand over the strainer).
- Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment, waxed paper, or a silpat.
- Freeze for 3 hours. Transfer to freezer bags once chard has frozen solid.
Notes
- Use unblanched frozen chard within 4 weeks.
- Blanched frozen chard should be used within 3-6 months.
- There is no need to thaw the chard before adding it to soups or stews.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How do you get the swiss chard in an ice cube tray?
Chop it small and pack it in! It works best if you don’t have larger things to freeze in and just need something. It’s not my favorite/go-to method, but it is free and that is ideal for a lot of people.
Thanks for making this available!
Always happy to help! 🙂
Our garden produces a lot of swiss chard and while I could eat it every day in the summer, not everyone can. Thanks to Sarah, I can now stock my freezer and enjoy delicious dark, leafy, vitamin dense greens all year long!!