Does kale taste sweeter and more flavorful after being frozen?
According to this wikipedia article it does.
However a chef at my restaurant had not heard of this.
The wikipedia article seems to be missing citations, and I don't have time to perform an experiment.
Best Answer
You have misread the Wikipedia quote. It says (emphasis added):
Kale freezes well and actually tastes sweeter and more flavourful after being exposed to a frost.
While not terribly well written (since there is the red herring that it freezes well), this doesn't mean that the harvested plant was frozen, but rather that the live plant in the ground was exposed to frost. This causes it to begin converting starches to sugars in preparation for winter, giving it a sweeter taste.
Per Burpee, for example:
Frost enhances the flavor. Some of the tastiest kale is harvested under a foot of snow! Never harvest kale until after a hard frost or two. A few freezing nights make all the difference in flavor as the kale plants need a hard frost to transform their starches into natural sugars.
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Quick Answer about "Does kale taste sweeter and more flavorful after being frozen?"
Kale freezes well and actually tastes sweeter and more flavourful after being exposed to a frost. While not terribly well written (since there is the red herring that it freezes well), this doesn't mean that the harvested plant was frozen, but rather that the live plant in the ground was exposed to frost.Is kale good after frozen?
This nutrient-packed and versatile green keeps for up to 6 months in the freezer. Learn how to freeze kale, thaw it and enjoy it. Kale is one of the heartiest greens around and might seem like it lasts forever in the fridge, but it really only stays fresh for about a week.Does freezing kale lose its nutrients?
Generally speaking, freezing helps retain the nutrient content of fruits and vegetables. However, some nutrients begin to break down when frozen produce is stored for more than a year ( 2 ). Certain nutrients are also lost during the blanching process. In fact, the greatest loss of nutrients occurs at this time.Is it better to freeze kale raw or cooked?
Ideas for Using Frozen Kale I simply take out a freezer bag and use the whole chunk, or cut off what I want with a knife. I don't usually defrost it first. I throw it in frozen. Frozen vegetables never have the same consistency as their raw counterparts, so frozen kale is best used in cooked dishes.Is frozen kale bitter?
You can freeze kale without blanching, but plan to use it within four to six weeks. Unblanched kale may develop a bitter flavor because you haven't stopped the action of the naturally-occurring ripening enzymes in the leaves.The Problems with Eating KALE! – Dr.Berg
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Answer 2
I found this online. Doesn't say anything about freezing, but frost does it too. So, I would think frost makes it sweeter.
http://garden.lovetoknow.com/wiki/8_Frost_Resistant_Vegetables
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