How do I clean kale and other leafy vegetables for cooking?

How do I clean kale and other leafy vegetables for cooking? - Green Plant in Close Up Photography

I'm eating a lot of kale and other leafy vegetables lately, and I'm concerned about removing pesticide residue. Is thoroughly rinsing the leaves in cold water enough?

vegetablescleaningkale


Best Answer

When washing vegetables that can get muddy (Kale, leeks, etc.) I generally recommend first using tepid to slightly warm water to help soften the mud more easily. Leeks should be split down the middle and then can be fanned under warm water which will help wash the dirt out more readily.

For Kale, if it isn't muddy then you can use cold water and give it a soak and agitate as hobodave indicated below. If they're muddy and dirty, then I'd use slightly warmer water to first clean them and then give them a soak in some cold water to help plump them up and increase their turgor pressure to make them nice and crisp.

A good wash in water (universal solvent) should be enough. Most of what I've read on the effectiveness of "vegetable wash sprays" say that they're no better than a good wash with water.



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How do you clean kale greens?

How to wash kale
  • Soak chopped kale in a large bowl or container of ice water. ...
  • Use a slotted spoon to remove the kale to a colander or salad spinner insert. ...
  • Repeat this process if the kale is particularly dirty.
  • Then, rinse the kale under cold running water.
  • Finally, use a salad spinner to dry the kale thoroughly.


    • How do you clean leafy vegetables before cooking?

    Washing leafy green vegetables
  • Wash all leafy green vegetables, including pre-bagged greens under cold running tap water.
  • For leafy vegetables, such as lettuce and cabbage, remove the outer leaves first. ...
  • Rinse leafy vegetables in a colander, drain (or use a salad spinner) and pat dry with a paper towel or tea towel.


    • How do you clean kale and spinach?

    How to Wash and Store Leafy Greens in Advance
  • Separate and chop large leafy greens. ...
  • Place the greens in a large bowl or salad spinner base (and the colander part). ...
  • Soak the greens for 5-10 minutes in clean, cold water. ...
  • Drain the water and let the greens fully dry.


    • How do you sterilize leafy greens?

    A highly effective way for commercial processors to kill microbes on leafy greens is to use a sanitizing process that combines liquid sanitizing with gaseous sanitizing, for example, washing in chlorinated water, then sanitizing with ozone gas.


    How To Wash Dark Leafy Greens [So You Don't Eat Bugs]



    More answers regarding how do I clean kale and other leafy vegetables for cooking?

    Answer 2

    Also, make sure that you cut off entire stem right up to the top off the leaf, otherwise the consistency of the finished leaf will be a little too chewy...

    Answer 3

    Leafy greens like kale should be washed in a sink or tub full of cold water. Submerge the leaves in there and agitate them gently. You do not have to worry about pesticides. Your greater concern should be with removing all the sand and dirt from these leaves. Chewing on a rock, no matter how small is not a pleasant experience for you or your guests.

    Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

    Images: Eva Bronzini, Pixabay, Mark Stebnicki, Jeffry Surianto

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