How Long Does Kale Last?

How long does kale last? The shelf life of kale, like most other fresh vegetables may not have a sell by date, use by date, or best before date so you have to go with purchase date in most cases. Kale is full of antioxidants which help protect against different cancers.

Kale is very low in calories, has no fat and is high in fiber. A serving of kale actually gives you more iron than beef and more calcium than milk! And, on top of all those benefits of kale, the green leaves contain a great source of lutein, an eye-friendly nutrient believed to slow macular degeneration by more than 40%! [1].

There are many varieties of kale available at your local produce stand or grocer. The most popular varieties are Curly Kale, Dinosaur Kale (also known as Tuscan) and Red Kale with the names being appropriate to their appearances and the bitterness factor decreasing down the list. For more about kale health benefits, visit our blog post is kale good for you.

So, how long does kale last? When properly stored, the shelf life is approximately...

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Kale Expiration Date

Fridge
Fresh Kale lasts for 1-2 Weeks
Cooked Kale lasts for 5-7 Days

Of course, all foods last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly.

How to tell if Kale is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

When kale begins to age, it will lose its bright green color and begin turning a yellowish color. The best way to tell if your kale is going bad is to look at the leaves. Always remove the stems from your kale before using. The fiber is so thick in the stems that it can cause digestive problems.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Kale to extend its shelf life?

It is best to store the bunches whole and unwashed in the fridge vegetable drawer.

For a longer term option, kale may be frozen for 6-8 months, but they should be cooked or blanched first and placed into freezer safe containers.

  • To find out how to steam kale, check our post on how to steam vegetables.
  • Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

    How long is Kale good for when prepared in a dish?

    How long does kale last? That depends. How long does pizza last? In general, it lasts only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the recipe.

    What are our shelf life resources?

    In determining how long Kale lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Kale.

    *An important note about expiration dates...

    Although the Kale shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!

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    With oven-safe glass and water-tight lids, these food storage containers are ready for action! Not a Prime Member? Try a 30-day free trial today!

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