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Food and Entertaining
Food Preparation
Food Preservation Techniques
Freezing Food
How to Freeze Swiss Chard Download Article Co-authored by Marrow Private Chefs
Last Updated: July 13, 2025 Approved
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Prepping the Swiss Chard
|
Blanching Swiss Chard
|
Storing Swiss Chard
|
Video
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Q&A
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Tips
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Things You'll Need
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This article was co-authored by Marrow Private Chefs. Marrow Private Chefs are based in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. It is a chefs’ collective comprised of an ever-growing number of chefs and culinary professionals. Though regionally influenced primarily by coastal, traditional southern, cajun, and creole styles and flavors, the chefs at Marrow have a solid background in all types of cuisine with over 75 years of combined cooking experience. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article has 16 testimonials from our readers, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 184,885 times.
Swiss chard is a very nutritious leafy green. It is used raw in tossed salads, and it can also be cooked like spinach, kale, or collard greens. If you have a lot of chard and you don’t want to waste any, you can preserve it by blanching and freezing it for up to a year.
Steps
Part 1 Part 1 of 3:
Prepping the Swiss Chard
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1 Rinse your Swiss chard in cold water.[1]X Expert Source Marrow Private ChefsPrivate ChefsExpert Interview You can mix rainbow chard with green or white varieties. Plan to freeze the chard within 6 hours of picking to preserve nutrients.
If you are picking it from your garden, cut it at the base of the stem in the early morning for best results.[2]XResearch source
To remove the excess of water, spin the chard, shake it, or pat it dry.[3]X Expert Source Marrow Private ChefsPrivate ChefsExpert Interview
2 Cut the thick stems away from the leaves.[4]X Expert Source Marrow Private ChefsPrivate ChefsExpert Interview Set the stems aside to prepare and freeze separately.[5]XResearch source Advertisement
3 Chop your Swiss chard. How you chop it will depend upon your preference for preparing it.[6]XResearch source You can cut them into long ribbons or small squares.[7]X Expert Source Marrow Private ChefsPrivate ChefsExpert Interview
Ribbon it by rolling the leaves vertically. Slice horizontally against the rolled leaves in 1-inch (2.5 cm) strips.
Chop the leaves like you would spinach. Stack the leaves on top of each other. Slice them 2 times vertically. Stack them again and slice them 3 to 6 times horizontally, depending upon the size of the leaves.
Slice them in half or into fourths, if you like larger sized leaves.
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Blanching Swiss Chard
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1 Set a large pot of water to boil.[8]XResearch source Use a stockpot instead of a saucepan to ensure you have enough space for even blanching.
Blanching halts enzyme production. It stops the plants from ripening for several days to several weeks. It is recommended to preserve nutrient content for all leafy greens if you can’t use them within two days.[9]X Trustworthy Source EatRight.orgOrganization associated with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics providing advice about food, health, and fitness Go to source
2 Fill a large bowl with cold water. Add 2 to 3 cups of ice cubes. Set your ice bath on a counter near the stove.
3 Bring the water to a roiling boil. Add your Swiss chard leaves to the water. If you have more than 4 cups of Swiss chard, do it in several batches.
4 Set the timer for 2 minutes. Remove the leaves with a slotted spoon after the timer beeps. Place it directly in the ice bath.
5 Remove the Swiss chard from the ice bath after 2 minutes.[10]XResearch source Spin it in a salad spinner. Pat it with kitchen towels to remove extra moisture.
6 Repeat in batches as needed. Slice the stems into 1 inch (2.5 cm) ribs and blanch them for 3 minutes. Place them in the ice bath for 3 minutes before draining in a colander.
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Storing Swiss Chard
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1 Lay the leaves on kitchen towels until all your batches are done.
2 Separate them into serving sizes. You can either weigh them on a scale or measure cup-sized servings.
3 Squeeze the serving together to pack it tightly. It can also remove excess water.[11]XResearch source
4 Stuff them into freezer bags, leaving only 2 inches of headspace. You can also use freezer-safe Tupperware. Seal the lids tightly.[12]XResearch source
5 Separate the stems into serving sizes. They can be sautéed and used with onions or celery because of its crunchy texture. Stuff the stems into freezer bags.
6 Label each container with the date it was frozen. Use it within 10 to 12 months.[13]XResearch source
7 Finished.
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Community Q&A
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Question Can I steam chard to freeze instead of blanching? Michele Top Answerer Blanching can be completed using boiling water, steam or a microwave oven. To steam, place the chard in a wire basket over rapidly boiling water, cover and start your timer. Steaming takes one and a half times longer than boiling. Microwaving is good for some vegetables, but not recommended for leafy greens. In any event, make sure to have your icy water handy, that's what preserves the color and texture prior to freezing. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 26
Question Can I freeze Swiss chard without blanching? Community Answer Yes, your Swiss chard should be fine without blanching. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 31 Helpful 83
Question I would like to freeze a dish of Swiss chard and lentils. Will this be okay in the freezer? Community Answer Yes, this should be fine in the freezer for 2-3 months or so, but you need to make sure it's properly sealed. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 6
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Tips
If you plan on freezing a lot of vegetables and meats, consider investing in a vacuum-sealing machine. You can cut the item into your preferred serving size and remove it from the freezer a 12 to 24 hours before you use it in a recipe.[14]XResearch sourceThanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
There are more ways to preserve Swiss chard, including canning. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement
Things You'll Need
Water
Stockpot
Ice bath
Sharp knife
Freezer bags
Colander
Salad spinner
Paper towels
Slotted spoon
Vacuum sealer (optional)
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Co-authored by: Marrow Private Chefs Culinary Experts This article was co-authored by Marrow Private Chefs. Marrow Private Chefs are based in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. It is a chefs’ collective comprised of an ever-growing number of chefs and culinary professionals. Though regionally influenced primarily by coastal, traditional southern, cajun, and creole styles and flavors, the chefs at Marrow have a solid background in all types of cuisine with over 75 years of combined cooking experience. This article has been viewed 184,885 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 10Updated: July 13, 2025 Views: 184,885 Categories: Featured Articles | Freezing Food In other languages Spanish Russian Italian German French Indonesian Dutch
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Reader Success Stories
Petra Eshuis
Jul 11, 2016
"I did not know whether I could preserve Swiss chard at all, and our small garden was producing more than we could eat in a few weeks. I found this very helpful site and just followed the instructions. The chard looked beautiful after the boiling/cooling process, and I just put it in my freezer. Excited about having 'fresh' produce in the winter. "..." more
More reader stories Hide reader stories Share your story
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Co-authored by: Marrow Private Chefs Culinary Experts Click a star to vote Co-authors: 10Updated: July 13, 2025 Views: 184,885
Petra Eshuis
Jul 11, 2016
"I did not know whether I could preserve Swiss chard at all, and our small garden was producing more than we could eat in a few weeks. I found this very helpful site and just followed the instructions. The chard looked beautiful after the boiling/cooling process, and I just put it in my freezer. Excited about having 'fresh' produce in the winter. "..." more
Susan P.
Nov 7, 2017
"I have a lot of Spinach Chard left over. It has grown a lot even after the weather cooled. I am glad to know that I can freeze it and use it during the months that there is nothing in the garden. I know to save the stems separately and how long to blanche and that I can cut the leaves before blanching. Very helpful article."..." more
Bob Blondin
Jul 26, 2016
"Followed this process to the letter, and it seems to have worked well. I did combine the blanched stems with the leaves, since we usually eat them together. We'll see the results when the chard comes out of the freezer."..." more
Phyllis Hunt
Jul 19, 2021
"My sink was overflowing with cut Swiss chard. So glad I can freeze it and later put it in smoothies and veggie dishes. Great pictures and detailed instructions. Thanks for your research."..." more
P. West
Sep 6, 2016
"My chard is growing too fast to eat it all. I appreciated the step-by-step pics and instructions. It took only a bit of time to review and save my chard instead of throwing it away. :) "..." more Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories
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How toFreeze Green Peppers 
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Co-authored by: Marrow Private Chefs Culinary Experts This article was co-authored by Marrow Private Chefs. Marrow Private Chefs are based in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. It is a chefs’ collective comprised of an ever-growing number of chefs and culinary professionals. Though regionally influenced primarily by coastal, traditional southern, cajun, and creole styles and flavors, the chefs at Marrow have a solid background in all types of cuisine with over 75 years of combined cooking experience. This article has been viewed 184,885 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 10 Updated: July 13, 2025 Views: 184,885 Categories: Featured Articles | Freezing Food In other languages Spanish Russian Italian German French Indonesian Dutch 
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1 Rinse your Swiss chard in cold water.[1] You can mix rainbow chard with green or white varieties. Plan to freeze the chard within 6 hours of picking to preserve nutrients. 
2 Cut the thick stems away from the leaves.[4] Set the stems aside to prepare and freeze separately.[5] Advertisement 
2 Fill a large bowl with cold water. Add 2 to 3 cups of ice cubes. Set your ice bath on a counter near the stove. 
3 Bring the water to a roiling boil. Add your Swiss chard leaves to the water. If you have more than 4 cups of Swiss chard, do it in several batches. 
6 Repeat in batches as needed. Slice the stems into 1 inch (2.5 cm) ribs and blanch them for 3 minutes. Place them in the ice bath for 3 minutes before draining in a colander. Advertisement 
2 Separate them into serving sizes. You can either weigh them on a scale or measure cup-sized servings. 
3 Squeeze the serving together to pack it tightly. It can also remove excess water.[11] 
5 Separate the stems into serving sizes. They can be sautéed and used with onions or celery because of its crunchy texture. Stuff the stems into freezer bags. 
6 Label each container with the date it was frozen. Use it within 10 to 12 months.[13] 
7 Finished. Advertisement 
Michele Top Answerer Blanching can be completed using boiling water, steam or a microwave oven. To steam, place the chard in a wire basket over rapidly boiling water, cover and start your timer. Steaming takes one and a half times longer than boiling. Microwaving is good for some vegetables, but not recommended for leafy greens. In any event, make sure to have your icy water handy, that's what preserves the color and texture prior to freezing. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 26 
Community Answer Yes, your Swiss chard should be fine without blanching. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 31 Helpful 83 
Community Answer Yes, this should be fine in the freezer for 2-3 months or so, but you need to make sure it's properly sealed. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 3 Helpful 6