Kale is a super healthy, super tasty type of cabbage that’s great to get a good amount of in your diet.
On top of that, it’s brilliant for cooking, and there are loads of different delicious recipes (such as stews, salads, and soups) that will require some cut kale in them.
However, when you first look at a kale, you might be confused about what the best way to cut it is. After all, kale comes in different varieties, and its leaves can sometimes be unruly.
So how should you cut kale?
We’ve got the answers below! In our useful guide, we’re going to explain the best process for cutting kale once harvested. It’s a skill that all cooks should possess, and it will open up so many meal possibilities!
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How To Cut Kale
The process for cutting kale can depend on what type of kale you’ve got.
For example, the process for cutting a baby kale will differ to the process for a curly kale, because the baby kale has smaller leaves.
However, we’re going to be covering the process for the most commonly-used varieties of kale, because that’s likely what you’ll be working with.
These varieties are curly kale, lacinato kale (which is also called “dinosaur kale”), and red Russian kale.
All of these can be cut perfectly with the same steps, and we’ve got those steps explained clearly for you below.
Step One: Washing Your Kale
To start with, you need to wash the kale. This is really important, because kale can have plenty of dirt on it, especially if you’ve grown it yourself and harvested it from your garden.
Nobody wants to be eating dirt and germs, so it’s important that you wash it all off.
To wash it most thoroughly, fill a large bowl full of cold water, then submerge your entire kale in it. Make sure to have every bit underwater – not even one leaf sticking out.
Then, while it’s all submerged, begin rinsing each leaf, ensuring that every possible bit of dirt is gone.
Step Two: Drying Your Kale
After you’ve done a thorough wash of your kale, you won’t be able to properly cut it until it’s dried. However, this isn’t just a case of leaving it out in the open and letting it dry.
Instead, get a baking sheet and line it with a kitchen towel. Make sure the towel is clean!
Then lift your submerged kale out of the water and put it onto the towel, stretching out each leaf so that it’s touching it.
After that, start rolling up the towel into a cylindrical shape, starting at one end and rolling it along. By the end, the kale will be encased in the cylindrical towel, where it should begin to dry.
Alternatively, if you’ve got a salad spinner in your kitchen, then you can also use that to dry the kale.
Step Three: Removing The Kale’s Stems
Once your kale has been washed and dried, it’s time to remove its stems.
Though this isn’t too difficult, there are two different ways that you can do it, and you’ll want to find the ones that’s easiest for you.
One of the de-stemming methods involves folding the leaves in half. First, put your kale on your cutting board, then fold each leaf in half, with the stem lying at an end of the fold.
After that, get a sharp knife and start cutting the leaves away from the stem, being quick and cutting along the line of the stem. Be sure to be careful with sharp knives.
The other method for removing your stems involves no sharp knives, so some people will prefer this way.
All you have to do is hold the stem’s base in your hand, then wrap your other hand around the part of the stem that’s above your first hand.
After that, use your starter hand to sharply pull the kale stem down. As the stem comes through your hand, the leaves will tear off as they go through your fist. Easy!
Step Four: Cutting Your Kale
With the leaves removed from the stem, you’re finally ready to cut the kale leaves. Slicing them is relatively easy, as long as you’re safe, though there are different ways depending on what you’re using the kale for.
One again, one of the methods uses a knife, and the other doesn’t!
If you’re using your kale in a salad, you’ll need a knife. To begin with, you’ll need to roll your kale leaf up into a small, tight cylinder.
Put it on your cutting board and then slice the cylindrical shape into thin strips.
On the other hand, if you’re using your kale in a stew or a soup, then it’ll be better “cut” by ripping it by hand. Simply rip up the leaves into large pieces. You don’t need to be neat about it, either!
What Makes Kale Healthy?
Now that you can cut your kale up for countless delicious dishes, you’ll be wondering what makes it such a fresh, healthy and nutritious treat in the first place.
For a start, kale offers good amounts of Vitamin A, K, and C. Vitamin A is good for your bone health, among other things, while Vitamin K helps to build your bones and assists blood clotting.
Vitamin C, meanwhile, helps to reduce risks of getting chronic diseases and colds.
On top of these, kale also contains Folate, which is a B vitamin. Folate helps the development of your brain, which is another great benefit from this delicious food!
What To Do With Cut Kale?
As you know, kale is great for various soups, stews, salads, and more. For example, any vegetable soup would benefit greatly from its inclusion.
On top of these, you could also whip up a healthy green smoothie with the help of your cut kale.
Final Thoughts
Kale is nutritious and great for countless meals – make sure it’s cut properly with the help of our guide!
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