How long will this last?
7
days when stored properly
Refrigerator
Storage location
32–34°F
Temperature
High / Moist
Humidity
Ethylene sensitive. Heads up — this item is sensitive to ethylene gas. Keep it away from bananas, apples, and tomatoes.
Pro tip
Store unwashed in a damp paper towel inside a bag in the crisper. Keep away from ethylene-producing fruits. Lacinato (dinosaur) kale is more tender; curly kale benefits from massaging before eating raw. Use within a week for best quality.
About
Kale went from obscure farmers market staple to superstar vegetable, and it earned it. With its deep, earthy flavor and hearty texture, it stands up to bold flavors better than almost any other green. Massaging raw kale with a little olive oil and salt breaks down its toughness and makes it genuinely tender and delicious. It's brilliant in smoothies, roasted into chips, or braised low and slow until silky.
Flavor & Uses
Taste and Uses
Flavor
earthyslightly bitternuttyheartymineral
Best for
saladssmoothieschipsbraised greenssoupsstir-frygrain bowlspasta
Seasonality
In California
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Peak seasonIn seasonOff season
Good to know
High in vitamin K — individuals on blood-thinning medications should maintain consistent intake.
Fun Fact
Kale that has been exposed to frost actually tastes sweeter — cold temperatures trigger the plant to convert stored starches into sugars as a natural antifreeze mechanism, improving the flavor significantly.
In the Kitchen
Recipes with This Ingredient
Learn More
Related Lessons
Understanding Ethylene: The Invisible Ripening Gas
Ethylene is a natural gas that fruits and vegetables produce as they ripen — and it travels to everything around them. This lesson explains what ethylene is, which produce items produce it, which ones are devastated by it, and how you can use it strategically to your advantage.
Reduce Your Food Waste Starting Today
The average American household wastes nearly a third of the food it buys — and most of that waste happens in the produce aisle. This lesson gives you practical, immediately actionable strategies to waste less, save money, and feel better about what's in your kitchen.