The Easy Trick For Stemming Kale Quickly

Vegetables are a key part of a healthy diet, and yet a mere 10% of U.S. adults meet the daily intake recommendations, as reported by the CDC. When it comes to getting your daily fix of veggies — which, according to the American Heart Association, is five servings — try to fill your plate with a variety of colors, textures, and flavors. Versatile greens, like kale, are a great way to get your daily dose, as they can be chopped and used as a base for a salad, mixed into a stir-fry, or even folded into hearty dishes.

Kale is packed with nutrients, including vitamins A, K, B6, and C, as well as calcium and potassium, per the Mayo Clinic, and the cruciferous vegetable offers a number of health benefits. It aids in digestion, helps fight inflammation, and supports liver health, according to Mindbodygreen. However, when it comes to preparing kale, most recipes call for the leafy green to be stemmed, which can be a laborious process. Here's a simple tip for removing the leaves easily.

When prepping kale, use this trick to destem it easily. Grab a pair of silicone tongs with a loop on the end and drag the kale stem through the loop to separate the leaves from the stem, as recommended by The Modern Nonna's Instagram. And if you don't have tongs handy, another fast way to destem kale is to grip the bottom of the stem with one hand, using the other hand to rip the leaves away from you.

Once you've removed the stems, give your kale leaves a good wash before chopping them and incorporating them into your meal. Try whipping up this hearty kale lasagna recipe, tasty Mexican kale salad, or refreshing kale slaw recipe. Don't toss the stems, though! They're packed with fiber and can be repurposed by blending them into a smoothie or juice, puréeing them into a dip, or pickling them for a tangy topping, as recommended by Epicurious.