Chard – All You Need to Know | Instacart Guide to Fresh Produce

What is chard?

If you landed here, you’re probably wondering what chard is. Chard is a dark leafy green vegetable with a spectrum of brightly colored stems. It’s most common in Mediterranean cuisine (especially Italian food like risotto and pizza). Swiss chard is the most common variety of chard, but the vegetable comes in colors like red and golden. You might even see rainbow chard, which is a combination of the different kinds of chard.

Chard is similar to beets, but unlike beets, you can’t eat the roots. The green leaves of chard typically have a bumpy, grooved texture that runs up into a thick, colorful stem. Chard is also known by other names, such as Roman kale, silverbeet, Chilean beet, Bright Lights, perpetual spinach, mangold, spinach beet, and white beet.

Where did chard originate from?

Swiss chard originated in the Mediterranean, where the cooks used it to flavor rice and soup dishes. The vegetable is popular in Provence, and it’s grown copiously in the districts around the Rhone valley thanks to its ability to withstand cold weather. It’s then harvested up until the frost.

Older than the beet, it’s believed to have developed from a form of wild beet thousands of years ago. Green and yellow forms of chard have been known to exist since ancient times. Even Aristotle mentions red-stalked chard around 350 B.C. It was introduced into the U.S. by the colonists, and in 1848, it was listed among the beets.

What is the nutritional value of chard?

Chard has tons of nutrients. In fact, one cup of chard is equal to two and a half times the daily requirement of Vitamin K. It’s also packed with vitamins A, C, and E. Chard is also a good source of calcium, riboflavin, iron, magnesium, potassium, and manganese.

Chard also has antioxidants, phytonutrients, and folate. It also contains tryptophan, the amino acid known to help with sleep. A cup of cooked chard has more than three grams of protein and at least half of our daily total intake of Vitamin C., And it’s only 35 calories. It’s got detoxifying and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as disease-fighting benefits.

Now that you know what chard can do for you, you’re probably anxious to hop on your phone and search “chard near me” or “fresh produce near me.” But with Instacart, you can enjoy fresh produce delivery any day of the week.

How is chard grown?

Chard is grown in cooler temperatures throughout the year. Many people sow chard in their gardens two to four weeks after the frost has passed in the springtime. You can also grow it again in the fall. If you want to get an early start, it’s best to sow chard indoors at least three to four weeks before the average late frost date in the springtime so you can transplant it out when the plants are about 3 to 4in (or 7 to 10cm) tall.

Space the plants 4 to 6in (10 to 15cm) apart in loose, well-drained soil. If the soil you’re using is heavy or feels like clay, break it up with compost before you plant it. The chard plant likes cooler weather and sunlight, but it will tolerate frost. Some people grow it throughout the winter in milder climates. Make sure to keep chard moist when it’s young, but not overly so.

When is chard in season?

Although chard is in season all year, the peak season for chard is summer and fall. During that season, a bunch will probably cost you somewhat more than lettuce or spinach. Once it is in season, you can get chard at your local farmer’s market or grocery store. A lot of grocers carry different varieties of chard, including:

• Rhubarb
• Orange Fantasia
• Magenta Sunset
• Barese
• Peppermint
• Bright Lights
• Lucullus
• Large White Ribbed
• Fordhook Giant

What should I look for when buying chard?

When buying swiss chard, look for bunches that have dark green leaves and brightly colored stems. Ideally, you want perky, crisp, glossy leaves without any signs of wilting. The stems should be firm and appear healthy. The stems come in various shades, ranging from creamy white to blood red to bright yellow. Avoid swiss chard bunches that are dried out, splitting, or browning.

Remember, you can provide your shopper information to help them choose the best chard while they’re shopping right from the app. Shop for chard now.

If you are looking to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for chard via Instacart. After adding a product to your cart, use the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best products.

How to store chard

To store chard effectively, separate the leaves and stems and store them in separate containers for up to a week in your refrigerator. But for best results, use it within three days. Storing the leaves properly means laying them out on paper towels and rolling them into a bundle. Then, seal them into a plastic bag. The stems should also be wrapped in plastic.

If you’d rather leave it whole, refrigerate it but make sure it’s wrapped loosely in plastic for just a few days. You can rinse your chard before storing it, but make sure it’s fully dry before you do. But you also have the option of rinsing it right before use.

Even though it’s best fresh, you can store chard for up to a year if it’s frozen.

How to tell if chard is bad

Swiss chard can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 10 days, but you’ll know when it’s gone bad if it has spots on the leaves. These spots are usually brown blotches caused by beet leaf miners. Sometimes, you can remove the parts of the plant that have the brown leaves and eat the rest as long as there aren’t any brown spots.

What can I substitute for chard?

You can substitute chard with fresh produce like mustard greens, beet greens, spinach, dark leafy green, and collard greens. Some people substitute chard with kale.

Choosing fresh chard

Now that you know exactly what chard is and you’ve got some information about when to buy it, how to store it, and how to tell if it’s bad, among other things, you can start shopping for chard at your local grocery store. With the above information as a guide, you’ll be well-equipped to choose chard that’s fresh, healthy, and during its peak time. Shopping with Instacart means you’ll have access to fresh chard delivered right to your door with same-day delivery.

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