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How to Properly Clean Greens!

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I had to do this post because not everyone knows how to properly prepare and clean greens. As a matter of fact, a lot of people don’t even know that greens have to be cleaned before you cook them. I started cooking greens when I was about 12. My mom must have assumed since I had cooked everything else, I would know what to do with greens. Unfortunately, she was wrong. I had never paid attention to her when she made greens. I would usually just come in the kitchen when she’d be at the point of putting the greens into the pot. Anywho, my first pot of greens (okay first couple of pots) were beyond gross. I simply took the greens out of the grocery bag, and maybe “rinsed” the greens (I had a little sense!). I then put the greens in the pot with the half way cooked ham hocks. Without testing the food, I assumed that it was done. Hey, I figured that my mom never took that long when she had cooked her greens (That show’s how much I had watched her on collard green nights). When I served the food, I had the nerve to be proud of my greens. That was until I looked at the expression on my mother’s face. She looked sick, mad, and confused all at once. She then asked me, “Baby, did you wash this?”. I said yes of course, because in my mind the “rinse” that I had done was washing. She knew I hadn’t washed them, because they were extremely gritty. I won’t even tell you about the ham hocks! Anyway, it took me awhile to fully understand how well greens needed to be cleaned before they were ready to be cooked. I eventually perfected my ham hock method as well. So, to make sure you never make a fool out of yourself and waste a perfectly good bunch of greens, I want to school you on how to really clean your greens. Trust me, you and your family will thank me later. I’m sure my mom wishes she that hadn’t assumed that I knew what I was doing. I think she was sick for a few days afterwards 🙁 ….

A Step-by-Step Guide to Clean Greens Properly!


Check out some of my greens recipes!

Collard Greens With Smoked Ham Hocks

Delicious Quick and Easy Greens

Collard Greens and Smoked Turkey

Soulful Cabbage & Collard Greens

Watch How to Clean Greens!


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MEET THE RECIPE AUTHOR

Rosie

I’m a Soul Food blogger living in the Pacific Northwest, bringing Southern cooking to gorgeous Seattle, Washington. I was born and raised in the PNW, but my family roots go all the way to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where my grandparents were born and raised. I live every day to bring the traditional values, recipes, and love of food to life for my family—whether they’re online or in real life. So, welcome to the party, family!

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  1. Rosie,

    I have purchased your cook book but cannot track the status as to where it is.

    Can you help me.??? There was not confirmation to my e-mail address.

    Thanks in advance

    Reply

  2. Hi Rosie,

    My heart goes out to you as I know all to well the labor of love that goes into cleaning “greens”, any and all “greens”., my favorite being turnip greens.

    For years upon years I had always heard that putting them into the washing machine is best. I thought this to be a myth or a old wives tale and thought to myself “how dare anyone abuse a green (GASP!)”…..that is, until I saw my Mother-in-law actually doing it.

    I am proud to say, I will NEVER hand wash another green as long as I live! They come out so much cleaner and literally grit/dirt free!

    Make sure your washing machine is free of dirt, oils and clothes. Simply throw the greens into the tub, set that water temp on COLD, and the cycle on delicate. Turn the machine on and let it do its thing, even through the spin cycle and WAaaaLaaa, nice, clean, fresh greens in a fraction of the time it takes to hand clean. It does NOT hurt your washing machine at all and any and all bugs are usually rinsed away as well although I still keep a eye out for the pesky things. Living in the south, bugs are just a necessary evil.

    I only found your blog today as your peach cobbler caught my eye, which I intend to make to take to our cabin in the mountains over the Labor Day weekend. Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge and talents and best of wishes with your new business venture!

    Reply