Red Chard Delivery or Pickup

Red chard, chard, or Swiss chard belongs to the Flavescens Group of cultivars. Red chard has a green leaf and red stalks that often get prepared separately from the leaf. The leaf has a reddish-green color, and the stalks can also be white or yellow.

The leaves are highly nutritious, and chard has been used in cooking for centuries. Its use in various cultures for so long has resulted in a confusing etymology. It has many names, including perpetual spinach, seakale beet, leaf beet, beet spinach, and silverbeet. It's unclear how the name Swiss chard came to be, as the red chard isn't native to Switzerland. Some attribute this to it first being described by Swiss botanist Gaspard Bauhin.

Red chard cultivars include the ruby chard and rhubarb chard varieties. Green varieties exist, but the red chard has a more attractive appearance gardeners enjoy, even though the green chard outproduces the red chard. The leaves of red chard are shiny, green, and ribbed. They have red petioles, though other cultivars present with white to yellow petioles.

Red chard gets harvested in the spring, sometimes as early as April, and the harvest lasts through May. Red chard's hardiness contributes to this extended harvest, allowing it to grow until temperatures reach the 80s. 

Red chard has a slightly bitter taste raw, but mostly tastes mild, sweet, and earthy. It can be used as a substitute for tortilla wraps in tacos or sandwiches. Raw red chard makes a great addition to your favorite salad. When cooked, red chard loses its bitterness. You can boil red chard leaves like kale or collard greens and serve them with a bit of butter and light seasoning. You can add them to stews like you would escarole in the classic Italian wedding soup. 

The colorful stem and shiny leaf make an excellent garnish. You can add red chard to your favorite sandwich instead of lettuce as a crispy sweet alternative.

Fresh red chard should have shiny green leaves and firm red stalks. Look for red chard that has no broken stalks or visible bruising. The leaves should be free of spots. Black or brown spots indicate age and the start of rot and should be avoided. Any dullness to the red chard might indicate age, and you should look for shiny bunches instead. Your grocer might use misters to help keep red chard fresh, so a bit of moisture is OK. Any slimy feel to the red chard might indicate improper storage and the start of spoilage.

Red chard won't last more than a day or two at room temperature. Refrigerate your red chard for the best result. In your fridge's crisper drawer, red chard can last up to two weeks, depending on how fresh it was when you purchased it. You can freeze red chard for more extended storage. Experts recommend blanching the red chard before freezing to retain the color. In your freezer, red chard can last up to one year.

You can save time shopping for red chard by using the Instacart app. All you have to do is add the red chard to your cart and pay. After checkout, an Instacart shopper will prepare your order. In as little as 2 hours, your red chard could be ready for in-store pickup! In some cases, same-day home delivery may be possible.