If you have ever wondered what canned collard greens taste like, I will only say, you need to first find out how to cook canned collard greens, because if you season these collard greens right, you’ll be saying, “Those are the BEST collard greens I’ve ever eat!”.
I never thought I would fix collard greens any other way than by washing them and then, oh yea, washing them again. How about we wash those greens just one more time? You can see the whole process right HERE.
And of course, home grown and cooked collard greens are DELICIOUS! But who has time to do all that washing of the greens every single time? Not me. But I still LOVE the taste!
So, let’s be all about how to fix canned collard greens so that they taste good!
HERE'S A VIDEO OF WENDI FIXING SOME CANNED COLLARDS TO SHOW YOU HOW...
HOW TO SEASON CANNED COLLARD GREENS
You have some choices when seasoning your canned collard greens, and it just depends on your tastes! You can choose…
- Smoked Turkey
- Bacon
- Fat Back
- Onions
- Garlic
- Cayenne Pepper
- Hot Sauce
- Vinegar
- Hot Vinegar
- Lemon
- sugar
Try to pick at least one seasoning that adds some FAT (the meats) and then one seasoning that adds FLAVOR (Onion or garlic - or both) and then one flavoring that adds some HEAT ( Hot sauce, cayenne) . Then, just for good measure, add a splash of some acidic something (Vinegar or lemon).
See? Those canned collard greens are tasting better already!
HOW LONG WILL CANNED COLLARD GREENS LAST?
Your canned collard greens will be good for several days if you follow my recipe below. I would throw them out after they have been in the refrigerator for 5 days though.
Simply allow them to come to room temperature after you cook them, then cover with some plastic wrap and put them in the fridge. They will probably be even better by tomorrow!
ARE CANNED COLLARD GREENS GOOD FOR ME?
ALL collard greens are good for you, including canned collard greens. Canned collards are an excellent source of fiber and calcium and even have a little protein. Canned Collard Greens are low in calories! Just be careful, like all canned foods, they already contain salt.
CAN YOU FREEZE CANNED COLLARD GREENS?
If you have cooked up a can of collard greens but just can’t eat the rest, then yes, you can freeze them just fine. When they thaw back out, simply heat them up. You will note that when they thaw back out, they are a little mushier than they were to start with.
TIPS AND TRICKS FOR CANNED COLLARD GREENS
- You will want to drain the canned collards very well before you start to cook with them.
- Most canned collards are cut up much smaller than what you would do at home if you were making them from scratch.
- Typically, you will want to add the flavors that I have listed above when you are jazzing up your canned collard greens.
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS POST ABOUT HOW TO COOK CANNED COLLARDS, YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY THE REST OF THE RECIPES IN THIS SERIES....
HOW TO COOK CANNED...
Black Eyed Peas
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THE RECIPE FOR HOW TO COOK CANNED COLLARD GREENS
HOW TO COOK CANNED COLLARD GREENS
Ingredients
- 2 slices of bacon cut into 5-6 pieces each
- 2 slices onion chopped
- 1 clove of garlic chopped
- 1 28 oz can of collard greens drained well
- ½ cup water
- 1 teaspoon white granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoon hot sauce like Franks or Texas Pete
- 2 teaspoon white vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a medium sized sauce pot over medium heat, add the cut up slices of bacon and allow those to cook till crispy. Do not pour off the bacon grease.
- Add the onion and garlic and allow to cook till fragrant and softening (about 3 minutes).
- Pour in the drained can of collard greens, water, sugar, hot sauce and vinegar and stir well.
- Stir frequently and continue to heat over medium heat until heated through.
- When heated through, the greens are ready to serve, taste first and add salt and pepper until you are satisfied with the taste. If they taste bitter at all, add more salt. Add more hot sauce, per your tastes.
Notes
- You will want to drain the canned collards very well before you start to cook with them.
- Most canned collards are cut up much smaller than what you would do at home if you were making them from scratch.
- Typically, you will want to add the flavors that I have listed above when you are jazzing up your canned collard greens.
Nutrition
Jenn says
I have used your recipe many, many times and they are always a hit. I have even had people tell me they are the best they have ever had. I wanted to make some fresh collards but want the same flavors as this recipe, could I translate this recipe to fresh collards evenly or how do you suggest to make them?
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Jenn, I have an entire article about cooking fresh collards with a recipe. Let me give you a link here::
Frederick Douglass says
Don't you want to crisp them up, like in an oven? Mushy canned greens just don't taste as good as freshly cooked, because they're missing that bit of crunch. Might as well be puree.
Wendi Spraker says
Hi Frederick, The canned greens are going to be kind of mushy, it's the nature of the beast. I hope you consider at least trying this recipe.
Chuck says
Great recipe, wonderful flavor! Thanks
Wendi Spraker says
You are so welcome
Charlie H. says
Good ideas and advice, thank you!
Wendi Spraker says
Thanks Charlie
Craig H says
I made this recipe for our New Year's dinner using (Glory) mixed greens and substituting powered onion and garlic for the fresh due to a picky eater. It was delicious.
Wendi Spraker says
Oh man, those picky eaters! lol. I have some of those too. You did just the right thing.
Arnold Sterling says
Great recipe for canned collards , I used glory greens , and it's awesome , Cajun seasoning works well which I used