Kale converter: whole kale bunches, cups, grams
A recipe calls for '2 cups chopped kale' or you have a bunch and need to know the weight. A medium bunch weighs around 350 g, while a loosely packed cup of chopped raw kale is about 67 g. This converter moves between whole kale bunches, chopped cups, grams, and ounces.
Bunch sizes vary widely between supermarkets and greengrocers, ranging from 200 g to 500 g. Massaging or blanching also compresses the leaves and reduces the cup volume.
How much does a bunch weigh?
A medium, or average, bunch weighs about 350 g, with a small one around 200 g and a large one around 500 g.
Related Kale Ingredients
Using spinach instead? The spinach converter handles whole-bunch weights and chopped cups across small, medium, and large sizes. See our Spinach converter.
Cooking silverbeet instead? The silverbeet converter works out whole-bunch weights and chopped cups across small, medium, and large sizes. See our Silverbeet converter.
Shredding cabbage instead? The cabbage converter handles whole-head weights and shredded cups across small, medium, and large sizes. See our Cabbage converter.
Out of kale? See kale substitutes →
Kale converter tool
Enter an amount, pick your units, and set the size for counting whole kale bunches.
Result
5.22 cupsKale Calculators & Kitchen Tools
Working with kale? These tools handle the jobs a converter cannot.
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Common Kale conversions
Quick reference for kale at medium size. Switch the size in the converter above for small or large.
| kale bunches | Cups (chopped) |
|---|---|
| 1 bunch | 5.22 cups |
| 2 kale bunches | 10.45 cups |
| 3 kale bunches | 15.67 cups |
| 4 kale bunches | 20.9 cups |
| 5 kale bunches | 26.12 cups |
| 6 kale bunches | 31.34 cups |
Kale conversion chart
The chart below shows how whole kale bunches (medium size) convert to cups, grams and ounces.
| kale bunches | cups | cups (US) | g | oz | lb | kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 bunch | 5.22 cups | 5.47 cups (US) | 350 g | 12.35 oz | 0.77 lb | 0.35 kg |
| 2 kale bunches | 10.45 cups | 10.94 cups (US) | 700 g | 24.69 oz | 1.54 lb | 0.7 kg |
| 3 kale bunches | 15.67 cups | 16.41 cups (US) | 1050 g | 37.04 oz | 2.31 lb | 1.05 kg |
| 4 kale bunches | 20.9 cups | 21.88 cups (US) | 1400 g | 49.38 oz | 3.09 lb | 1.4 kg |
| 5 kale bunches | 26.12 cups | 27.34 cups (US) | 1750 g | 61.73 oz | 3.86 lb | 1.75 kg |
Kale varieties and best uses
The conversions above are the same whatever variety you use; the difference is what each is good for. Here is how the common kale varieties compare.
| Variety | Best for |
|---|---|
| Curly Kale | Salads, smoothies, and kale chips: robust crinkled leaves that hold their texture when raw or roasted. |
| Lacinato (Tuscan / Cavolo Nero) | Soups, braises, and pasta: long dark leaves with a milder, more tender bite when cooked. |
| Red Russian | Salads and mild cooked dishes: flat serrated leaves with a sweeter, less bitter flavour. |
| Baby Kale | Salads, wraps, and smoothies: tender small leaves that need no prep and work raw. |
Which should I pick?
Curly kale is the supermarket default and suits most uses, from raw salads to roasted chips, once you strip the tough central stems. Lacinato (Tuscan or Cavolo Nero) gives a more tender result in soups and braises. For a sweeter, less bitter bite raw, reach for Red Russian or baby kale, which need no destemming.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the size of a medium bunch?
- A medium bunch weighs about 350 g, which works out to roughly 5.22 cups (5.47 US cups) of chopped flesh. Kale bunches come in a range of sizes depending on the season, variety and where they were grown, so weight and cup figures shift accordingly. Use the size selector above to match what you actually have, then read the exact conversion for any amount.
- How much does a medium bunch weigh?
- A medium bunch weighs about 350 g, with a small one around 200 g and a large one near 500 g. That range changes the weight of any recipe that counts kale bunches by the piece, so set the size selector to match what you actually have before trusting a cup or gram figure.
- How much does an average bunch weigh?
- An average bunch is the same as a medium one: about 350 g. A small bunch is lighter at around 200 g and a large one heavier at about 500 g, so the size you actually have changes the total for any recipe that counts kale bunches by the piece rather than by weight.
- Which kale variety should I use?
- Curly kale is the supermarket default and suits most uses, from raw salads to roasted chips, once you strip the tough central stems. Lacinato (Tuscan or Cavolo Nero) gives a more tender result in soups and braises. For a sweeter, less bitter bite raw, reach for Red Russian or baby kale, which need no destemming.
- How much does a large bunch weigh?
- A large bunch weighs about 500 g, noticeably more than a medium, or average, one at 350 g or a small one at 200 g. Set the size selector to large to convert cups, grams and ounces for the bigger kale bunches you actually have on the counter.
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