How to freeze spinach the easy way?
There are 4 easy ways to freeze spinach:
- Washing and freezing fresh spinach
- Puree technique (with water)
- Blanching technique
- Freezing fresh spinach without washing
How to freeze fresh spinach without blanching?
➺ Remove the tough stems and damaged leaves. ➺ Without rinsing and blanching, just put the leaves in freezing bags, and freeze. ➺ The leaves will keep fresh for about 3-4 days. You won’t be able to use the thawed spinach in fresh salads, but you can use it in various other dishes.
How to store spinach to keep it fresh?
With any of these methods, you’ll want to keep spinach in the refrigerator:
- Paper Towels and a Plastic Bag. Wrap spinach in paper towels to absorb any moisture, place them in a bag, and remove the air. ...
- Paper Towels and a Plastic Container. This is a similar method as the one above. Line a plastic container with paper towels and dump them in the spinach. ...
- Plastic Bag. A third option is to place spinach in a plastic produce bag. ...
Can you eat spinach out of the can?
The good news is that you can reap the same nutritious benefits from canned spinach as you can from fresh, for less money. Kapica found that canned spinach not only has a lower per-serving cost than fresh or frozen, but it also offers a high content of vitamin C at an 85% savings.
What is the best way to freeze fresh spinach?
Freezing whole spinach leaves is a total breeze! Just pick out any icky leaves, place the fresh spinach leaves in a Ziploc freezer bag, squeeze out as much air as possible, and place it in the freezer. It doesn't get much easier! You can also puree and freeze your spinach.
Can you freeze uncooked fresh spinach?
Can you freeze spinach? You definitely can, and the result serves fabulous flavor when you start with freshly picked leaves. You won't be able to serve the thawed product in fresh salads, but frozen spinach is versatile in the kitchen.
Can you freeze spinach without blanching?
If you plan to use the frozen spinach within a few weeks, there is no need to blanch it first. But unblanched spinach left in the freezer for too long will turn brown because of enzyme actions which will change the texture, flavor, and coloring.
Can you put bagged spinach in the freezer?
Label freezer-safe resealable bags of any size with the date in permanent marker. Divide the cooked and dried spinach among the labeled bags, filling approximately 2/3 of the way up. Roll the bags up, pressing out as much air as possible and seal. Freeze for up to 3 months.
How long do you blanch spinach for freezing?
Blanch The Leaves Place the leaves into a pot of boiling water for 1 minute only. Use 2 quarts of water for every pound or so of spinach. Remove leaves from boiling water and transfer to a bowl of ice water. Drain and squeeze any remaining water out with your hands.
What can I do with too much fresh spinach?
8 Ways to Use Up a Ton of Fresh SpinachPesto.Spinach Cheese Bake.Spanakopita.Spinach paneer.Lasagna.Curried lentils with spinach.Calzones.Dip.
Should I cook spinach before freezing?
Spinach and other greens need to be blanched before freezing. This helps retain the color and nutrition. Bring enough water to cover your spinach to a boil. I use my blancher, but a large pot will work as well.
Can you freeze spinach in a plastic container?
Pack the prepared spinach into freezer-safe plastic bags. Squeeze or suck as much air from the bags as possible before sealing them. While you can technically use freezer-safe plastic containers instead of bags, doing so increases the risk of freezer burn since you won't be able to remove the excess air.
What happens if you do not blanch a vegetable before freezing it?
Blanching helps vegetables keep their vibrant colors and retain nutrients, and stops the enzymes that would otherwise lead to spoilage. Freezing vegetables without blanching them first results in faded or dulled coloring, as well as off flavors and textures.
How long does spinach last in the freezer?
about 10 to 12 monthsHow long does spinach last in the freezer? Properly stored, it will maintain best quality for about 10 to 12 months, but will remain safe beyond that time. The freezer time shown is for best quality only - spinach that has been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
What is blanching spinach?
Blanched spinach Blanching the spinach leaves in a large pot of salted hot water quickly wilts the greens in under a minute. This is great for rapidly cooking multiple batches of leaves. Make sure to quickly remove from the heat and cool it down under cold running water to halt the cooking process.
How long does spinach last in fridge?
10 daysStore spinach in the fridge Refrigerated spinach leaves will stay good for up to a week or even 10 days, according to Allrecipes. The fridge will even work well to keep both fresh and cooked spinach good, so long as you plan to use either within several days of storing it.
How to Freeze Spinach Leaves for Smoothies
I freeze baby spinach leaves whole to add to my smoothies. Here’s how…. (super easy!)
Freezing Spinach to Cook with Later
For spinach that I plan on adding to soups, stews and skillets, I first blanch the baby spinach leaves then freeze them in ice cube trays so spinach can easily be added to recipes on a whim. One pound of spinach will wilt down to about 1 cup when blanched. I use these spinach cubes a lot!!! They’re super handy to have stashed in the freezer!
How to Freeze Spinach
Learn How to Freeze Spinach so you always have a stash of spinach on hand to add to soups, stews, skillets and smoothies.
Can You Freeze Spinach? Spoiler: Yes!
Spinach is one of those versatile staples that I like to always have on hand. So we typically pick up at least one extra large tub of organic spinach at Costco each week. At around $3.89 for a pound of fresh spinach, it’s an excellent value. That is IF you can use that much spinach in a week.
What To Know Before Freezing Spinach
Before I tell you about freezing fresh spinach, there’s one important thing you should know… Just making sure I set some expectations (and maybe this goes without saying), but don’t expect to thaw your frozen spinach and eat it in a salad. Freezing spinach breaks down the cellular walls, so it WILL be wilted and watery when thawed.
How To Freeze Fresh Spinach
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, here’s the quick and dirty on how to freeze spinach leaves. Basically, there are two methods that I like to use, with the first being my favorite because it’s totally easy and mess-free!
How To Freeze Spinach (The EASY Way!)
If you want to learn how to freeze spinach (without blanching), you've come to the right place... Yep, you CAN freeze fresh spinach leaves!
Delicious Recipes That Use Spinach
Over the years I’ve discovered that “sneaky” spinach is one of the BEST ways to get my kids to eat more greens. If I’ve already stirred it into a dish, they’re highly unlikely to waste much time and effort trying to pick it out. In fact, they often don’t even notice it at this point.
1. Blanching
It is advisable to blanch spinach before freezing, as it helps stop the enzymatic process that leads to decaying of the leaves even in the freezer.
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Learn methods for freezing vegetables so you can have fresh taste long after the growing season ends.
How to Cook Spinach?
When it comes to cooking spinach, most people have been doing it quite wrong. Unlike other greens like kale or collard, spinach does not need a long braising time. It takes just about a couple of minutes. There are three main ways of cooking spinach, sauteing, blanching, or steaming.
Quick Spinach Sauté Recipe
This basic spinach sauté is delicious as it is. It can also be used as a base for any number of dishes, from quiche to a quick Chinese stir-fry.
How to Store Fresh Spinach?
The trouble with spinach and indeed, any dietary greens, is how quickly it can spoil. How many of us have bought a fresh bunch, only to find slimy bits a day later? There are a few ways to store your spinach. Needless to say, it must be stored in the refrigerator. But before that there are a few things you have to do:
How to Freeze Spinach?
Freezing fresh spinach is not recommended. You will find that the leaves will become slimy very quickly. To freeze spinach, you have to cook it before. Cook the spinach by sauteing or steaming it as explained above. Let the cooked spinach cool down, put it in a container, and freeze it.