Spinach is a multipurpose vegetable that almost everyone has in their refrigerator. It is often sold in bulk at a cheap price. Unless you can eat this leafy green in a week before it goes bad, you may need a strategy to extend its life.
So, can you freeze fresh spinach for future use?
Spinach is an excellent option for freezing, whether you need to clear some room in the fridge or preserve your crop for winter usage. It just takes a few minutes of your time, and you’ll have it available whenever you need it!
You’ve come to the correct site if you want to know how to properly freeze spinach. Continue reading for amazing actionable advice!
Contents
- The Easy Way To Freeze Fresh Spinach
- How To Defrost and Use Frozen Spinach
- How Long Does Spinach Last in the Freezer?
- FAQs
- FAQs
- Can I freeze uncooked spinach?
- Can you freeze bagged spinach leaves?
- Is it better to freeze spinach raw or cooked?
- What is the best way to freeze fresh spinach?
- What happens if you freeze spinach without blanching?
- How do you store spinach long term?
- How long does bagged spinach last in the fridge?
- How long does spinach last in the fridge?
- Can you cook spinach from frozen?
The Easy Way To Freeze Fresh Spinach
Many dishes benefit from the use of spinach. Like other leafy greens, you only have a week to use up this iron-rich veggie before it goes bad.
Freezing is the best method to keep this lush green throughout the winter and beyond. More significantly, it is ready to use as soon as you remove it from the freezer. Add it to smoothies, rice dishes, or other favorite recipes.
It is not difficult to freeze spinach. It is simple and just requires a few simple steps, comparable to freezing other greens like kale and collard green. Blanching is required to keep the brilliant color, texture, and taste.
Follow the steps outlined below to effectively freeze fresh spinach.
- 1. Choose young, fresh spinach with brilliant green leaves. Avoid using old, wilted, yellowing, or weak leaves.
- 2. Trim off the tough stems.
- 3. Wash thoroughly under running water.
- Repeat this step if the leaves are very dirty.
- 4. Bring water to a boil in a big saucepan and blanch the leaves for 2 minutes. Consider setting a timer to ensure that they do not undercook or overcook.
- 5. Once the blanching time is over, rapidly immerse the blanched leaves in cold water and let them to cool.
- 6. Drain them off in a colander.
- Put everything in a zip lock bag or a freezer-safe container. If using a freezer bag, remove as much air as possible using a straw or, if available, a vacuum sealer.
- 7. Tightly seal the packaging, mark it with the freezing date, and place it in the freezer.
Consider freezing spinach in ice cube trays if you only need a tiny bit for each dish and smoothie. Pack in a freezer bag after flash freezing until firm.
Can you freeze spinach without blanching it?
Technically, it (and other greens) can be frozen without blanching or cooking. Blanching, on the other hand, inhibits enzyme activity, which would otherwise damage the taste, color, and texture of fresh fruit.
Although it is not ideal, you may try freezing unblanched spinach for brief periods of time and see if you are happy with the end result.
How To Defrost and Use Frozen Spinach
Having frozen spinach in your freezer helps you to make fast meals even on your busiest days.
Place it in the refrigerator or on the counter to thaw while preparing other ingredients. It will be soft and watery after thawing. Remember to wring off any extra water before using.
You may also use it frozen without thawing to make smoothies, soups, and stews. It simply takes a few minutes on high heat to cook.
Aside from fresh salads, the frozen version works nicely in a variety of different prepared foods.
Here are some of our favorite frozen spinach recipes:
- Bake into delectable casseroles, quiches, and pies.
- Make into spinach dip
- Creamy pasta and cannelloni
- Add into rice dishes and vegetable stir-fries
- Add into a quick frittata
- Throw into soup and stews
- Use in place of other leafy greens such as kale or mustard green.
How Long Does Spinach Last in the Freezer?
If properly prepared, spinach may be frozen for up to 10 to 12 months. It may be stored forever if kept frozen at 0 F (18 C) or below. However, extended freezing may increase the likelihood of developing freezer burn. As a result, it is advisable to utilize it while it is still in its prime.
FAQs
No. Fresh veggies may be frozen to increase their shelf life and maintain their nutritious value. In other words, frozen spinach is just as healthy as fresh spinach.
It’s easy to detect whether spinach has gone rotten. You’ll notice it when the leaves begin to yellow, wilt, get sticky, and emit foul odors. It is recommended to compost them at this stage rather than cooking them for your meals.
Spinach may be stored forever if properly prepared and kept frozen at 0 F (18 C). However, the texture and flavor deteriorate with time, especially if freezer burn has set in.
Although the likelihood is remote, frozen veggies (including spinach) may be contaminated by dangerous microorganisms during processing. If you have store-bought frozen spinach that has been recalled, it is recommended to discard it and follow the government’s recommendations.
Summary
Spinach is a must-have in every kitchen. While refrigeration keeps it fresh for about a week, freezing extends its shelf life to up to a year.
Don’t forget to blanch it before long-term freezing to help it preserve taste and color. It is simple and fast to freeze spinach.It’s yet another kitchen tip you should try!
See more:
- Can kale be frozen?
- How to freeze lettuce
*image by HandmadePicture/depositphotos
FAQs
Can I freeze uncooked spinach?
It’s a piece of cake to freeze entire spinach leaves! Simply remove any unpleasant leaves, insert the fresh spinach leaves in a Ziploc freezer bag, push out as much air as possible, and freeze. It doesn’t get much simpler than this! Spinach may also be pureed and frozen.
Can you freeze bagged spinach leaves?
Seal the bags after rolling them up and forcing out as much air as possible. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thawing: Add frozen to a soup or stew without thawing, however the leaves may add some more liquid.
Is it better to freeze spinach raw or cooked?
Blanching spinach before freezing helps to maintain the color and flavor by delaying the enzymatic process that leads to degradation; however, it is less effective at keeping nutrients. Blanching spinach before freezing allows it to survive much longer in the freezer, up to a year.
What is the best way to freeze fresh spinach?
Fill freezer bags with one to two cups of leaves per bag, depending on desired serving size. When frozen things are exposed to air, they suffer freezer burn, and freezer burn makes spinach taste bad. Suck out extra air around leaves using a straw before closing bags.
What happens if you freeze spinach without blanching?
Both yes and no. It all depends on how you want to utilize it. There is no need to blanch frozen spinach if you expect to use it within a few weeks. Unblanched spinach stored in the freezer for an extended period of time will become brown due to enzyme activity, altering the texture, taste, and color.
How do you store spinach long term?
If the spinach is loose, wrap it in dry paper towels or clean dish towels and keep it in a sealed freezer bag or plastic container in the crisper drawer. If the spinach arrived in its own packaging, just place a towel or cloth in the container, shut it, and place it in the crisper.
How long does bagged spinach last in the fridge?
How long can spinach be stored in the refrigerator? Fresh spinach may be kept in the fridge for up to two weeks if properly preserved. Bagged spinach is usually good until the expiration date or for up to 5 days beyond that.
How long does spinach last in the fridge?
The easiest way to store spinach and keep it fresh is to leave it in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator for a week to ten days.
Can you cook spinach from frozen?
Frozen spinach is commonly accessible throughout the year and may be quickly warmed on the stovetop or in the microwave. You may also add frozen spinach to any savory recipe to boost its nutritious value. In this recipe, you can quickly learn how to create sautéed frozen spinach today!
