If you know you’ll use your frozen spinach within six months, you can freeze it without blanching. … Another way to freeze spinach is to puree it with water and freeze in ice cube trays. After cubes freeze solid, toss them in a freezer bag.
Can you freeze raw spinach?
You cannot freeze spinach and expect to use it in a salad or for other recipes where it needs to be fresh and whole. There is some loss of nutrients with blanching, but freezing spinach at the peak of freshness is still healthier than eating out of season spinach trucked in from 1,500 miles away.
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.
Should I cook spinach before freezing?
Blanching spinach before freezing helps preserve the colour and taste for longer as it delays the enzymatic process that leads to decay, however, it’s not so good at retaining the nutrients. Blanching spinach before freezing also means that it will last a lot longer in the freezer, for up to a year.
Is frozen spinach cooked or raw?
Since frozen spinach is blanched (that is, boiled briefly in very hot water and then submerged in cold water to stop the cooking and retain the color) before it’s packaged, it’s like a shortcut.
What can I do with lots of spinach?
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Wrap. Spinach Artichoke Grilled Cheese. Spinach Feta Grilled Cheese.
…
Here are some of my favorite soups and stews that are perfect for your leftover spinach:
- Garden Vegetable Lasagna Soup.
- Navy Bean Soup with Sausage & Spinach.
- Upgrading Instant Ramen.
- Easy Egg Drop Soup.
- Swamp Soup.
How do you thaw frozen spinach?
The best way to defrost frozen spinach is to warm it in the microwave for a few minutes or warm it over low heat on the stove in pot and strain excess water with a mesh sieve or colander. Depending on your grocery store’s freezer section, you can typically find frozen spinach either chopped or as whole leaf.
How long can you keep fresh spinach in the freezer?
How 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 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 do you store spinach long term?
Storage. Short-Term Storage: Loosely wrap spinach in a damp paper towel and refrigerate in a reusable airtight container, plastic bag, or salad spinner for use within 3-5 days. Spinach is very perishable, so use quickly. Long-Term Storage: Water blanch, or plunge the spinach into boiling water, for two minutes.
Can I cook spinach from frozen?
Use a metal or wooden spoon to stir the frozen spinach in the frying pan, until it has been heated through. … While cooking times may vary depending on the amount of product and processing procedures, it generally takes between four and six minutes of cooking to heat a package of frozen spinach.
Can you freeze spinach without blanching?
If you know you’ll use your frozen spinach within six months, you can freeze it without blanching. … Another way to freeze spinach is to puree it with water and freeze in ice cube trays. After cubes freeze solid, toss them in a freezer bag.
Can you save cooked spinach?
To maximize the shelf life of cooked spinach for safety and quality, refrigerate the spinach in airtight containers or resealable plastic bags. Properly stored, cooked spinach will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Can you get sick from frozen spinach?
A. No. At this time, the FDA has no evidence frozen spinach, canned spinach, or spinach in premade meals manufactured by food companies are affected. These products are safe to eat, according to the FDA.
How healthy is frozen spinach?
Freezing spinach does not seem to mean any loss in beta-carotene content. Frozen spinach is terrific to keep on hand for an easy nutrient boost in soups and sauces. For other uses, cook spinach (fresh or frozen) by steaming, microwaving, stir-frying or sautéing to retain folate and vitamin C.
Do you need to thaw frozen spinach?
When You Don’t Have to Defrost Frozen Spinach
Yes, you can actually skip the fussy step of thawing and squeezing out the liquid from frozen spinach more often than you might think. Anytime what you’re making won’t be ruined or made too soggy with excess liquid, feel free to use the spinach straight from the freezer.