How to store spinach and keep it fresh for longer?

Do you ever wonder where your food comes from?
How does it get to your plate?
What happens after you eat it?
Most of us don’t think much about our food until we see it on the supermarket shelf.
However, there’s a whole world of science behind what goes into making our meals.
In this blog post, I’m going to share some interesting facts about food production and processing.

How to Store Spinach

Spinach is a leafy green vegetable that contains lots of nutrients. It is very nutritious and easy to digest. It is rich in iron, vitamin A, calcium, potassium, magnesium, fiber, folate, protein, and omega 3 fatty acids. It is also low in calories. However, if you buy it from the market, it is usually sold already washed. But if you wash it yourself, you can easily get rid of any dirt and bacteria. To clean spinach, place it in a bowl filled with cold water. Then remove the leaves from the stems. Remove any wilted leaves or damaged parts. Rinse the leaves under running tap water until the water runs clear. Drain the leaves well. Dry the leaves using paper towels. To prevent the leaves from getting moldy, wrap them in plastic bags and refrigerate them.

▶ How to Store Spinach in the Fridge

If you store spinach in the refrigerator, you can preserve its nutritional value. Place the cleaned leaves into a container. Cover the container with a lid. Make sure the lid is tightly closed. Refrigerate the container. Keep the container in the refrigerator for about 5 days. After that, discard the leaves.

▶ How to Store Spinach in the Freezer

To freeze spinach, place the washed leaves into a freezer bag. Put the bag into the freezer. Freeze the bag for about 3 months. Remove the frozen spinach from the freezer and thaw it in the refrigerator overnight. ▶How to Store Spinach in a Dry Container

How to Keep Spinach Fresh For Longer

To store spinach in a dry container, wash the leaves thoroughly. Place the leaves in a plastic storage bag, roll closed, and put in a cool, dark location. Refrigerate the bag for up to 2 weeks.

Check out these articles:

https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/recipe/how-to-store-spinach-for-longer/ https://www.seriouseats.com/recipes-and-tips/how-to-keep-fresh-spinach-in-the-fridge-for-a-few-days/

How to Pick Out Fresh Spinach

Spinach is a leafy green vegetable that’s packed full of vitamins A, C, K, and folate. It’s also low in calories and fat, making it a perfect addition to any diet. But how do you know if the spinach you’re buying is fresh? Here are three easy ways to tell whether it’s been sitting around long enough to lose its flavor. 1. Look for bright, vibrant leaves. If the spinach looks wilted or limp, chances are it’s not very fresh. Instead, opt for greens that are firm and plump. 2. Check the sell-by date. This is printed right on the package, usually somewhere near the bottom. If it says "sell by" or "best used by," you’ll probably get better results from the spinach after it expires.

Do You Wash Spinach before You Store It?

You don’t really have to wash spinach before you store it, but washing it does help remove dirt and other contaminants. To clean spinach, simply fill a sink or bowl with cold water and submerge the leaves. Swish them around gently to loosen any debris. Then lift them out of the water and let them drain thoroughly. Rinse again under running water until the water runs clear. Drain well and pat dry with paper towels.

How to Keep Spinach from Getting Slimy

To prevent spinach from getting slimy, rinse it well in cold water after removing it from the refrigerator. This helps reduce the risk of bacteria growth. After rinsing, place the spinach in a colander and allow it to sit while you finish preparing dinner.

Tips on Washing Spinach

Rinse spinach thoroughly in cold running water. Do not soak spinach in water; instead, drain it well. Spinach contains oxalic acid, which can cause skin irritation if it comes into contact with the skin.

How to freeze spinach

Freezing spinach is easy. Simply wash and dry the leaves, remove any stems, and place the leaves in a freezer bag. Freeze until solid. To thaw frozen spinach, simply put it in a bowl of ice water. Drain the spinach, squeeze out any remaining liquid, and serve immediately.

Freeze Pureed spinach

To freeze pureed spinach, follow these steps: Wash the spinach thoroughly and drain well. Place the washed spinach into a blender along with 1/2 cup of milk and blend until smooth. Pour the puree into a freezer bag and freeze until solid. To thawed frozen spinach, simply pour the spinach into a bowl of ice water and let stand for 5 minutes. Drain the spinach, squeezing out any remaining liquid, then serve immediately.

Freeze chopped spinach

Wash the spinach thoroughly and drain very well. Transfer the spinach to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain well and cool completely. Chop the spinach finely. Transfer to a freezer bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the spinach in the refrigerator overnight. How to Make Frozen Spinach

Freeze whole spinach leaves

1. Wash the spinach thoroughly and drain well. 2. Transfer the spinach to the bowl of a food processor fitted with the chopping blade. Process until smooth. 3. Spoon into a freezer bag and freeze. 4. Thaw the spinach overnight in the refrigerator. 5. Use as desired.

How do you thaw frozen spinach bags?

Defrosting frozen spinach is not difficult but it does take longer than if you were to thaw it in the fridge. To defrost frozen spinach, place it in a colander and run cold water over it until it is completely defrosted. This method works well because it allows the water to drain away from the spinach leaves.

Will freezing ruin spinach?

Yes, but not recommended. Spinach contains oxalic acid, which is known to break down into formaldehyde if frozen. This chemical compound is toxic and can cause cancer. It is better to blanch spinach prior to freezing. Blanching spinach reduces the oxalic acid content by about 50 percent. After blanching, cool spinach quickly in ice cold water and dry thoroughly. Then place spinach in freezer bags and freeze. Once frozen, remove from freezer and thaw overnight in refrigerator.

How do you thaw frozen bagged spinach?

If you freeze spinach without blanched, you will get a slimy texture. Blanching is done to remove the toxins from spinach. It helps to retain nutrients and color. Blanching is used to kill bacteria and reduce the chances of contamination. Spinach contains oxalic acid which reacts with calcium ions in the soil to form insoluble salts. This reaction is called “oxalate formation”. Oxalates are toxic to plants and animals. To prevent the formation of these salts, spinach needs to be blanched. Blanching removes the oxalates and prevents the formation of these salts.

Can I freeze bagged spinach?

Yes, you can freeze bagged spinach. Just place the bags into a freezer safe storage container and store in the freezer until needed. To thaw frozen spinach, simply remove from the freezer and let sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Once thawed, squeeze out any extra liquid and drain well.

What happens if you freeze spinach without blanching?

You can thaw frozen bagged greens in the refrigerator overnight. Just place the bags into a bowl filled with cold water. This method works well if you are planning to use the greens within 24 hours. However, if you are planning to freeze the greens again, you should remove the leaves from the stems and wash thoroughly before freezing.

Can I freeze spinach raw?

Yes, freezing will ruin spinach. Spinach contains oxalic acid, which is a natural preservative. Oxalic acid is naturally found in many plants, but spinach is particularly rich in it. It helps prevent bacteria from growing in the plant. But if you freeze spinach, the oxalic acid turns into calcium oxalate crystals. These crystals form clumps of hardened material in the leaves, making them tough and unpalatable. To avoid this problem, buy fresh spinach whenever possible.

How do you defrost frozen spinach quickly?

To thaw frozen spinach bags, place them in a bowl filled with cold water. Make sure not to let the bag touch any other surface. This will help prevent bacteria from growing. Once the bag is completely thawed, drain the water and squeeze out any remaining liquid. Spinach bags can be used immediately after thawing.