Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Freeze fresh spinach
• Necessities
• Freeze fresh spinach
• Blanch the spinach before freezing
• Freeze pureed spinach
• Tips

If you have fresh spinach that you want to keep, you can do that very well in the freezer. While the texture of spinach changes when frozen, the nutrients and flavor are retained. If you plan to use the spinach within 6 months, you can freeze it fresh. However, if you think it will be in the freezer longer, blanch it first. You can also mash the spinach first to make it easier to use in smoothies, soups and more!

To step

Method 1 of 3: Freeze fresh spinach

1. Rinse the spinach in a bowl of cold water. It is always important to wash raw spinach to remove dirt and bacteria from the leaves. Place the spinach in a bowl of water and use your hands to move the leaves through the water. Then rinse the spinach well.
   • If you see brown, damaged, or mushy leaves, pull them out and throw them away.
2. Freeze the leaf spinach in marked, resealable bags. Place the spinach in a freezer bag and close it almost completely. Then push as much air out of the bag as possible without bruising the spinach, then close the bag completely and put it in the freezer. Your spinach will then keep for up to 6 months.
   • If you must use a non-flexible container, try to fill it completely. However, avoid compressing the spinach before closing the container as the spinach can expand when it freezes.
3. Rinse the spinach in cold water to remove any debris, then drain. Before blanching the spinach, rinse it well to get rid of dirt, bacteria, and insecticide on the leaves. Then put the spinach in a colander to drain. You don't have to dry it yet.
   • If you are going to blanch spinach that you have harvested yourself, it is good to first put the leaves in a bowl of water to thoroughly clean them. There may still be bugs or dirt from the garden on it.
   • Store-bought spinach has probably already been washed, but it's still good to rinse again.

   Did you know? Blanching helps retain nutrients in food for longer!

   
   
4. Fill a large bowl with ice water while the water in the pan heats up. While you wait for the water to boil, take a large bowl, such as a large salad bowl. Fill the bowl about half full with ice, then pour in enough cold water to cover the ice.
   • Make sure to leave enough room for the spinach.
5. Then drain the spinach in a colander. After the spinach has cooled, pour it into a colander to drain. It will probably take about 5 minutes for most of the water to drain. If you wish, you can gently shake or tap the colander gently to speed up the process.
   • You can also dry the spinach in a salad spinner, if you have one.
6. Put the spinach in a resealable plastic bag and squeeze out any air. Divide the spinach into portions that you would normally eat for a meal. Extra air in the container can cause the spinach to get cold burns, so be sure to remove as much air as possible from the container before closing it.

   Tip: Dividing it into portions in advance means that you only need to defrost spinach for 1 meal at a time.

   
   
7. Wash your spinach in a bowl of cold water and then rinse well. Stir the spinach around in the bowl for 1-2 minutes to wash away dirt and bacteria. Then run it under cool, running water to rinse and make sure it's completely clean.
   • Even if you are mashing and freezing, always wash raw spinach before eating it.
8. Put the spinach in your blender, with approx. 2 tablespoons of water. If you're mashing a lot of spinach, you can put as much spinach in the blender as can fit. Add a little water, this will help mash the spinach more evenly.
   • You can also use a food processor if you want.

   Recipe idea: replace the water with orange juice or coconut water if you are going to use the frozen mixture in spinach or baby dishes!

   
   
9. Divide the puree into portions and put them in bags, jars or an ice cube tray. To make thawing your spinach as easy as possible, make portions. To do that, divide the spinach into small freezer bags or baby food jars that are safe for the freezer. You can also pour the puree into an ice cube mold to make small cubes.
   • If you are freezing the spinach in an ice cube tray, wait until it is frozen, then remove the cubes from the container and transfer them to a freezer bag or other freezer safe container. That way, you can reuse the ice cube tray whenever you need it.
10. Place the spinach in the freezer, where it will hold approx. Shelf life of 1 year. If your freezer stays at -18 degrees Celsius, the spinach is safe to eat as long as it stays frozen. However, the quality is best when eaten within 10-12 months. To thaw the spinach, put it in the fridge overnight.
    • If you're going to use the spinach in a frozen smoothie, you don't need to thaw it first. Just throw it in the blender with - or instead of - ice cubes. You can also add frozen cubes of spinach to soups or other dishes that need to simmer without thawing, as the heat will quickly melt the ice.

Necessities

Freeze fresh spinach

• Come on
• Water
• Freezer bags
• Highlighter

Blanch the spinach before freezing

• Colander
• Large pan with lid
• Water
• Big bowl
• Ice
• Long ladle with hole
• Freezer bags
• Marker

Freeze pureed spinach

• Come on
• Water
• Blender or food processor
• Ice cube tray or freezer bags

Tips

• While your frozen spinach will be too soft to use in a salad, it will go great with pasta, soup, sauces, roasts and more!