Do I have to blanch spinach before freezing?

Do I have to blanch 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.

Can I just freeze 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.

Will freezing ruin spinach?

Can You Freeze spinach? The best way to freeze spinach is to blanch it to kill the enzymes and bacteria that can ruin its color, flavor, and nutrients. If you freeze raw spinach, you need to use it within 6 months. It won’t keep as long in the freezer and will lose its flavor.

How do you unfreeze fresh 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.

What is the best way to store spinach?

To store spinach and prolong its freshness, first stem, wash, and dry it, pulling out any bad leaves. Place it in a plastic container or resealable bag. Then dampen doubled paper towels, wring them out, and lay over spinach. Seal the container and refrigerate spinach up to two weeks.

How do you use frozen spinach?

10 Ways to Make a Meal Out of Frozen Spinach

1. Blend it into smoothies.
2. Add it to a pot of soup.
3. Fold it into a frittata, quiche, or egg casserole.
4. Add it to a stir-fry.
5. Make savory pancakes.
6. Toss it into pasta.
7. Add it to a grain bowl.
8. Blitz it into a pesto.

How long can you freeze spinach?

Freeze for up to 3 months. Thawing: Add to a soup or stew frozen — there’s no need to thaw — though the leaves may add some extra liquid. For everything else, thaw the spinach overnight in the fridge or thaw in a bowl by running cold water over the bag until thawed.

Can you freeze frozen spinach once cooked?

Additionally, you can cook your fresh spinach to be able to use it for any recipe. However, you cannot reverse freezing your spinach. Once it is frozen, it does not work as well for some uses such as salads or sandwiches and wrap toppings.

How long do you blanch spinach?

Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the spinach stems first and then push the leaves down to submerge them in the water. Blanch until the stems are no longer rigid (about 40 seconds) and then drain the spinach and dump into a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking immediately.

Is frozen spinach any good?

We prefer frozen spinach over canned-it’s got better flavor and is lower in sodium-but the same principle applies. One cup of frozen spinach has more than four times the amount of nutrients, such as fiber, folate, iron and calcium, than a cup of fresh spinach, so if you want to power up, do it with frozen spinach.

How do you get the water out of frozen spinach?

Take a colander and line it with a couple sheets of paper towel. Place the mushy spinach on the paper towel. Wrap the paper towel around the spinach and squeeze the water out of the spinach. Make sure you do this over the colander just in case the paper towel tears.

Can I freeze bagged spinach?

Dry the spinach and place the in a salad spinner until the leaves seem dry, 6. Pack the spinach into freezer bags. Squeeze as much air from the bags as you can and seal and freeze.

How do you microwave fresh spinach?

Directions Preparation:5min › Cook:2min › Ready in:7min. Rinse the spinach and place the leaves into a microwavable serving dish. Add the butter, garlic and lemon juice. Cover with plastic wrap. Steam in the microwave until the butter is melted and spinach is wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove the plastic wrap and toss to distribute before serving.

Can you freeze bagged fresh spinach?

Rinse and Freeze. Although it will not last as long in the freezer as blanched spinach, you can freeze raw, fresh spinach. Thoroughly wash the spinach and blot dry as much as you can. Chop up the leaves if you wish and add them to freezer-safe plastic bags and place in the freezer.

Can You refreeze spinach?

Yes, you can freeze spinach. In fact, it actually freezes quite well. Frozen spinach can be easily incorporated into a wide variety of dishes to add lots of nutritional value and very few calories. It does make sense to freeze spinach, as this will extend its shelf life from only a week to up to 14 months.

How do you cook fresh spinich?

Instructions Preheat oven to 400 degress. In a medium bowl, warm cream cheese in microwave for about a minute to soften. Place in an oven safe dish and bake in the oven at for about 20 minutes or until the top is toasty. If you’re using fresh spinach bake for 20 minutes, stir, and bake for an additional 10 minutes if needed.