Spinach is a superfood that’s nutrient-rich. These leafy greens are popular to use in salads, soups, and making sandwiches. Spinach, once harvested tend to not last very long. Keeping them in the fridge will stay fresh for about a week. What if you need to keep them longer, can you freeze spinach?
Can you freeze spinach? Yes, you can freeze spinach. You can either freeze them whole or in an ice cube tray. As with any leafy greens, it’s best to blanch the spinach first. This will help retain their texture, flavor, and nutrition during freezing. Properly stored, spinach will last for up to 6 months in the freezer.
Does Spinach Freeze Well?
Yes, due to the high water content in spinach, it freezes very well. In order for the leafy greens to stay fresh in the freezer, you’ll need to blanch and prepare them first.
Taking the time to prepare the spinach for the freezer will keep them fresh for up to 6 months. Also, you won’t be able to tell the difference between fresh and frozen spinach.
How To Freeze Spinach
When it comes to freezing spinach, you have 2 different options. You can either freeze the leafy greens without blanching or blanching them first.
Blanching spinach will help retain its flavor and texture in the freezer. Also, you can keep the spinach in the freezer longer.
On the other hand, freezing spinach without blanching them first will result in the spinach deteriorating in quality quickly. The longest you’ll be able to store the spinach is 2 months.
Therefore, depending on how long you want to store spinach, you have two methods to freezing the leafy greens:
Freezing Spinach In Container or Bag
This is a method is a great way to freeze spinach whole.
- Clean the spinach thoroughly.
- After blanching the leafy greens, place them into a colander for about 5 minutes.
- Using a clean dry paper towel, gently press the spinach to remove any excess moisture.
- On a clean tray, lay a sheet of baking or wax paper.
- Place the spinach onto the tray spreading them out evenly.
- Put the tray of spinach into the freezer.
- Flash freeze the spinach for about 2-3 hours.
- Once it’s completely frozen, remove them from the freezer.
- Immediately transfer the spinach to an airtight container or freezer bag.
- If using a freezer bag, press on the bag to remove any excess air before sealing it. For an airtight container, make sure there are no leaks in the lid before securing it to the container.
- Label the bag or container with the date of freezing.
- Place it back into the freezer for storage.
Freezing Spinach Using The Ice Tray
After the spinach is blanched, follow the steps below to freeze them in an ice cube tray:
- Place the blanched spinach into each slot of the ice cube tray.
- Gently pack them in each slot filling the spinach to the top.
- Using a cling wrapper, cover the entire tray with the wrapper.
- Place the tray of spinach into the freezer and let it sit for about 2-3 hours.
- Once it’s completely frozen, remove the tray from the freezer.
- Immediately transfer the spinach from the tray to an airtight container or freezer bag.
- If using a freezer bag, press on the bag to remove any air in it before sealing it tight. For an airtight container, check for leaks in the lid before securing it to the container.
- Label it with the date of freezing and place it into the freezer.
How Long Can You Freeze Spinach?
If the spinach is blanched first, it will last for 6 months in the freezer. After that time, the quality of the leafy greens will start to deteriorate. The flavors will become bland and the texture will be mushy.
However, the spinach will still be safe to eat after 6 months.
On the other hand, if you choose not to blanch the spinach, they will last for about 1-2 months. To make sure it tastes at its best, try to consume them within 2 months.
How Do You Defrost Spinach?
The good thing about spinach is that you don’t need to thaw them. While the food is being cooked, you can simply take them from the freezer and toss them into the pot.
For smoothies, it’s the same thing. Take the correct amount of spinach from the freezer and place it into the blender.
A thing to remember is that spinach can’t be eaten fresh. This means if you try to use frozen spinach or garnish a dish or salad, it will not work. Frozen spinach will be mushy after its thaws.
Can You Refreeze Spinach?
You can refreeze spinach, but it’s highly recommended that you not do so. Once it’s frozen and thawed, it will become very soft. By freezing them once more, the leafy greens will become even softer.
As you thaw them for the second time, the spinach will become soggy, and it will lose most of its flavor. At this point, the frozen spinach will go bad and need to be discarded.
To avoid having to refreeze spinach, portion them out, so you will only need to take what you need from the freezer.
Related Questions
Can you freeze spinach dip?
Yes, you can freeze spinach dip. If the dip is stored in the fridge, simply transfer them to an airtight container and leave some space at the top. As the spinach dips freeze, it will expand a little. Keep them in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Can you freeze spinach tortillas?
Yes, spinach tortillas can be frozen. To freeze them, allow them to cool to room temperature first. Then stack them with a sheet of parchment paper separating the tortilla from each other. Place the tortillas into a freezer bag and press on the bag to remove as much air as you can before sealing it. Place them into the freezer, and they should last for up to 6 months.
Can you freeze creamed spinach?
Freezing creamed spinach is not recommended. The cream is a high-fat, dairy product, which will split and lose its texture when frozen. The fat tends to freeze slower than the liquid content in the cream.
Instead, freeze the spinach separately and cook it with butter and cream on the day you’re going to eat it.
Can you freeze spinach soup?
When it comes to spinach soup, you definitely can freeze it. Soups, no matter what other ingredients you use will freeze well. When freezing spinach soup, place them into an airtight container or freezer bag. Make sure to leave about an inch of space in the bag or container for the soup to expand.