Even if you store your spinach properly (just as you would store salad greens), there's always a chance you won't get to use it all before it becomes a bit mushy. Once you realize you won't be able to get to your spinach in time, take a moment to prepare it for longer-term storage in the freezer so that you can use it later.
There are a couple of different ways we recommend freezing spinach. Choose the option that makes the most sense for how you're most likely to use the spinach in the future.
1. Raw pureed spinach in frozen cubes
Uses: smoothies and sauces
- Wash the spinach, removing any already slimy bits
- Blend it in a food processor or blender, adding a little water as needed to get the spinach fully blended
- Pour the puree into ice cube trays, and once they're fully frozen (a few hours or whenever you remember), pop them out and put them in a sealed and labelled bag or container to save space
*Note that the average ice cube is roughly 2 table spoons if you want to track the measurement. These cubes should keep in your fridge for a few months.
2. Blanched spinach
Uses: soups, fritattas/quiches, any time you need cooked spinach
- Wash the spinach and remove any slimy bits while you bring a pot of water to a boil
- Prepare a bowl of ice water and set it aside
- Once water is boiling, toss in the cleaned spinach, making sure all of the leaves get submerged in water
- Boil for 2 minutes
- Use tongs to remove the cooked spinach from the water and put it directly into the ice bath (you can also drain the whole pot in a strainer and dump it all into the ice bowl together)
- Once cooled (a few minutes), pour the spinach into a strainer and use a spoon or the back of the tongs to squeeze out any excess water
- As always, consider how you plan to use the prepared item before you decide how to freeze it: muffin tins are great for 1 cup servings, ice cube trays hold about 2 table spoons per cube, and jars or containers can hold larger quantities
- If you choose to freeze in muffin tins or ice cube trays, remember to pop them out once they're solid and transfer them to a sealed container with a label and date
*Note that blanching (or any sort of cooking) spinach reduces the volume significantly! Blanched spinach can keep in the freezer up to 6 months.
