Should I cook spinach before freezing?

Blanching spinach before freezing helps preserve the colour and taste for longer as it delays the enzymatic process that leads to decay, however, it’s not so good at retaining the nutrients. Blanching spinach before freezing also means that it will last a lot longer in the freezer, for up to a year.

Can you freeze spinach without cooking it?

If you know you’ll use your frozen spinach within six months, you can freeze it without blanching. … Another way to freeze spinach is to puree it with water and freeze in ice cube trays. After cubes freeze solid, toss them in a freezer bag. Spinach cubes are the perfect addition to green smoothies.

Is it better to freeze spinach raw or cooked?

You cannot freeze spinach and expect to use it in a salad or for other recipes where it needs to be fresh and whole. There is some loss of nutrients with blanching, but freezing spinach at the peak of freshness is still healthier than eating out of season spinach trucked in from 1,500 miles away.

Can you freeze raw spinach for smoothies?

Freeze Spinach: Put the spinach filled freezer bags in the freezer and store for up to 1 month. Add to Smoothies: No need to thaw, just add the frozen spinach leaves right from the freezer to your blender when making smoothies.

Can you freeze spinach without losing nutrients?

When using frozen spinach, you can reduce vitamin C losses by cooking it directly from the freezer without thawing it first. … By squeezing this water in a bowl, you can refrigerate it and save to add to soup or pasta sauce, thus avoiding loss of vitamin C or other water-soluble nutrients.

What is the best way to freeze fresh spinach?

How to Freeze Spinach

1. Wash your greens, pat or spin dry in a salad spinner.
2. Place the leaves in flat layers inside freezer bags and press down.
3. When the bags are full, squeeze out all the air, tie the bags up and place them in the freezer.

What happens if you freeze vegetables without blanching?

Blanching helps vegetables keep their vibrant colors and retain nutrients, and stops the enzymes that would otherwise lead to spoilage. Freezing vegetables without blanching them first results in faded or dulled coloring, as well as off flavors and textures.

Can I freeze spinach for shakes?

Can You Freeze Spinach for Smoothies. Freezing the spinach or other greens has no effect on the taste of the smoothie, or on its nutritional value. Now you can make your favorite smoothie recipe and make it into a freezer-ready pack.

Is frozen chopped spinach healthy?

Frozen Spinach is Healthier than Fresh Spinach



Fresh spinach loses some of its vitamins and folate over time which is why if you don’t eat it immediately it isn’t as good for you. Frozen spinach keeps the nutrients packed inside when it is frozen thus another reason to always keep it on hand.

Does freezing spinach make it last longer?

If you want to learn how to freeze spinach (without blanching), you’ve come to the right place… Yep, you CAN freeze fresh spinach leaves! And it’s SO easy — which is awesome, because freezing spinach is an excellent way to minimize your produce waste.

Does spinach lose nutrients when cooked?

Since spinach loses so much volume when it’s cooked, a cup of cooked spinach contains a lot more of the leafy vegetable, which may more than make up for the loss of water-soluble vitamins. Generally speaking, boiling has the harshest effect on heat-sensitive nutrients.