Can I freeze fresh baby spinach for smoothies?

I freeze baby spinach leaves whole to add to my 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 uncooked baby 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.

Does baby spinach freeze well?

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.

Is frozen spinach OK for smoothies?

Using frozen spinach

Frozen spinach can be used in the recipe, however, it has been blanched and that will give it a slightly cooked flavor. Frozen spinach is much more compact, so use ⅓ cup instead of 2 cups packed fresh spinach. Do not defrost, just add directly to the blender.

What happens if you freeze spinach without blanching?

If you plan to use the frozen spinach within a few weeks, there is no need to blanch it first. But unblanched spinach left in the freezer too long will turn brown because of enzyme actions which will change the texture, flavor, and coloring.

Do you need to blanch spinach before freezing?

Blanching Spinach for 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.

Does freezing spinach lose nutrients?

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.

Is frozen spinach as good as fresh?

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 freeze baby kale?

Quick-freeze small clumps of kale individually on a cookie sheet. After they’re frozen, place clumps into freezer bags in bulk. Remove as much air as possible from bags before sealing. When you freeze kale like this, you can grab a handful for a smoothie, or pour out more to create a side dish.

Does blanching spinach remove nutrients?

Spinach is most nutrient-dense when you eat it raw, but it retains more vitamins with some cooking methods than with others. … For maximum vitamin retention, use quick-cooking methods that do not include water, such as sauteing, stir-frying or blanching, to reduce the amount of nutrients lost from cooking.

How long can you freeze spinach for smoothies?

Freeze: Freeze for up to 1 month. Smoothie-time: You can add frozen spinach to your smoothies with no need to thaw so enjoy spinach on demand even if it’s out of season or unavailable in the store.

Can you put raw spinach in a smoothie?

Cooked vs. Raw. A 2010 article on “The Globe and Mail” website notes that cooked spinach is more nutritious than raw. When spinach is cooked, the high temperatures destroy the delicate cell walls, releasing nutritious antioxidants into the food.

Can you freeze spinach or kale for smoothies?

One of the easiest ways to freeze spinach, kale, collard greens, chard, or any kind of leafy green is to steam it, blend it, and freeze it in cubes. You can use the leafy green cubes in smoothies, soups, or stew.

How do you store spinach in the freezer?

How do you thaw frozen 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. Depending on your grocery store’s freezer section, you can typically find frozen spinach either chopped or as whole leaf.

How do I use frozen spinach?