Use frozen spinach within nine to 14 months for best quality. … 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.
Does spinach freeze well for smoothies?
Can You Freeze Spinach For Smoothies? Yes, absolutely. While freezing can cause a small loss of nutrients, the loss isn’t significant enough to worry about. Freezing spinach is a great way to have greens on hand any time you need them.
How do you freeze fresh spinach for smoothies?
- Add spinach and coconut water to a blender, and puree until smooth. If the mixture seems too thick, add in extra coconut water.
- Pour the spinach mixture into ice cube trays and freeze until solid.
- Use immediately, or transfer to a freezer bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Can you freeze raw spinach?
Freezing whole spinach leaves is a total breeze! Just pick out any icky leaves, place the fresh spinach leaves in a Ziploc freezer bag, squeeze out as much air as possible, and place it in the freezer. It doesn’t get much easier! You can also puree and freeze your spinach.
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 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.
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.
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.
Can you freeze green smoothies?
Yes you can! This is for short term freezing a green smoothie – seven days or less. … If you are going to freeze them long term then you need to use a vacuum seal to keep them fresh or just place them into ziploc bag and they them flat in your freezer.
What happens if you freeze fresh 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. Learn how to freeze spinach, along with easy ways to use the final product.
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.
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.
Do you have to defrost frozen spinach?
When You Don’t Have to Defrost Frozen Spinach
Yes, you can actually skip the fussy step of thawing and squeezing out the liquid from frozen spinach more often than you might think. Anytime what you’re making won’t be ruined or made too soggy with excess liquid, feel free to use the spinach straight from the freezer.
Is frozen spinach still good to eat?
Frozen is a good choice, but if you use frozen spinach, simply let it thaw and use it in your recipe. There’s no need to cook it again (it’s been cooked once, before processing)—doing so will reduce its level of folate, an important B vitamin for heart health.
How long does fresh spinach last in the freezer?
How long does spinach last in the freezer? Properly stored, it will maintain best quality for about 10 to 12 months, but will remain safe beyond that time. The freezer time shown is for best quality only – spinach that has been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.