How long does spinach last? Here are the best tips for storing fresh and cooked spinach to taste the best and last the longest possible!
Whether you grow spinach in your garden or buy it from a local farmer’s market or grocery store, this is a leafy green that can spoil quickly if you’re not careful.
I’ve included the best storage tips to keep your fresh and cooked spinach fresher longer so that you can enjoy your harvest (whether it’s from the ground or the grocery store) with less food waste.
So, if it seems that you watch your spinach go bad in the back of your refrigerator, take some notes to keep spinach fresh, safe, and out of the trash!
Use frozen spinach within nine to 14 months for best quality.
Is Raw Spinach Safe to Eat?
Spinach leaves are notorious harborers of bacteria and have been the source of e.coli outbreaks in the past. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends taking some precautions when eating raw spinach, and other leafy green vegetables, to minimize the health risk and keep you and your family safe.
This includes washing all leafy greens under cold running water before eating or cutting them, using clean cutting boards and knives, discarding any spoiled pieces, and drying well before storage. The CDC also recommends keeping leafy greens in the refrigerator and not leaving them out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours.
How Long Does Cooked Spinach Last?
Once the spinach has been cooked, it will last for 2-4 days in the refrigerator. Eating cooked spinach after this time increases the risk of food poisoning.
Quick Tip – Easiest Way to Keep Spinach Fresh For Longer (Works with ANY green)
FAQ
How long does spinach last in freezer?
How can you tell if spinach has gone bad?
Can you eat freezer burned spinach?
Does Frozen spinach go bad?
Damage can also mean the bag of spinach develops freezer burn from the inside, and the spinach is not only colorless but unusable. Once a bag of spinach is taken out of the freezer and thawed, it must be used immediately, or it will go bad. How Long Does Frozen Spinach Last?
Does freezing spinach removed a majority of the vitamins?
One technique to protect spinach’s nutrients and deactivate the oxalate thing is to bet on blanching. The technique consists of boiling water, throwing the vegetable in it for 30 seconds and then immediately sending it to an ice water bath. Using bags to freeze avoids burning the leaves, as it gets little air.
Can you freeze spinach leaves?
Simply place the whole spinach leaves in freezer bags (make sure to remove all the excess air before sealing them tightly). Store them in the freezer for up to a year. Just run the whole leaves through the blender with a tiny bit of water. Freeze the puréed spinach in ice cube trays for up to a year. Choose spinach that is crisp and unwilted.
Can you eat frozen spinach?
Just grab the amount you need straight from the freezer when adding it to smoothies. Or if your recipe calls for thawed spinach (like in this cheesy meatball casserole recipe ), place it in a colander and rinse under cold water. Frozen spinach also works well in soup or stock, stir-fry, dips, quiche, and pasta dishes.