Can I freeze spinach raw?
spinach is one of those vegetables like kale, chard, and broccoli that can be harvested when it’s young and tender. This means you can toss a bunch of fresh spinach in a smoothie or make basic green smoothies but once the plants start to grow and become mature, they start to lose nutritional value and can become bitter.
Fortunately, you can still freeze spinach raw and get all the nutritional benefits of the plant. Yes, you can freeze spinach raw. However, when freezing spinach you will want to make sure to blanch it first.
Spinach is a hearty vegetable and can hold onto a lot of ice and moisture. We recommend blanching spinach to reduce the chance of meeting an unpleasant experience with an odd taste. To do so, take a pot full of water and add a pinch of salt. Once boiling, add the spinach and allow it to cook for about one minute.
Once the spinach is tender
Can I freeze spinach in the water?
Since freezing water removes the nutrient-rich water, freezing spinach in water removes some of its nutritional value. Also, freezing spinach in water destroys the cells that contain the plant’s enzymes, meaning that when you thaw the spinach, the nutrients and flavour are not be restored.
The water in spinach can be frozen and used for other purposes. To freeze spinach in water, first clean the spinach and remove the thickest of the leaves. You can then either freeze the whole bunch or just the washed spinach leaves.
Once the spinach is frozen, you can thaw it out in a bowl of ice water.
Can I freeze spinach before cooking?
If you’re looking to freeze spinach, you have two options: pre-blanch and frozen or raw. Freezing spinach before cooking does not reduce its nutritional value. In fact, freezing does have a slightly positive effect on nutritional value. Freezing spinach allows the plant to retain its natural enzymes, which are destroyed when spinach is boiled.
You can freeze spinach raw, but only if it’s first frozen in batches. Freezing whole bunches of spinach at once will result in a freezer burn and a much less nutritious result. You can also freeze spinach in a food processor and pulse, but it won’t be quite as tender.
If you’re planning to use the thawed spinach in a recipe, you may want to blanch it first.
Can I freeze spinach with water?
You can freeze chopped spinach with water, but not whole spinach. We recommend freezing spinach in ice cubes and then using them to reheat the spinach in boiling water, or pureeing the frozen spinach in a food processor to make a quick batch of spinach soup, which can be frozen for later.
If you want to freeze spinach in its raw form, you can either freeze it in ice cubes or as a spinach puree. If you plan to use the thawed spinach as a side dish, you can add water for soups or other dishes. However, if you plan to use it in a smoothie, you might want to consider adding some ice cubes or frozen fruit to the mix to thin it out.
Can I freeze spinach in water blender?
Freezing spinach in a water blender is not recommended. This method does not help retain its nutritional value and does not remove the bitterness. If you have a high-powered blender, that might work, but if not, your best bet is to freeze the spinach in ice cubes. Once the spinach is frozen, you can pop out the cubes and put them in a blender to make instant spinach puree. If you want to freeze spinach in water, you can add the chopped spinach to a blender with water and blend. Depending on how large the batch you want to make, add some ice to the mix. After blending and pouring the cooled spinach liquefied into an airtight container, you can freeze it.