Is it best to blanch 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.
How long do you blanch spinach for freezing?
Blanch spinach leaves in boiling water or steam for two minutes, followed by soaking in ice water for the same amount of time. If you blanch leaves in boiling water, you’ll notice the water turns green. This is some of the nutrients leaching out of leaves.
Is it necessary to blanch spinach?
While heat will not destroy oxalic acid, blanching spinach in a lot of water first will reduce the concentration. That’s why I always blanch spinach first before using it in any dish. Another benefit to blanching is that it allows you to squeeze out excess water from the spinach preventing your dish from getting soggy.
Can you freeze raw spinach?
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.
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.
What’s the best way to freeze fresh spinach?
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.
Is blanching vegetables good or bad?
Blanching helps to stabilize the color, especially of peas and other green vegetables, and protects flavor and texture. Blanching also helps to cleanse the surface of vegetables, destroying microorganisms on the surface, and it wilts or softens vegetables and makes them easier to pack.
What is the benefit of blanching?
Blanching stops enzyme actions which otherwise cause loss of flavor, color and texture. In addition, blanching removes some surface dirt and microorganisms, brightens color and helps slow vitamin losses.
Is freezing spinach bad?
Freezing spinach does not seem to mean any loss in beta-carotene content. Frozen spinach is terrific to keep on hand for an easy nutrient boost in soups and sauces. When using frozen spinach, you can reduce vitamin C losses by cooking it directly from the freezer without thawing it first.
Why does my frozen spinach smell like fish?
They may have been defrosted and refrozen again, maybe. If fresh and in plastic box containers, they could have been old and started to dry out and a few pieces had turned bad (slimy) same thing with the plastic bags. It is good nothing bad happened.
Why do you Blanch spinach before freezing?
To prevent flavor loss and to lock in nutrients and help preserve color blanch spinach and other veggies before freezing. The National Center for Home Food Preservation recommends blanching (boiling) spinach for 2 minutes.
How to Blanch spinach in microwave?
Blanching in the Microwave Put your spinach in a microwave-safe bowl. Cover your spinach with water. Cook your spinach in the microwave on high heat for 2 minutes. Place your spinach in ice water to stop it from overcooking. Pour your spinach into a strainer to get rid of the water.
Can you freeze spinach pucks?
Make convenient frozen spinach pucks with these simple steps for how to blanch and freeze spinach. The same process and times can be used for kale, swiss chard or beet tops.
How do you thaw frozen spinach before cooking?
Thaw the frozen spinach in your refrigerator for several hours prior to use. Since thawed spinach tends to be soggy, it cannot be eaten raw but can be used in smoothies and cooked dishes. Blend together spinach and water.