Preserve the Harvest Series
Preserve the Harvest Series presents a new fruit or vegetable every Tuesday with the goal of helping you get the most out of fresh fruits and vegetables harvested during peak season. Whether you grow your own fruits and vegetables, buy them at the Farmer’s Market or your local grocery store, it is good to remember the best time to preserve your bounty is when it is plentiful. Preserving the harvest stocks your pantry shelves and freezer with whole foods that you can feel good about, foods that taste great, and this approach saves you money. A sane approach to sustainability! Next up…How to Freeze Spinach.
Let’s Talk Spinach
Spinach is a green leafy vegetable; high in vitamin C and rich in iron. It is a cool-season crop and can be grown in spring or fall. Once temperatures begin to soar, spinach will bolt (go to seed). Once bolting begins, the leaves tend to be bitter. For best results plant early in spring, or later in fall when the weather just begins to turn. Harvesting spinach can be done all at once; removing the whole plant at the base of its stem, or can be done as needed, by snipping off the leaves. Harvest early in the morning before the ground heats up to retain the most moisture content in your spinach leaves. Spinach deteriorates quickly so have a plan and know how to freeze your spinach as soon as possible after harvesting. For more information Gardening Know How: Picking Spinach-How to Harvest Spinach
How to Freeze Spinach
- Washing spinach leaves several times is very important to remove all dirt and debris prior to freezing. Place spinach in a sink full of water and rinse thoroughly. Drain, fill again with fresh water and repeat at least three times. There is nothing worse than grit when biting into a mouthful of spinach.
- Once washed, pick through leaves and remove any that are older, tough or none too fresh. These leaves can still be used to make a fabulous Pesto. After leaves are sorted, tear larger leaves into 2 to 3 inch pieces.
- Prepare ice bath for spinach. Fill sink with ice and add cold water. Important to plunge spinach into ice bath after allotted steam time to stop the cooking process.
- Place spinach leaves into steamer basket for large pan.
- Add about 1 -2 inches of water to a large pan and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce heat to a simmer, place steamer basket filled with spinach into pan, cover with lid and set timer for 2 minutes.
- Once timer goes off, immediately remove spinach from pan, place spinach into colander and plunge into ice bath.
- Allow spinach to cool for 3 minutes, remove from ice water bath, spin in salad spinner or blot dry on paper towels to remove excess water.
- Place spinach leaves in heavy duty freezer bag or a Vacuum Sealing System
in 1 to 2 cup portions as desired. Remove as much air as possible from bag to prevent freezer burn.
- Date, label and freeze.
Spinach will keep for about 12 to 14 months when using a Vacuum Sealing System
How to freeze spinach Shared with:
Detours in Life: Tickle Me Tuesday *Creative K Kids: Tasty Tuesday’s *The Shady Porch: Party on the Porch *Foody Schmoody: The Wednesday Roundup *Oh My Heartsie Girl: What I Made Wordless Wednesday *Sweet Haute: Sweet Haute Share Link Party *My Pinterventures: Merry Monday Linky Party *Mrs Tee Love Life Laughter: Mommy Monday *Creative K Kids: Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party * Memories by the Mile: Treasure Box Tuesday *Lou Lou Girls
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What a great tip! Pinned. Hugs! Lou Lou Girls
Thanks Kimberly…Right back at yah!
Another great post! Love these and made a pin board because of one of the other posts you made 🙂 Thanks for sharing with us!
Kristina & Millie recently posted…Snickerdoodle Sunday with co-host Paris from My Big Fat Happy Life
Thank you Kristina & Millie 🙂 I have enjoyed linking up at Snickerdoodle Sunday. Have a wonderful week!
Since i have spinach coming in faster than we can eat it, this is great information to have. Thanks for sharing this process!
Jodee Weiland recently posted…Light and Easy Honey Lime Cole Slaw
That is awesome. I love it when that happens; more to put away for later!
Blessings,
Shari
I skipped the spinach this time… darn it. But next year’s crop is going to be FULL of the green goodness! Thanks so much for linking up to the Merry Monday Link Party! Hope to see you next week!- Treana @ houseofbennetts.com
Treana @ House of bennetts recently posted…Cornhole Boards Painted
Thanks Treana! The pleasure was all mine.
This is good to know.
In the past I’ve thrown raw spinach in a ziplock bag into the freezer and used in within a week or 2 to make green smoothies, but I didn’t know how to store it long term.
Thank you.
Julie V. recently posted…Sweet Strawberry Carrot Muffins
I’m glad I’ve helped Julie. Blanching spinach prior to freezing is helpful to prevent the greens from becoming too bitter. It works okay for a short period, but over time it’s not ideal. Thanks for stopping by and taking a moment to leave a comment. I always appreciate it!
Blessings,
Shari
Would this also work with other leafy veggies like kale?
Cassi recently posted…I Can See 90 lbs
Absolutely Cassie. It would work with any leafy green!
My daughter and I love spinach and we enjoy it fresh from the garden for as long as we can. Ours bolted in April (happens like that in Alabama!), but I’ll be getting new seedling in by September and we can enjoy them all winter long. Maybe this year I will plant enough to have extra to freeze. Thanks for the tutorial. Pinning!
Karen recently posted…Fresh Peach Sorbet
My first crop has bolted as well, but my next crop is almost ready! I will keep planting every 3 weeks or so to try and keep a steady crop all summer. I always plant way more than I need so I have enough to freeze for later. Thanks for stopping by and taking a moment to leave a comment!
Blessings,
Shari
Thank you for the tips! My spinach is out of control this year and I am so thankful because I love the stuff. I do a lot of salads, add it to smoothies, scramble it with eggs and so many other things. I even toss it in ziplocks if I feel I am not going to get it eaten in time. Frozen spinach is perfect in smoothies! I am the only one in my house who likes cooked spinach so this might be a good tutorial for me to store it this way. Seems a little easier than canning!
Chrystal @ YUM eating recently posted…The Yuck Stops Here {13} #stoptheyuck
Canning spinach is a huge chore and to me the life is cooked right out of it. Freezing, in my opinion is definitely the way to go.
Thanks for stopping by and taking a few moments to leave a thoughtful comment. I greatly appreciate it and hop you will come back next week for my Harvest series on snap peas They are taking over my garden now, time to put them up.
Blessings,
Shari
Helpful post – I pinned this 🙂
Thanks for sharing,
Kelly
Thanks Kelly. I appreciate you stopping by and sharing too!
Blessings,
Shari
I was just saying to my husband that we need to learn more about canning, preserving and freezing the things we’re growing. I’m going to be following and pinning your series. Thanks for sharing!
That is great Jen. I always like to hear my posts are useful 🙂
Blessings,
Shari
I didn’t grow any spinach this year but will use this for next year!
Jenny.U recently posted…Berries and Cream Croustade
I have been succession planting so hopefully I can have my spinach for another months or so. Thanks for coming by for a visit. Always a pleasure.
Suzanne of Simply Suzannes at Home
Great post, Shari!
I’m always impressed at what fruits and vegetables can be frozen. Thanks so much for sharing!
Suzanne of Simply Suzannes at Home recently posted…red tulips . . . Welcome, Summer!
When veggies are frozen correctly, the fresh taste always comes shining through; almost like they were just picked from the garden. Nothing better than that! Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful week!
Blessings,
Shari
Shari, now this is so helpful and I LOVE your series to help us save the harvest through the winter, saving money and eating more healthy. Can’t wait to see what you have for us next. Carrie, A Mother’s Shadow
Thanks Carrie, It is an easy series to do, because all year long I am doing just that; putting fresh and in season products up for later. I am then able to enjoy great tasting whole food all year long.
I really cannot say enough how much I appreciate you teaching us about this, because I never truly knew how to freeze and preserve spinach let alone any vegetables properly. So, I am truly learning from you!! 🙂
Janine Huldie recently posted…SITS Community Lead (An Announcement) – Summer of Social Love Linkup
That makes me happy Janine. I love it when a light comes on and learning takes place. Thanks for sharing.