Learn the easiest way to freeze fresh spinach to prevent it from going bad and so you always have it on hand to use. And learn how to use it later in smoothies, baked goods, and easy meals!
How to Freeze Spinach
We always keep a stash of frozen spinach on hand to use in everything from smoothies to muffins and soups. It’s an awesome method since you never have to worry about it going bad, there’s always some ready and waiting for you, and the nutrients are locked in at the moment of freezing.
Oh: And it’s so crazy easy without any involved steps or processing. You don’t even have to go through the step of blanching.
You can do this with regular or baby spinach. I prefer to use pre-washed baby spinach from the store simply because it’s easiest.
Then, I like to use it in recipes ranging from sauces and spreads, to stews, soups, muffins, pancakes, and more.
(You may also like How to Freeze Strawberries and How to Freeze Rhubarb.)
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Ingredients You Need to Freeze Spinach
To freeze spinach, you need to have the following ingredients and materials on hand and ready to go.
- Fully washed and dried spinach (you can also feel free to use less). You can use baby spinach or regular spinach.
- A zip top freezer bag (I recommend the gallon size, but you could also use multiple quart size bags).
Step-by-Step Instructions
The freezing spinach process is a simple one, and it’s a great way to keep spinach for way longer than it lasts in the fridge. Follow these steps to freeze spinach (and find the detailed recipe below):
- Gather your spinach and wash it if needed. Dry thoroughly.
- Add spinach to the freezer bag, making sure it’s completely dry to avoid ice crystals.
- Press bag to release as much air as possible, and seal. Removing the air helps to prevent freezer burn.
- Freeze overnight, and you’re done!
TIP: You can crush up the frozen leaves to make it easy to measure out to use in recipes if you like. You do not need to worry about removing the stems from full size or baby spinach leaves.
How to Wash Spinach
If your spinach needs to be washed, submerge the fresh spinach leaves in a large bowl of ice cold water. Remove it with your hands or a big slotted spoon. When you lift the leaves out, the dirt stays in the ice water.
Place the leaves into a salad spinner and spin to dry. Or place onto a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.
You want it to be as dry as possible before adding to the storage bag.
Recipes that Use Frozen Spinach
Here are some of my go-to kid-friendly recipes for using frozen spinach. For all of them, add the frozen spinach directly to the recipe without thawing it first, even if it calls for making the recipe in a blender.
- Spinach Banana Muffins
- Simple Green Smoothie
- 2-Ingredient Banana Pancakes (with the Spinach Option)
- Pesto Pasta Salad
- Spinach Pesto Pizza
- Baked Spinach Egg Muffins
- Spinach Eggs
- Spinach Baby Food Puree
- Spinach Pasta Sauce (You can even freeze ice cube trays filled with spinach cubes with this sauce!)
- Spinach Grilled Cheese
- Green Spinach Smoothie
TIP: You can also add frozen spinach to soups like Minestrone, pretty much any pasta recipe, or any smoothie recipe you like.
How to Store
Place your prepared spinach into the freezer for up to a year.
Best Tips for Freezing Spinach
- Spinach can stay frozen for up to a year.
- Do smaller amounts of spinach if desired.
- You can do this with regular or baby spinach. I prefer to use prewashed baby spinach from the store simply because it’s easiest.
- Make sure that the leaves are fully dried to prevent ice crystals in the bag. (It’s honestly okay if there are some though!)
- Use gallon or quart size freezer bags according to your preference.
- Try using frozen spinach in recipes such as pasta dishes, dips, and more.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear any feedback or comments you may have on freezing spinach, so please comment below to share.
How to Freeze Spinach
Ingredients
- 16 ounces fully washed and dried spinach
- zip top freezer bag (I prefer gallon size but you can do multiple quart bags if you like)
Instructions
- Add the spinach to the freezer bag, filling as full as you like.
- Press and remove as much air as possible. Seal
- Freeze fully overnight. If desired for easy measuring, crush frozen spinach leaves lightly in the bag
Notes
- Spinach can stay frozen for up to a year.
- Do smaller amounts of spinach if desired.
- Make sure that the leaves are fully dried to prevent ice crystals in the bag. (It’s honestly okay if there are some though!)
- Use gallon or quart size freezer bags according to your preference.
- Use in any soup or pasta recipe or try in: Spinach Banana Muffins, Simple Green Smoothie, 2-Ingredient Banana Pancakes (with the Spinach Option), Pesto Pasta Salad, Spinach Pesto Pizza, and Baked Spinach Egg Muffins.
Nutrition
This post was first published August 2020.
Thank you for this simple suggestion! We froze the large package of costco spinach, and it has saved us from so much food waste. We don’t love plain spinach in a salad, but like to add it to smoothies, spinach muffins, eggs etc. Having it frozen works great!
Can frozen spinach be used in the spinach banana pancakes?
Totally!
Why do you recommend freezing fresh spinach, vs buying frozen spinach? Do you think it changes the flavor?
I think frozen fresh spinach is easier to use and tastes better in smoothies vs store bought frozen spinach, which has often been cooked and has a stronger flavor. Plus, it’s a nice way to make sure it doesn’t go bad if you don’t use it all fresh!