I'm a Dietitian & These Are 12 Recipes I Make with a Package of Frozen Spinach (2024)

FAQs

How do you use frozen spinach? ›

Frozen spinach can be subbed in pretty much any place you'd normally be cooking raw spinach. And since raw spinach is watery, you'll probably need to cook it down anyway—otherwise, it'll release its water and change the texture and flavor of your finished dish.

It is possible to cook with spinach directly from frozen, rather than defrosting it first, but this only works for certain dishes. Bruning says you can use frozen spinach in applications, like adding it into soup, but she notes that this may lead to uneven cooking.

According to PSU Food Safety News, "Spinach is blanched before freezing. Blanching, if done correctly, would eliminate the Listeria. The issue is with post-blanching contamination. Listeria is a known environmental bacterial pathogen that can become established in processing facilities.

One package (10 ounces) of frozen spinach leaves yields about 1-1/2 cups after cooking. Therefore, you can substitute 1 package (10 ounces) frozen spinach leaves for 1-1/2 pounds of fresh spinach.

Even better, one cup of frozen spinach has more than four times the amount of nutrients, including iron, vitamin C and calcium, compared to a cup of fresh spinach.

The best way to defrost frozen spinach is to warm it in the microwave for a few minutes or warm it over low heat on the stove in pot and strain excess water with a mesh sieve or colander. Depending on your grocery store's freezer section, you can typically find frozen spinach either chopped or as whole leaf.

If the package suggests to drain or rinse the vegetables, then they should be washed. While there has been some controversy in the past about the food safety of frozen produce, the AFFI assures that frozen produce is highly safe and manufacturing facilities are held to high standards of cleanliness.

Yes, you can actually skip the fussy step of thawing and squeezing out the liquid from frozen spinach more often than you might think. Anytime what you're making won't be ruined or made too soggy with excess liquid, feel free to use the spinach straight from the freezer.

Thaw in the Refrigerator

As with most foods, frozen vegetables can be thawed in the refrigerator. To avoid condensation dripping onto other foods, Jen Bruning, MS RDM LDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, says to place the packaged vegetables in a container when thawing.

Frozen spinach is mechanically chopped, boiled or blanched, and then flash frozen. A single ten ounce package of frozen spinach usually equals one cup of greens once it's thawed and drained.

Can I eat packaged frozen spinach? ›

Yes, it is generally safe to eat cooked frozen spinach as long as it has been stored and cooked properly.

A 10 oz package of frozen spinach is the equivalent about a 1 pound bunch of fresh spinach. If you're buying fresh spinach, it's wise to buy more than you think you'll need because some bunches will need the stalks trimmed off and that will decrease the weight before cooking.

One package (10 ounces) of frozen spinach leaves yields about 1-1/2 cups after cooking.

What is this? I've seen different conversions, but it is my understanding that a 10-ounce package of frozen spinach is equivalent to 1 and 1/2 cups after draining, which is roughly what you can get from cooking down 1 pound of fresh spinach.

Counter: Leave the frozen spinach on the counter in a bowl at room temperature. You can also thaw the frozen spinach in a colander over a sink so the excess water from the melted spinach can drain.

Yes, you can actually skip the fussy step of thawing and squeezing out the liquid from frozen spinach more often than you might think. Anytime what you're making won't be ruined or made too soggy with excess liquid, feel free to use the spinach straight from the freezer.

Frozen spinach is an acceptable alternative for fresh spinach. Just as you would do with fresh spinach, squeeze it thoroughly. Don't discard the liquid but rather use it in your bechamel sauce.

Most frozen vegetables retain better texture and flavor if cooked directly, though frozen greens like spinach are best if partially thawed before cooking. Cook frozen spinach thoroughly before you eat it to destroy bacteria.