Learn all the tips and tricks for freezing spinach to save time and money. Learning how to freeze spinach for smoothies, soups, and sauces is a great way to preserve this healthy staple of so many recipes.
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Frozen veggies that are ready to be added to meals are incredible time savers. Having components ready to go to add to dinners or smoothies helps make your day just a little bit easier.
Of course, you can buy frozen spinach. But if your garden is producing more than you can eat, or you have a bag in the fridge you won’t be able to finish, freezing your own spinach helps reduce waste and saves money.
If you’re already googling things like “can you freeze spinach” like a cool kid, check out our posts on Can You Freeze Kale and Freezing Swiss Chard.
Can You Freeze Fresh Spinach?
Yes, absolutely! Fresh spinach often comes in huge bags and goes bad in the blink of an eye. Freezing fresh spinach is an easy way to prevent waste.
And because it’s so simple to do, you’ll never have to toss out wilted spinach again!
TOOLS FOR FREEZING Spinach
- Large saucepan
- Strainer/colander
- Reusable freezer bags or muffin tins or ice cube trays or plastic freezer bags
- Ice
- Large bowl
Step By Step Instructions
*I’ll walk you through it here with some photos and tips, and you’ll also find a printable recipe card at the bottom of the post with exact details, etc.
Start by washing the spinach in a large bowl or salad spinner. Discard any woody stems or spoiled damaged leaves.
Grab a medium-sized bowl and fill it halfway with ice water. Set that aside; you’ll need it once you have blanched the spinach.
Bring a large saucepan filled with water to a boil. Once it has reached a rolling boil, add the spinach, pushing all the leaves under the water with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula. Set your timer for 2 minutes.
Using tongs or a large slotted spoon, remove the spinach from the saucepan and transfer it to the ice water. Push all the leaves under the ice water. Set your timer for 3 minutes.
After 3 minutes, drain the spinach in a strainer and allow it to fully drain. You may need to squeeze some excess water out by wrapping the spinach in clean kitchen or paper towels.
Transfer the spinach to muffin tins, Souper Cubes, or your freezer-safe item of choice.
how long do you blanch spinach for freezing?
The spinach just needs two minutes in boiling water for the blanching process.
Do you blanch spinach before freezing?
Yes and no. It depends on how you want to use it. If you plan to use the frozen spinach within a few weeks, there is no need to blanch it first.
Unblanched spinach left in the freezer for too long will turn brown because of enzyme actions which will change the texture, flavor, and coloring.
freezing spinach for smoothies
If you’re planning on using your spinach for smoothies, you can chop it in a food processor or blender with a splash of water until it is puree. I find it easiest to freeze in ice cube trays or silicone trays for smaller and easy-to-blend portions. I’ve even used these silicone egg molds that are for making Instant Pot Egg Bites.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, freezing spinach will not change the taste. It will however change the texture.
Raw spinach is great in fresh salads, whereas frozen spinach is best reserved for being added to casseroles, dips, or soups.
It all depends on how you intend to use it. Spinach used within a few weeks does not need to be blanched prior to freezing.
No. For the safest storage of frozen spinach, anything longer than 3 weeks should be blanched.
The blanching and proper storage of the spinach in the freezer will also help prevent freezer burn.
Pro tips/recipe notes
- There is no need to thaw the spinach before adding it to soups or sauces.
- I prefer to freeze spinach in 1 cup portions for adding to things like Instant Pot Lentil Soup, Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce, or a Gluten-Free Quiche. I line a muffin tin with these parchment cupcake liners and they pop right out once frozen and I add them to freezer storage bags. I also love the 1-cup Souper Cubes for that.
- Save the cold water from blanching the spinach and use it for cooking grains like Instant Pot Farro or for watering houseplants!
- 5 oz of spinach will wilt down to about 1 cup for freezing.
More How to Recipes Like this
- Complete Guide to What to Preserve in Fall
- How to Freeze Swiss Chard
- Freezing Peaches
- Freezing Scrambled Eggs
- How to Freeze Peppers
- Freezing Raspberries
- How to Freeze Corn on the Cob
- Freezing Potatoes
- How to Freeze Cranberries
- Freezing Pumpkin
- Freezing Blueberries
- Freezing Tomatoes the Easy Way
- How to Freeze Rhubarb
- Freezing Celery
- How to Freeze Pesto
- Freezing Cauliflower
- How to Freeze Garlic
- Freezing Peas
- How to Freeze Onions
- Freezing Cherries
- How to Freeze Asparagus
- Freezing Strawberries
- How to Roast Frozen Vegetables
How to Freeze Spinach
Ingredients
- 20 oz spinach
- ice
Equipment
- Food processor {optional}
Instructions
How to Blanch Spinach
- Wash spinach, discarding old leaves and woody stems.20 oz spinach
- Fill a bowl halfway with ice water. Set aside.ice
- In a large saucepan bring water to a boil. Add spinach, making sure it is all under the water and cook for 2 minutes.
- Using tongs or a slotted spoon, remove spinach and add to the ice water. Chill for 3 minutes.
- Transfer chilled spinach to a strainer and allow it to drain.
How to Freeze Blanched Spinach
- Squeeze excess water out of the spinach (I squeeze portions in my hand over the strainer).
- Transfer to freezer containers or a muffin pan lined with parchment paper liners.
- Freeze for 3 hours. If using the muffin pan method, transfer to freezer bags once spinach has frozen solid.
How to Freeze Unblanched Spinach
- Place washed and dried spinach in a freezer bag.
- Remove excess air from the bag and freeze for up to three months.
How to Freeze Spinach for Smoothies
- Add unblanched spinach to a food processor or blender and a splash of water. Pulse and then gently blend.
- Pour the puree into ice cube trays. Freeze for 3 hours and transfer to freezer containers.
Notes
- Use unblanched spinach within 3 weeks.
- Use pureed spinach within 3 months.
- Blanched spinach should be used within 3-6 months.
- There is no need to thaw the spinach before adding it to soups or sauces.
- 5 oz of spinach will wilt down to about 1 cup for freezing.
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This has been very helpful. For some reason, it’s been almost impossible to find spinach in the frozen food aisle lately. I have a LOT of fresh baby spinach on hand that I need to use up, so finding this pin was quite timely. My morning smoothies say thank you.
I *might* know the answer to that or at least part of it. Because I listened to a supply chain podcast a few months ago and now I’m an “expert”. 🙂
With the supply chain being so wonky, and droughts (or flooding like in the PNW) everywhere, FRESH produce was harder to find and more expensive. But frozen produce often has a 3-4 month inventory in the warehouses so those prices basically remained unchanged.
So, when people couldn’t find fresh items or couldn’t afford them, they turned to frozen. And then probably got used to purchasing it. And now, that inventory is finally starting to catch up with the rest of the supply chain.
Hi! Can I steam the spinach (for better digestion) and then blend it to add to ice cube trays for smoothies?
Absolutely! I would still dunk it in the ice water after steaming though.
Our family garden has been spitting out leafy greens at an alarming rate. I used the method from this post to freeze swiss chard. It was easy, simple, and now I have a freezer full of greens for later!