Spinach seems to be one of those leafy greens that if you donāt take care of it as soon as you get home from the grocery store, it goes bad before you can use it all. But it doesnāt have to be that way! Once you learn how to store spinach properly, you can make your spinach last for weeks!
Washing Spinach
Even though store-bought spinach is labeled āpre-washedā, I always recommend washing spinach again. This is the best way to ensure it is truly clean and it helps those leafy greens last longer! When you get home, remove it from the bag or plastic container and put the spinach leaves into a large bowl with 10 cups of cool water, and Ā¼ cup of 5% Distilled White Vinegar.
The vinegar will remove E.coli, salmonella, listeria, and other harmful pathogens. Make sure to set a timer for two minutes. When the timer goes off, rinse the spinach and lay it out on a clean bath towel for about three hours to dry. A salad spinner, like this one, can help to speed up the process.
How to Store Spinach
For the best results, you need to make sure there is no excess water on the leaves. Over the years, I have found that if I store spinach in an airtight container, it lasts even longer. Plus, theyāre more eco-friendly than plastic alternatives. Silicone bags are another good option. I really like these silicone bags. Theyāre my favorite reusable bags because they are dishwasher safe and can go from the fridge to freezer.
If I have any leftover spinach from my previous shopping trip as I get toward the end of the month, I transfer it from the fridge to the freezer to use for green smoothies. This is a great way to boost their nutritional value and sneak in some extra leafy greens.
Taking a few extra minutes to wash your spinach when you get home from the grocery store will help make your spinach last. Follow these steps so that there are no more bags of slimy spinach leaves going bad before you have a chance to use them. Also, donāt be afraid to throw your spinach in the freezer so it doesnāt go to waste!
Zero Waste Produce Guide
If you're looking for more information on how to wash and store produce, check out the Zero Waste Produce Guide. It has directions for washing and storing 75 produce items as well as over 40 recipes.
Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing Recipe
Ingredients:
- 4 strips bacon
- Ā¼ cup bacon grease, or oil of your choice
- Ā¼ cup pine nuts
- 1 T olive or avocado oil
- Ā¼ cup honey
- juice of Ā½ lemon
- Ā¼ cup Dijon mustard
- Ā½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 T red wine vinegar
- 3 T balsamic vinegar
- 16 oz baby spinach
- 1 cup croutons
- ā cup craisins
Directions:
Prepare Bacon Bits:
- Dice bacon and in a skillet, cook on medium heat until crispy.
- Line a plate with paper towels and lay bacon on paper towels to cool.
- Reserve grease for dressing unless you plan to use another oil
Toast Pine Nuts:
- In the same skillet, toast the pine nuts on medium heat in 1 T of oil until golden brown.
- Remove from pan and set aside in a small bowl.
Prepare the Dressing:
- Add bacon fat to the skillet and heat until it returns to liquid form.
- Add honey, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar, and balsamic vinegar.
- Stir to mix thoroughly.
Build the Salad:
- In a large bowl, add the spinach, croutons, craisins, and bacon bits.
- Remove the skillet of dressing from the heat and pour over salad.
- Mix to evenly coat and top with parmesan. Serve immediately.
More Spinach Recipes
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