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Produce & Frozen Guide

How to Cook With, Store, and Substitute Fresh & Frozen Spinach

Spinach is the easiest way to add vibrant color, iron, vitamins, and texture to whatever you are cooking. Fresh baby spinach wilts in just 60 seconds of gentle residual heat.

Illustrative photo from Unsplash. Guide updated . Storage times are typical estimates; follow package dates and discard food that looks, smells or feels spoiled.

How to Store Fresh & Frozen Spinach for Maximum Freshness

Fresh: 5 to 7 days

Paper Towel in Crisper

Line a container with dry paper towels to absorb excess moisture that causes spinach leaves to turn slimy.

Frozen: 8 to 12 months

Frozen Spinach Block

Thawed frozen spinach must be squeezed thoroughly in a clean kitchen towel to remove excess liquid before adding to fillings.

Best Ways to Use Fresh & Frozen Spinach

  • Folded into hot scrambled eggs or baked frittatas right at the end
  • Wilted into hot tomato or garlic cream pasta sauces
  • Stirred into chicken noodle or white bean soups
  • Blended into pestos, smoothies, and creamy dips

Common Cooking Mistakes to Avoid

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Adding wet thawed frozen spinach to dips or quiches without squeezing out water

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Over-cooking fresh baby spinach until it loses vibrant emerald color and turns brownish

Substitutions

SubstituteRatioBest For
Baby Kale or Swiss Chard1:1 stemmedSoups, sautés, and braises
Frozen Peas1 cup peas for 2 cups fresh spinachAdding green color and sweet bite to pastas

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does fresh spinach shrink when cooked?

Fresh spinach shrinks dramatically—a 10-ounce bag of raw baby spinach wilts down to roughly 1 cup of cooked greens. Don’t be afraid to heap the pan high!

Recipes Using Fresh & Frozen Spinach