In order to enjoy spinach year-round, I buy it when it’s in season and freeze it for use year-round. In Quebec, spinach season runs from June to November. I can get plastic-free spinach from Potager Montréalais through Lufa Farms wrapped in nothing but a rubber band 🙂
I take a few minutes to chop it in my food processor and freeze it into cubes‚ just like the ones I used to buy in the freezer section at the grocery store. But rather than conventionally grown spinach shipped from France, this spinach is pesticide-free, grown only 30km from my house and doesn’t come in a non-recyclable plastic bag! A zero waste win-win-win 😀
How to freeze spinach
1) Prep your work area. Place a pot of water on the stove to boil. Fill another bowl with ice water (or very cold water). Pull out your food processor or blender. This is how my setup looks:
2) Remove stems from spinach leaves and wash thoroughly. I do a “triple wash” by giving them a bath in a bowl of water (soil rises to top) three times.
3) Once water is boiling, cook spinach for about a minute. Leaves will become an intense green. You can do this in small batches if preparing a large quantity of spinach.
4) Remove spinach from pot with slotted spoon and place in ice water to stop cooking.
5) Transfer cooked spinach leaves to food processor or blender and chop (optional).
6) Press spinach into ice cube trays and place in freezer.
7) Once frozen, pop out spinach cubes and store in a covered glass container in the freezer. Use your frozen spinach in smoothies, soups, dips, sauces and more!