Knowing how to freeze spinach for smoothies can save you time and money. Adding leafy greens is a quick and easy way to super-charge your smoothie’s nutrition. Unfortunately, leaves don’t stay fresh for too long which means they often go bad and get thrown away.
In this article – learn how to freeze spinach and kale for smoothies so you can maximise their nutritional value…
Both spinach and kale can begin to wilt after just a few days. As the leaves lose their freshness, their nutrient content can decrease too. The older the produce becomes, the fewer vitamins and minerals it contains.
So, here are our tried and tested tips on freezing spinach for smoothies (which you can totally use for kale or any other leafy greens). They’ll help you keep them fresh for as long as possible so that you maximise nutrient content and don’t have to throw any away.
How Do You Freeze Spinach For Smoothies?
Here are five simple steps to preparing and freezing spinach or kale for your green smoothies…
- Remove any bad leaves
- Use a dry paper towel
- Remove as much air as possible
- Allow air to circulate around containers
- Or use ice-cube trays
Let’s look at each of these steps in a little more detail…
#1. Remove any bad leaves
As the leaves wilt, they release a gas that triggers other leaves to do the same. Just one squishy leaf can speed up the wilting process of an entire packet. Removing any offending leaves at the start will extend the overall freshness by a few days.
#2. Use a dry paper towel
Place a dry paper towel into the bag or container. This will absorb extra moisture that can cause spoiling.
If after a few days, the paper towel is wet, then swap it for a fresh, dry one. According to The Kitchn, a container beats a bag for keeping leafy greens fresh, but both will last at least one week.
#3. Remove as much air as possible
Next, you’ll need to remove as much air as possible from inside the storage container.
If using Ziploc bags, then flatten them completely to remove excess air before sealing. If using mason jars or Tupperware containers, then pack the leaves tightly, so there’s no space for excess air.
You might also like… How To Store Smoothies In Your Freezer.
#4. Allow air to circulate around containers
Spinach and kale freeze well, so it’s a great way to extend their life beyond the refrigerator. Just make sure there is plenty of air circulation around the outside of the containers, to ensure the leaves freeze as quickly as possible.
#5. Or use ice-cube trays
In our humble opinion, this is the best way to freeze spinach for smoothies. Use ice-cube trays to freeze individual portions of leafy greens. Then you can pop a cube in the fridge to defrost overnight, so it’s easy to blend into your morning smoothie.
If you have a high-powered blender, then it’ll have no problems liquefying a frozen cube, so you can add it directly without defrosting. This video shows you how…
How To Freeze Spinach & Kale – FAQs
Here are a few of the most common questions we hear about how to freeze fresh spinach for smoothies…
Yes you can freeze spinach and use it at a later date (it’s ideal in smoothies).
No. You can freeze the leaves straight from fresh, and add the frozen leaves directly to your smoothie without any cooking.
Yes kale freezes well so you use it later on for smoothies or other recipes.
No, scientific study after study shows that both frozen and fresh produce have similar nutritional values. In fact, when spinach isn’t in season, it’s typically better to buy frozen (minimising carbon emissions caused by transport).
Absolutely! Ready-frozen spinach and other greens save time and hassle without affecting the nutrient content. This makes it easier to stick to a healthy smoothie habit.
No, add liquids to your smoothies first then leafy greens to ensure they blend fully. Here’s the optimal ingredient order.
Green Smoothie Recipes Using Spinach & Kale
Here are some healthy smoothie recipes with spinach and kale that you might like…
- 3-Ingredient Green Kiwi Smoothie
- Classic Green Apple Smoothie
- 3-Ingredient Pineapple Green Smoothie
- Pear, Spinach & Cucumber Smoothie
- Tangerine & Kale Green Smoothie
- Mango, Blueberry & Spinach Smoothie
So there’s the short rundown on how to freeze spinach and kale for smoothies. We’d love to hear what you think of these quick tips, and your suggestions for future hacks too. Get in touch with us via Facebook to let us know your thoughts…