Does Spinach Go Bad or Does Spinach Expire?: Our grandmothers have never failed to remind us every winter that we should be eating as much spinach as possible to develop good immunity. But what they probably missed out on was how long does spinach last.
Well, don’t worry, we got you covered. Have you ever bought these green cruciferous leaves for the sake of nutrition and are now stuck on their storage needs? All right, then this article is for you. We will be telling you about everything from the shelf life of spinach to tips for storing it like a professional.
So, let’s dive into this guide and gain knowledge of whether can you eat expired spinach after expiration date, whether is it bad to eat expired spinach, How long is spinach good for after expiration date, etc.
- Does Spinach Go Bad?
- Which Is Better Frozen or Fresh Spinach?
- How To Store Spinach?
- Extra Tips For Storing Spinach
- How To Defrost Spinach?
- How To Tell If Spinach Is Bad?
- How long does the spinach last in the fridge?
- Is it OK to eat spinach past the expiration date?
- What to do with fresh spinach before it goes bad?
- Can I eat spinach after expiration?
- What is the fresh spinach leaves expiration date?
- How long is spinach good after expiration date?
- Can you eat spinach after use by date?
Does Spinach Go Bad?
Yes, Spinach does go bad due to excessive moisture. Spinach is mostly made up of water and fiber. So, it’s natural for them to last long only in cool conditions. Similar to other perishable items, it tends to go bad in the presence of excessive moisture.
So, we will be telling you the best-case scenarios about the shelf lives if you store spinach properly.
Which Is Better Frozen or Fresh Spinach?
To be honest, it completely depends on your needs whether canned spinach is a better choice or a fresh one. Let’s discuss their pros and cons.
Frozen Spinach – Everyone loves the convenience of using pre-packed food. But, it is better to take a pause and consider whether frozen spinach is good for you or not.
The answer is simple, if you want the spinach to cook dishes or have spinach that lasts longer, then the canned version is fine. Otherwise, it’s not as good as fresh spinach.
Fresh Spinach – It is packed with essential nutrients and dense fiber. Moreover, a few ounces of fresh spinach in your smoothie or salad can make a lot of difference in those weighing scale numbers.
Even biological research claims that the amount of nutrients in spinach depletes very fast. Thus, it is better to use only fresh ones. However, the only backdrop of fresh spinach is its comparatively smaller shelf life.
How To Store Spinach?
Depending on your needs, spinach can be stored in a variety of ways. But a few basics are important to keep in mind before you try your hands on these awesome spinach-storing tips. Spinach will require an open space to get rid of moisture and ethylene gas. So, always use half-open containers. Also, follow these procedures to store it.
At Room Temperature
- Take out the spinach from its original packing and avoid washing it with water.
- Pat the leaves dry with paper towels or wax paper.
- Place them in clean plastic packets and leave them half-open on the kitchen counters.
- Use this spinach within 2 days of opening the packet.
In Crisper Drawer
- Remove spinach from the plastic carton carefully.
- Avoid squishing leaves as they may lead to slimy spinach.
- Clean them with dry paper towels and place them in a glass container.
- Leave the lid partially open and place it in the crisper drawer.
- Occasionally, clean the bowl to get rid of extra moisture.
In the Freezer
- If you wish to store spinach for as long as possible, try keeping it in the freezer directly.
- Just clean the leaves with parchment paper before putting them away in the freezer.
- Avoid keeping them close to ice cube trays to prevent any water contact with spinach.
Read More:
Extra Tips For Storing Spinach
No matter how meticulously you follow the above-mentioned tips, your spinach may still go bad. That’s why it is better to understand the science behind spinach’s shelf life before you try stacking it away. Don’t worry, we will help you out here as well. Here are some excellent tips for storing spinach.
- Always keep spinach away from other fruits like apples, pears, etc. as they produce ethylene gas. This gas can exacerbate the aging process in spinach leaves.
- Leave the container which has spinach half-open. It allows a passage for the extra water to escape from the leaves.
- Don’t wash spinach in advance as it can indirectly lead to spinach spoilage. It is extremely hard to dry the leaves, thereby leading to deterioration.
- Ensure that the container containing spinach doesn’t have water droplets on its surface.
- If you wish to store already cooked spinach, then simply put it in an airtight bowl inside the freezer.
How To Defrost Spinach?
Defrosting something is equivalent to bringing it back to normal temperature after extreme freezing. Given the low temperature, spinach may lose its flavor profile. Therefore, you should defrost the leaves before using them in your dishes or smoothies.
For the sake of defrosting the spinach, simply leave it on your kitchen counter for 2 hours. This will facilitate retrieving its natural texture, water content, and flavor. However, keeping it outside for too long may lead to swift spoilage. So, it is advisable that you wrap the spinach in paper towels before putting it outside the freezer.
How To Tell If Spinach Has Gone Bad?
Eating spoiled spinach is not a good idea. At best, you might end up torturing your taste buds and at worst, you might end up with an upset stomach. That’s why you should be able to identify the red flags surrounding the spoilage of spinach. Thankfully, spotting these red flags is not rocket science.
Look out for these tangible and easy-to-spot signs in your spinach.
- Wilted Leaves – As mentioned earlier, spinach is mostly made up of water. However, it tends to lose its moisture quite fast which leads to wilted leaves. Although consuming wilted leaves is considered fine, using extremely dehydrated ones can harm your health.
- Foul Odor – The most sure-shot way of telling apart good and bad spinach is through their smell. If the leaves smell “funny”, then get rid of them without thinking twice.
- Dark Spots – Other than the smell, you can also spot spoiled spinach by observing its surface. If it has weird black spots, then throw it away instantly. These spots originate mostly because of invading fungi.
- Bitter Taste – Added spinach in your smoothie and it already tastes bitter or sour? Well, it’s time to put them in the trash can.
FAQs on Does Spinach Go Bad –
1. How long does the spinach last in the fridge?
The exact shelf life of spinach may vary depending on many factors like the temperature and the duration for which it was kept in supermarkets. However, you should ensure that your spinach leaves are completely dry and the plastic packets are half-open. Rest assured, your spinach will last up to 10 days in the crisper drawer.
2. Is it OK to eat expired spinach?
Is expired spinach ok to eat? Yes, it is stored correctly. The best part of packed spinach is that it comes with a use-by date. Therefore, it becomes easier to keep tabs on your spinach. But if spinach past best by date, you can still consume it within 2-3 days. It is important that you unfailingly store this spinach in the freezer.
3. What to do with fresh spinach before it goes bad?
There will be no point storing the spinach if you are not going to use it. So, give it a shot and grind the leaves for your next breakfast smoothie. You can also make scrumptious salads and pasta using spinach. After all, there is no dearth of recipes for these vegetables.
Can I eat spinach past the best by date? Not recommended to eat spinach past use by date as it involves hazards and they ingest the food gradually.
5. What is the spinach expiration date for fresh ones?
The out of date spinach can be stored fresh in the fridge for 2 weeks.
6. How long is spinach good after expiration date?
Bagged ones last up to 5 days after spinach past expiration date.
7. Can you eat fresh spinach after expiration date?
No, it’s not a good idea to consume. To know how long can you eat spinach after expiration date, please check our guide completely.
Summary
We hope that this article clearly explained the A to Z of spinach to you. This cruciferous vegetable is quite good for skin and detoxification. Likewise, it can be added to a multitude of dishes, so now you can easily store your spinach for the next salad or diet fad. Also, for such crisp and helpful articles on Can Butternut Squash Go Bad and many of your favorite foods, stay tuned.