OT–OT! Fresh Spinach

Sorry if this off topic post is a bother, I googled, but didn't find what
I'm looking for. Does anyone know if I can freeze fresh baby leaf spinach.
It comes in such a huge container and I go through it slowly. I would love
to rinse it all, use some now and ziploc some to throw it in the freezer.
Will this work like frozen packaged spinach?
Thanks!
Ami

On Sun, 19 Mar 2006 19:58:13 –0500, "Ami" wrote:
Mom has raised her own veggies for decades and YES, you can freeze
spinach.
It needs to be blanched before freezing.
For instructions:
http://tinyurl.com/lcpr3
––
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On Sun, 19 Mar 2006 19:58:13 –0500, "Ami" <amia...@nac.net> wrote:
I have worked in the produce industry for 15 years. Freezing leafy
greens straight from the store is a no–go. Like Charlie said...you
would need to cook it first. You can't freeze:
Spring Mix (mesclun, baby lettuce, weeks...whatever you call it)
Baby Spinach
Iceberg
Romaine
Leaf Lettuces
I know this may sound like common sense, but you would be surprised at
what people do to veggies.
April
"Life is too short to wear cheap shoes..."

"April" <kaos...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:knbu12p3eu7mv892amhko1m8tpeh179...@4ax.com...
It didn't seem like common sense to me (why I asked), I freeze fresh herbs
w/o blanching them first, so I was hoping I could do the same with spinach.
I wish they sold lettuce and spinach in the tiny packages like they have
baby carrots in, then I wouldn't waste so much produce. We just don't eat
salad every single day, and those ready made mixes wilt so fast. BTW, what
happens to leafy greens when you freeze them? Just curious.
Thanks Charlie and April for the response!
Ami

"Ami" <amia...@nac.net> wrote in message news:441f3390$...@nntp2.nac.net...
Ami,
They would break down from the freezing. When you thawed them, they would
be creased looking and possibly somewhat slimy. They would not be in the
pristine condition in which you would hope to preserve them in. I think
it's chemical regarding the expansion and un–expansion (is that a word?) of
the ice crystals that causes it to break down.
Jamie

On Mon, 20 Mar 2006 18:21:05 –0500, "Jamie" wrote:
The term you can't think of is "contraction."
What happens is the ice crystals expand on freezing and tear up the
cell walls.
––
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"Charlie Perrin" <nikve...@sbcglobal.netNOSPAM> wrote in message
news:negu121ujc8d0vfm2plgtuk1d3q844o...@4ax.com...
You got it! Where's my biology/chemistry recall when I need it? I did have
so much!
Jamie

"Ami" <amia...@nac.net> wrote in message news:441f4473$...@nntp2.nac.net...
I'm bald, so no offense. But I have considered bleaching my scalp...
––
dwacon(com)

"Charlie Perrin" <nikve...@sbcglobal.netNOSPAM> wrote in message
news:negu121ujc8d0vfm2plgtuk1d3q844o...@4ax.com...
OMG a big blonde DUH is in order. This is what happens to annuals,
tropicals, and tender perennials when they get frosted/frozen. I don't do
vegetables, but I'm sure if I was a vegetable gardener I would have figured
this all out on my own(although I thought spinach was a cold crop, but I
must be thinking about cabbage). As a flower gardener by trade, you would
think I still would have figured out what would happen to leaves when they
are frozen. Some professional.
Ami (I'm blonde if anyone was offended)
www.perennialhaiku.com

"Ami" <amia...@nac.net> wrote in message news:441dfe1f$...@nntp2.nac.net...
What I do is flash fry it in some light olive oil... until it is crispy like
potato chips... then put in bags and take to work as snacks.
––
dwacon(com)

"Ami" <amia...@nac.net> wrote in message
news:441f4473$...@nntp2.nac.net...
Ami, crops can be grown almost any time of the year now depending on the
climate. April really knows her produce since she comes from the salad
bowl of the US. I am currently growing cold crops in central CA such as
broccoli, beets and brussel sprouts but I need to pull them all out for
the spring and summer garden. I can grow Swiss chard all year long.
Audrey

My mother recently froze a bunch of fresh parsley. It seemed pretty clever
to me since I'd never even thought of it. Is it bad though?


"April" <kaos...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:knbu12p3eu7mv892amhko1m8tpeh179...@4ax.com...

Parsley will freeze well but it is best to use it before too much ice
accumulates.


"Miss Livvy" <Xeveryidiwantistak...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:B1KTf.3740$HW2.3...@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...

"Miss Livvy" <Xeveryidiwantistak...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:B1KTf.3740$HW2.3...@newsread3.news.pas.earthlink.net...
Freezing it won't cause it to go bad if that's what you're thinking. The
food will still be o.k., it's just a matter of quality. Lettuces and greens
will pretty much break down.
Jamie

On Tue, 21 Mar 2006 09:20:12 –0500, "Jamie" <zuschlag–sequ...@tds.net>
wrote:
Freezing any kind of lettuce or leaf (romaine, green leaf, etc) will
cause problems. It will get slimy. I can tell you that any shipment
of lettuce/leaf that experiences a product freeze en route is going to
be dumped. The same thing for anything that gets "hot". It causes
molecular breakdown and you lose quality.
My SpringMix/Spinach Buyer was just in my office and I was telling her
about this discussion. She thought I was teasing her. :)
April
"Life is too short to wear cheap shoes..."

On Mon, 20 Mar 2006 19:45:11 –0600, ahmward wrote
(in article <bvSdnRP6s6oAx4LZnZ2dnUVZ_sKdn...@giganews.com>):
I wish I lived in an area where that was true. Up here our window for
growing vegetables is so short. But of course, it's always worth the effort
and I'm definitely going to get back in the groove this year. These past few
years I've been a write off but I'm alright nooooowwww ;–)
We can make icecubes outside in the winter. Does that count?
––
Cheers!
Dennis
Remove 'Elle–Kabong' to reply

"Ruddell" <ruddell'Elle–Kabo...@canada.com> wrote in message
news:0001HW.C049C41F00036944F0407...@news.sasktel.net...
I understand what you mean. DH's relatives in ND have a very small
window of time too. I am just spoiled.

On Fri, 24 Mar 2006 16:48:37 –0600, ahmward wrote
(in article <5N–dnS4HPM_P6rnZnZ2dnUVZ_vedn...@giganews.com>):
I've come to the conclusion that living in a warm climate isn't being
spoiled, it's more like living normal ;–)
––
Cheers!
Dennis
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