How To Steam Spinach? Greens 101

Steamed spinach can be served as a filling side dish to any meal. Steaming spinach is a simple method that takes little time. For a quick cooking time, steam spinach on the stovetop or in the microwave. You can eat your spinach right once or save it for later after boiling it.

If you have any extra, eat them before they go bad.

Read this article to know what is spinach and the ways to steam it!

What is Spinach?

Spinach is a powerful superfood. It’s high in nutrients, but it comes in at a low-calorie content. Spinach is important for skin, hair, and bone health since it contains dark, leafy greens like spinach that are rich in protein, iron, vitamins, and minerals.

Throughout history, spinach has been utilized by a wide range of people, including the Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and South-East Asian cultures.

It is both inexpensive and simple to prepare, making it suitable for any diet.

Spinach is high in nutrition and disease-fighting compounds, such as lutein, which can help protect against various diseases. It may help people avoid developing diabetes by lowering their blood glucose levels and reducing the risk of cancer.

Spinach also aids in the maintenance of healthy bones and teeth by providing essential minerals and vitamins.

Ways To Steam Spinach

 

It’s something you hear a lot: eat your greens. Many people are aware that it is critical to consume a variety of green vegetables, and steamed spinach being as adaptable as it is in many meals and snacks, there’s no excuse for not eating enough of this powerful vitamin.

Steaming Spinach on the Stove

Wipe and dry the spinach. Always wash your spinach before steaming it to remove any contaminants. Wash the spinach in a strainer under running water until it is somewhat dampened. If you don’t have a strainer, simply place the spinach in a bowl and swish it about while running water over it.

Then, using a clean paper towel, pat the spinach dry. You don’t need to get the spinach completely dry; however, you should ensure that it isn’t dripping wet.

In a medium saucepan, combine two tablespoons of water and two teaspoons of salt. Do not use more than two teaspoons of salt; the spinach will still contain droplets of water. Make sure your saucepan can hold all of your spinach.

To ensure that the spinach cooks properly, you should not have to cram it into the saucepan. If your saucepan is too small, your spinach will not cook uniformly throughout.

Then, add the spinach. You should cook your spinach until it is just slightly wilted and soft. It will take about 5 minutes to boil the spinach, but it can take more or less depending on the amount you’re cooking. After your spinach is soft and bright green, remove the pan from the heat.

Steaming Spinach in Microwave

Rinse the spinach. Any contaminants will be removed this way. You may rinse your spinach in a colander or in a bowl with a tiny quantity of water.

After that, pat the spinach dry with paper towels. It does not have to be completely dry, but it should not be soggy either. Place the spinach in a microwave-safe serving dish. Make sure you have a microwave-safe bowl on hand.

Microwave on high for 3 to 7 minutes in 3-minute increments. For a little amount of spinach, do 3-minute intervals. For a larger quantity, use intervals of 7 minutes. When the spinach is done, check it and, if necessary, cook for a few seconds longer. Make sure the microwave is on high speed.

You may now serve your spinach. You can eat your spinach after squeezing out any extra water. Spinach may be had as a side dish with a larger meal, especially if you’re lacking in vegetables to put with your protein-based dinner.

If you have any leftovers, store them in the fridge.

Storing Your Spinach

• Put paper towels and a plastic bag on top of your spinach to keep it fresh. Take the spinach out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes. Remove as much water as possible from the spinach by rolling it up in a paper towel and placing it in a plastic bag. Place the bag in the fridge. The towel should absorb any extra moisture, allowing you to keep the spinach fresh for longer.
• Use a storage container made of plastic. Line a Tupperware container with paper towels to keep the contents clean. Place your spinach in the container, seal it, and refrigerate it. This will keep your spinach fresh. Make sure you use a Tupperware container that can hold all of your spinach comfortably. During the storage period, if spinach is compacted, it will soften.
• Spinach will only be good for a few days after it begins to stale. Once the spinach has gone bad, remove it from the refrigerator. Spinach will last 3-5 days in the fridge if properly stored. If you don’t consume your spinach within 3 to 5 days, recycle it and put it in the freezer instead of throwing it out. When it’s bad, spinach becomes discolored. Green or even black bad spinach will appear.

You can also check: How Do You Store Leafy Greens in the Fridge?

Additional Tips

1. When you steam spinach, always make sure that it is dry before steaming. This will help your spinach retain its color and flavor.

2. You may store cooked or raw spinach, but if you want to boil or saute your wilted spinach for later consumption, only use the leaves that are limp and not the ones that are still stiff.

3. If you want to buy frozen spinach, make sure it’s organic or pesticide-free. It also helps if the color of your spinach is bright green; dark-colored spinach means the produce was harvested too early and may be damaged by frost.

4. Spinach should smell fresh and mild, and the leaves should be dark green and crisp.

Final Thoughts

Spinach is a nutritional powerhouse and it goes well in so many recipes. If you aren’t sure how to steam it, check out the post above!

The article talks about how spinach should be stored and kept fresh after being steamed. This is important for those who want to keep their food safe and healthy.