Preserving Spinach for Winter - Start to Finish!

[@cazza2003]

Hi there! A quick tip...try using a pasta pot to blanch the spinach. You can then pull the strainer basket from the hot water all at once. Then you can chill the spinach in the basket, pushing the ice down to the bottom. Hope it helps! Love your videos!!

[@braydawg99]

Outstanding idea! So much faster and undoubtedly better for the quality of the finished product. Thank you!

[@JojosGr8]

I realize this is an older video but I don't mind. The tutorial is fantastic! You are a good teacher. I immediately subscribed to your channel. I used my pasta pot with drainer to blanch the spinach and a stock pot filled with ice water to shock it. Following the advice of other subscribers, I used the jumbo muffin tin to pack and freeze the spinach. I also cooled my "spinach water" - bottled it in old juice bottles and I plan to use it to water my house plants. THANK YOU so much for your video.

[@MsFreethepeople]

I love that you use basic household tools that most of us have and not all the fancy 5 star top chef tools. This helps, thanks!

[@beekeeper8474]

I use a bayou boiler with the inner strainer and a big cooler full of ice water and spin it in a large salad spinner I got from the restaurant store

[@justducky2t]

I use a muffin tin, line the entire pan with plastic wrap, freeze then pop it over. Super fast for freezing individual portions. Works for soup and sauces too! Empty nest GMA passing it on🤗

[@mamadiana1]

for such i would do ice cube trays. that way you remove just th amount you want or need sauce soups

[@highstandards6226]

Thanks! Excellent idea!

[@highstandards6226]

Much more manageable portion! I LUVLOVELUV my spinach, but even I quail at the thought of downing what looked like two hamburger patties' worth at one sitting!😯🤯

[@heidigib01]

justducky2t thanks, great idea.

[@robinschelstraete8291]

I'd use a serving ring with a 'push through thingie', so you can stuff the ring, but then easily empty it again :)

[@jamaicanbeauty8120]

No apologies necessary. We are just glad you are doing this video for us. Feel better

[@barbaralee5696]

I just harvested our spinach. I always dread the washing. It's so hard to get dirt out of greens. I put mine in a pillow case and secured the opening with a rubber band. I then put the pillow case in the washing machine on gentle cycle(no detergent!) It washed and rinsed and worked perfectly! Try it sometime. I also clean potatoes the same way before canning.

[@PhenomenallyFlyDiva4]

I have a lot of bagged spinach I was given. Now I know what to do with it. Thank you for sharing. Blessed be!!!

[@cynthiafed]

Sarah, I love how thoughtfully and thoroughly you educate and demonstrate any process you video! Thank you! Cindy

[@escalade78]

I discovered your channel when I was just searching for vegetable gardening information. You guys are a wealth of information. I greatly appreciate all the hard work you put in to filming your processes, editing, etc. Stay Well & God Bless!

[@susanjeanwyllie5618]

thank you so much. I really enjoy coming along with you on your adventure. Susan

[@happydays1336]

My mom used to put a little bit of vinegar and 1/2 hard boiled egg on top of each serving. I loved it.

[@PeterMaddison2483]

I've not been growing much over the past few years as I've been unable to, though I did manage to plant some spinach, only 1 survived through to now and I thought I'd try some straight outa the garden last night. WOW, it was lovely, eating it picked directly from my raised bed, I can't wait to grow load more and can them now.

[@cathleencaratan3373]

I realize that this is from 3 years ago. I line a baking sheet with towels or paper towels and then add a layer of parchment paper. I put the scoops of the blanched greens on there. It’s an additional way to soak out any moisture before it is frozen.

[@cindythomas681]

When I blanch and freeze, I try to remember to freeze blocks or bowls of ice. The small blocks, say 1 - 2 cup size, stay frozen longer and are easier than trying to work around the ice cubes. Just something I wanted to pass along. When my mom did corn on the cob, she would do like 1/2 gallon size blocks. Really lasts longer.

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

Great advice. Thanks!

[@luana-leecano8029]

Get a vacuum packer

[@pelicanman96]

That's a really good idea

[@rosejones4739]

thats a useful tip. thanks for sharing.

[@lavendercrowl5695]

I was thinking that too that she needs a bigger pot or bucket for the cooling process. It ciykd even be plastic since it is not being cooked and only in for a short time. Also a larger slotted spoon would work faster.

[@debbielente4766]

thank you, i just love to listen to you and Kevin. So many new ideas to incorporate into my own life styles, thumbs up, Love

[@renacraft7001]

Hope you get to feeling better... The spinach turned out beautiful... God bless...

[@albanymtnlife]

I make a sauceless spaghetti with spinach, mushrooms,onions, fresh garlic, sweet Italian sausage, and a can or homemade roasted tomatoes, seasoned with garlic n herb seasoning, with noodles...soooo yummy!

[@albanymtnlife]

Tamara Butterworth I hope you like it. If you want a no carb option you could use spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles.

[@debbiem2146]

That sounds absolutely delish!

[@theducklinghomesteadandgar6639]

Oooh I like the recipe even better with the idea of using squash "noodles" thanks for the recipe, sounds very yummy! I make a chicken version, "grill" the chicken in a skillet, then one could sauté mushrooms if you want to add, afterwards use 3 tbls butter melt in pan, sauté garlic and onion, remove veggies, then add a bottle of white wine, cook down! Boil a box of penne pasta, drain, add fresh or thawed frozen spinach, I try to use fresh, then add in the sautéd veggies, cut up chicken, then pour over the wine sauce and toss, then add grape or tommy tomatoes cut in half, or can leave whole, but I prefer halved! If one doesn't want to use wine, one could use chicken broth! All of my love and the love, blessings and grace of GOD, unto you and yours todays and always!!!!

[@pelicanman96]

Sounds like pasta primavera lol

[@americaneden3090]

THANKS 💚🤗

[@gayleshort1510]

You have shown meso much . Even if i cant do the whole thingI can follow you and how u all do it . Its like riding along . From a 77 year old want be doing the same. Thank you Gayle and God Bless

[@wifemommeboblife3657]

Wow can't believe that it shrink down SO much!

[@lsieu]

For people like me who wants to extend my food supply from my gardens, this was very helpful. I really appreciate your videos. They cover a gammut of useful tips and allow me to learn from your experiences. Thanks for being so transparent in your approach because if it was all about perfect, it would not be as educational or encouraging. ❤️

[@sydneydrake2789]

I always learn so much from your videos. Thanks. I wilt my spinach on the stove-top and pack it into silicone cupcake pans to freeze before bagging it. I'm not so worried about the liquid being strained out before freezing since it's easy to take care of later if I need to. For smoothies, I want the extra liquid.

[@JeanneKinland]

I'm picking all my spinach today because we expect a hard freeze tonight. Also, have beet greens. Thanks for sharing your stuff.

[@nancyhaywood6486]

you've certainly had a successful garden. i'm so envious. when my dad was living we always had a large garden at his house, we would carry those large white buckets full of tomatoes and other veggies. we grew everything. i sure do miss that garden and him. enjoyed your video. thanks

[@debiaviles4207]

Wow !! , You have come so far ! It’s now 2020 💚

[@dianacollinson2424]

💚 your channel! Saw this a few days ago and ended up using this method to blanch/freeze 3 giant bags of organic mixed pre-washed super greens on sale at my local grocery store for less than $2 a bag. I ended up with twelve 1/2 cup portions and will use them for my morning Green Drinks when I find myself low on fresh produce, & waiting for the next Saturday Farmers Market. Added bonus, won't need to add ice to the blender. 😃

[@countrymamamusings7701]

Was so happy to plant a large raised bed of spinach this year ... we rescued 2 turkeys (couldn’t help myself...I just love them) ....they flew over the fence and ate ALL of my spinach! Lol.... I still love them. I’ve recently acquired a few large bunches of organic spinach, and wanted to freeze about 75% of it. I appreciate the tutorial 😌

[@dragonflyneb]

I am enjoying going through your video's, I am learning so much. For 2 years I have tried growing luffa with only fail, watched your video and have 4 luffa's plants growing this year, God willing I will get luffa's you are a good teacher. Thank You

[@sansomspressurecleaningpoo9519]

Next time put a strainer inside your hot pot. Then.dump it on your ice water.Hope this helps. God bless.

[@rosejones4739]

YES. That seems way more time efficient. nothing will get overcooked.

[@melanie6215]

Good tip, I will do mine this way, thank you.

[@F-J.]

That's right. The fries strainer. A metal one of course :)

[@F-J.]

A two person job would be easier and faster.

[@F-J.]

Maybe you could put cling film in the cup then pack it. Then you can just pull it out and still use the cling film in the freezer.

[@kappy3679]

What a wonderful idea never thought of doing that. I will be doing that in the future instead of having to go to the store and buying spinach. Thank you for sharing that .

[@gingerreid8569]

Thank you for all the great videos to help us newbies looking to homestead and live off our land!

[@vickidriggs]

all of your videos are so helpful in teaching me how to preserve my foods and learn these great arts you share. Thank you so much.

[@BruceS42]

This isn't quite what I was looking for, but I saw it as a suggested video, and thought "Hey, Living Traditions! I don't think I've seen this one!" Good video. And 7 years old...yeah, that's before I started watching the channel and subscribed.

[@christinacyrus3824]

God bless you tube. I learn something new every day. Did not know the reason for blanching. Thanks.

[@waynecherry5301]

A good multipurpose tool, to press out the water in greens, is a "potato ricer'. Mine is stainless steel, and originally purchased thru Kitchen Collection, now available thru Amazon, and Walmart. for less than $20. It's like a big brother to a garlic press!

[@louisguerin8443]

Thank you. This is our first year with spinach and now we know how to store it. In the past, we've done the same three-step process with beans, peas, corn, squash, etc....good luck! Terrific video.

[@kimberlymollison3783]

I love spinach. Definetly will do this. Ty for sharing.

[@tanyaparker-callsign.kk7ic238]

New subscriber here Missouri is my hometown living in wa state for almost twenty years now and looking into homestead living based on the current climate. Vegetarian 🌱 for almost three years now started gardening this year hard work yet satisfying. Thank you for this old yet relevant video.

[@debbiee6535]

Spinach makes a great keesh too.

[@MariDorot]

What a great tutorial. Thanks for going into that much detail.

[@DragonflyzPrepsteadNDesigns]

It's always such a joy to watch Sarah in the kitchen. I hope to see more Canning videos soon. Be Blessed 💞

[@hollandershomestead4481]

I’d love to see you cook the meals later with these...

[@scherylwilliams3236]

I use a silicon muffin "tin" to put pesto in to freeze from my overly aggressive and productive basil plants. They pop right out of the "tins" and I have wonderful pesto all through the winter. Love your videos, Sarah.

[@johnnysmythe7767]

Thank you for all you do! We really appreciate it!

[@atuljoshi1990]

I've found just freezing the leaves works great too.

[@michellelyman7092]

I love spinach, didn't know you could freeze it like this, will for sure do it this year! Looks like alot of work and mess but very worth it.

[@crossing3790]

Thank you for sharing. Did not know about the spinache blanching. I will try this. Blessings to you

[@debram9893]

Great tutorial! 🌸

[@DiligentProsperous]

Thank you for showing how to process the spinach and freeze it. 🙋🏻‍♀️

[@susanblodgett9467]

Awesome love watching yall.

[@imjustsayin109]

Hey kiddo - large straining baskets for each of those pots would save an awful lot of work. They come in very handy when washing and preparing a lot of different veggies especially if you are doing a lot!

[@dorispowell7643]

Good job. Enjoy all your videos

[@AlexaAab.]

Really loooove it. God bless you and your family ❤️❤️❤️

[@susangaitho9230]

You can use the cling film inside the cup to help get the pressed ball out

[@gloriaandrews4477]

Looking forward to more videos

[@robboone4367]

Thanks Sarah! I know this is an old video but it is guiding me with my abundant spinach harvest. Happy gardening!

[@gerreddy9287]

great video and thanks for sharing your kitchen and your talents

[@Cindy-by3ho]

You are a great teacher!

[@melissan.2201]

what a great idea to freeze them in that shape and size! I look forward to seeing some recipe ideas on how you use this part of your harvest. Thanks for sharing!

[@alicea5]

I love the idea of one cup serving size. My mom often does this but she use bags or put them all mess up in one bag.

[@wyleneedwards]

Gardening is in my blood and I'm finding your videos are good for my mind, body and soul. It's about 26 degrees head in Akron, Ohio this night.Bone Chilling Gold! I played in the kitchen today making home made Salisbury steak and rice and gravy. Got a hankering for zucchini bread, froze one and will frost the other one tomorrow. I garden too, not on your scale. I comment your families work ethic.

[@ravenhummel8202]

Good way to collect your own seeds for fall/winter planting. Free seeds. I dislike the stems, so, I cut away the stems and place them in a pile. I proceed as you have done. Then, I dehydrate all of the stems and turn them into powder. I throw in soups and other dishes to add nutrition and flavor.

[@paulinefalzon7847]

Thank you God blees you and your crops

[@evelyngoodling2780]

Love this idea for portions.

[@RozetRides]

Informative video. Never really knew any good way of preserving spinach which is rough cause I love it

[@spazzmomma]

I love watching you Sarah in the kitchen. You have great ideas and you make it look so easy.

[@lindanoel1853]

A large wire 'scooper' with a handle allows a very large bunch of blanched spinach with real fast draining - saw this is another person's video. Thank you for yours.

[@cajunlane3191]

Try popping a couple of air holes in the bottom of your can so that you can get the spinach out easier. You can even do that with your can opener.

[@Rika-ng8pp]

I love watching your videos I do learn a lot. My husband and I are from South Africa working in the USA but have a dream of buying a piece of land to farm and live off of it. You do inspire me a lot.

[@marlenemcavoy7480]

More people should grow food it taste so much better than store bought I didn’t grow cabbage this year because we are getting more rain and colder weather So I went to store and bought a organic cabbage at the register it rang up at 11.00 ! I had them put it back it was 4.90 something per pound ! I will wait for the farmers to put some out and I will buy a crate full . Next year I will try to grow it myself. I’m in Maine and it is inconvenient weather just about every day I’m going back to my home in Georgia and grow it down there anyhow love your videos

[@OREOFEABIOLA]

Thanks for sharing the video.it’s so lovely

[@jenniferarchambault4444]

Love these videos! I would recommend using a sliding measuring cup to measure and pack the spinach, then you could just push the cups of spinach out instead of trying to pry them out of the traditional measuring cup.

[@janeirvine8391]

Great video! Highly informative. When forming your spinach cups, perhaps you could poke holes in an 8 ounce SOUR cream container and squish the water out that way? Or use a cheese making strainer. Thank you for posting. Blessings on you and yours and all who read this!

[@cesia9954]

Great! Thank you. God bless you🙏

[@lyrahah4688]

Thanks for the chance to see a different technique! It's still a tedious process, but you made it seem a bit easier. This one is a keeper!

[@dorykoszewski3162]

You definitely need to look into obtaining a spider utensil for things such as this.

[@kathyfranco9372]

You are such a great teacher. I do not always comment but I always learn from your videos. Todays video really has a lot of great stuff .. can not wait to put this into practice

[@jordonsweers4123]

Great job guys.

[@happylovejojo1763]

Such a great idea.

[@beverlylinklater5079]

I just love you guys, I stumbled upon you all on accident and I just have been amazed. I live in Chicago, IL. and have a small back yard but I have planted a lot this year. I also have a Beehive for the 1st time. I am very excited. These preserving tips are wonderful. I was very amazed by the freezing the eggs video. Keep up the good work and God Bless.

[@SallyInCT]

I nice spyder spoon strainer is GREAT to pull blanched veggies out quickly AND drains the hot water better than a small slotted spoon. 👍

[@yellowroseb3696]

Your channel is great, love watching the kids learn new things. As a helpful note on blanching. Get a blanching basket to fit your pan. I know from gardening many years.

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

I'll have to keep a look out for one of those. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@danielleterry180]

Awesome thank you love spinach and chard gives me ideas

[@rachelmorgan21]

Very helpful! Huge thanks from Wales in the UK! X

[@michelewarren5311]

So proud for you guys! Maybe this time next year I'll be recording OUR first harvest! Keep the vids coming!

[@LivingTraditionsHomestead]

Thanks, Michele! You can do it. It was about this time last year that we moved on to our new homestead. We got busy right away and we were able to plant a full garden this spring.

[@terebrown4266]

Thanks for doing this video. How long did it take you to wash all that spinach??? Bless your heart! Did you know that if you put some salt in the water, especially the first wash, it will reduce the surface tension of the water and cause the dirt and grit to let go and fall to the bottom of the sink much easier? Keep up the good work, and keep the videos coming. You probably don't know how much we appreciate all that you do.

[@rachaelbempomaaapenteng8516]

You seem like a good person

[@sherikatz2919]

Once the spinach portions are frozen do you put each in a freezer bag or do you vacuum seal them and then back in the freezer ?

[@kristinatidwell6563]

@@sherikatz2919 that's what I want to do, so it stays better longer.

[@auroracorrea3429]

Thank you love your hairdo💙

[@janeannadkins5124]

You need a spider.....and way less time in the hot water

[@BigHornMountainAlpacas]

Thanks for the great instruction and tips. My daughter and I plan to gather wild spinach (lambs quarters) today from our homestead and process it this way for winter eating.

[@gretaknebel8495]

Had to revisit to remember how to put up my fresh spinach harvest.

[@nadarawortham2901]

I recently found your channel and am bing watching. I like what you did. it is also amazing to see how much more comfortable you are in later videos

[@johnettebeaver1991]

You definitely need a spider! It’s a wire basket on the end of a bamboo handle and are used in Asian cooking. Very cheap, much better than a slotted spoon for doing that job. Girl you are one hard working woman and make us proud to see someone from a younger generation have an amazing work ethic that we worry is long gone, you give us old birds hope!!

[@juliafieger949]

Thank you so much for sharing with us. I really appreciate watching from start to finish.

[@shirleymurphy1958]

Greens are so good . We plant Swiss chard and you can keep citing it all season .I freeze a lot . The tops work well in any spinach recipe and the storks are good in soups.

[@tracymorrison6273]

i love spinach in salads, soups and vegetable lasagna, smoothies.....plus of course spinach dip ! Popeye always said it made him healthy ; I believe it is a wonder food and love spring when I can grow as much as I can...

[@rivinius98]

I put spinach straight into the freezer to pop right into the blender for smoothies. I make sure the leaves are clean and dry and I put it in air-filled ziploc bags. Seems to work just fine.

[@julvwildcat190]

How long do they last?

[@wandakelly2173]

Yum! I put up giant red mustard last week 😊 I canned it.

[@lornamcallister4475]

I would find it interesting to see your pantry and freezer space. I hope you will share. 💗

[@rebeccagreen3082]

i found u guys a few days ago. and u guys are a real inspiration.

[@Atcheng]

watched this again back to back with ur new video of blanching greens...😁

[@cassandramilligan3872]

Thank you for the spinage,great job.

[@shirleymurphy1958]

Your doing a good job lots of work. But so WORTH IT!