How to Clean Spinach (Plus, How to Dry and Store It)

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Remove dirt, pesticides, & more with this simple guide
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Washing spinach in cool water removes dirt, bugs, pesticide residue, and bacteria like E. coli that can live on the surface of the plant. Just wait until you're ready to use the spinach to wash it—it stores better dry and unwashed than wet. In this article, we’ll show you how to easily wash, dry, and store your spinach so it stays fresh for longer and keeps you safe and healthy!

Things You Should Know

  • Soak spinach leaves in a bowl of cool water for 2 to 5 minutes, swirling and rubbing the leaves to remove dirt.
  • Alternatively, place the spinach in a colander and rinse the leaves under cool, running water.
  • Pat the spinach dry with a dish towel or run them through a salad spinner. Wrap the leaves in paper towels and store them in an airtight container for up to 10 days.
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Washing Spinach

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  1. Wash your hands for 20 seconds. If you don’t wash your hands before cleaning the spinach, you might get the leaves even dirtier. Just spend at least 20 seconds washing your hands with soap and warm water. This also helps prevent the spread of diseases and other bacteria. [1]
    • Dry your hands thoroughly after washing them, especially when handling a knife or other cutting tool to remove blemishes on the spinach.
  2. Inspect your bunch of spinach for any damage. If you see any brown, wet, or moldy leaves, throw them away. Then, use a knife to cut off parts of the leaves that have holes, black spots, or other damage; these might be areas where aphids or other bugs chewed through the spinach. [2]
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Wash Spinach
    If you don’t like the texture of the stems or need the spinach to be stemless for a recipe, simply grasp each leaf at its base, or just above the top of the stem. Then, tear the leaf from the stem. Or, use a knife to cut the stem from the leaf. [3]
    • To remove the entire stem, fold each side of the leaf down along the stem. Then, quickly pull down on the leaf halves to rip the leaf from the stem.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Wash Spinach
    Fill a large bowl with cool water and place the leaves inside. Then, rub the leaves and stir them around to remove any dirt and debris. Let the leaves soak for 2 to 5 minutes and then remove the leaves before draining the water. If you still see dirt on the spinach, soak it in cool water again. [4]
    • Rinsing spinach with cool water is effective at eliminating pesticide residue, germs, and dirt.
    • For extra cleansing power , soak the spinach in ½ cup (118 ml) of white vinegar for every 1 cup (237 ml) of cool water. This can remove slightly more bacteria than water alone.
    • Do not use soap or produce washes to clean spinach, as these aren’t more effective than water and can leave behind a harmful residue. [5]
    • Warm or hot water can cause the spinach to wilt.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Wash Spinach
    If you have a lot of spinach to wash, place it inside a colander or salad spinner. Turn on your facet to a cool, thin stream of water and run it over the leaves. While the water is running, use your hands to gently rub each leaf to remove any pesticide residue, dirt, and bacteria. [6]
    • For an extra cleaning boost , rinse the spinach under running water after soaking it in a bowl of water or a vinegar and water solution.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Drying Freshly Washed Spinach

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Wash Spinach
    Spread your spinach onto a clean dish towel or paper towel. Then, grab another clean dish towel or paper towel to gently blot off the excess water on each leaf. [7]
    • Removing excess moisture on your spinach prevents the leaves from growing soggy or developing mold, which helps them stay fresh for longer.
  2. The quickest way to remove excess moisture on your spinach is to use a salad spinner . Just place your spinach inside, twist on the top, and spin the leaves through several rotations until the water is gone from the spinach. [8]
    • You can also use a salad spinner to wash spinach. The spinning motion can remove dirt and bacteria on the leaves.
    • Clean and dry your salad spinner thoroughly after using it to dry the spinach. Just wash each piece of the salad spinner with dish soap and warm water.
  3. Letting spinach sit out and air dry allows excess moisture to stay on the leaves for a longer period of time. The moisture can encourage bacteria and other microorganisms to grow and spread. Plus, damp leaves are prone to rotting or growing moldy quickly. [9]
    • Always dry spinach well before using it in your cooking or storing it in your refrigerator.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Storing Spinach to Keep it Fresh

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Wash Spinach
    To keep washed, leftover spinach fresh, bundle the leaves in paper towels and seal them in an airtight glass or plastic container. [10] Set the container in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer, where your spinach will stay well for 7 to 10 days. [11]
    • The paper towel helps absorb excess moisture and keep your spinach from spoiling quickly.
    • If the paper towel feels wet to the touch, replace it with a fresh towel.
    • Remove any wilty, wet, or moldy leaves when you see them.
  2. When making a salad, smoothie, or other dish, only wash and dry the amount of spinach you need. Then, store the rest of the unwashed greens back in your fridge. Dry, unwashed spinach typically keeps longer in your refrigerator than washed spinach. Plus, moisture on the leaves can encourage bacteria growth and speed up leaf decay. [12]
  3. If you can’t use all of your greens at once, blanch the spinach by submerging it in a boiling pot of water for 2 minutes. Then, soak the leaves in a bowl of ice water for 2 minutes. Squeeze the spinach to remove excess water and then place the leaves in a plastic freezer bag. [13]
    • Blanching and freezing spinach keeps it fresh for longer and helps preserve its nutrients. [14]
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      Tips

      • You do not need to wash spinach that’s labeled as “Pre-washed,” “Washed,” or “Ready-to-eat.” Cleaning packaged spinach is unlikely to remove any more dirt or residue. Instead, you might potentially introduce germs and contaminants that weren’t in the bag. [15]
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      Things You’ll Need

      Cleaning Spinach

      • Hand soap
      • Cutting board
      • Knife
      • Bowl
      • White vinegar (optional)
      • Colander or salad spinner

      Drying Freshly Washed Spinach

      • Dish towel or paper towels
      • Salad spinner (optional)

      Storing Spinach to Keep it Fresh

      • Paper towels
      • Glass or plastic storage container
      • Pot or saucepan
      • Bowl
      • Freezer bags (optional)

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.eatright.org/homefoodsafety/four-steps/wash/washing-leafy-greens
      2. ↑ https://www.eatright.org/homefoodsafety/four-steps/wash/washing-leafy-greens
      3. ↑ https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_04/spinach_greens.html
      4. ↑ https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/Guide%20to%20Washing%20Fresh%20Produce508.pdf
      5. ↑ http://npic.orst.edu/faq/fruitwash.html
      6. ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/glossary/spinach
      7. ↑ https://www.eatright.org/homefoodsafety/four-steps/wash/washing-leafy-greens
      8. ↑ https://www.eatright.org/homefoodsafety/four-steps/wash/washing-leafy-greens
      9. ↑ https://www.eatright.org/homefoodsafety/four-steps/wash/washing-leafy-greens
      1. ↑ https://www.tastingtable.com/775132/the-absolute-best-ways-to-keep-spinach-fresh/
      2. ↑ https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/spinach-spinacia-oleracea/
      3. ↑ https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/Guide%20to%20Washing%20Fresh%20Produce508.pdf
      4. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/preserving-and-preparing/freezing-leafy-greens-later-use
      5. ↑ https://www.psu.edu/news/research/story/storage-time-and-temperature-effects-nutrients-spinach/
      6. ↑ https://extension.umn.edu/food-service-industry/wash-or-not-wash-recommendations-fresh-produce

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