How Long Does Spinach Last?
Fresh spinach typically lasts for about 3-5 days in the refrigerator. If it is stored properly in an airtight container, it can last up to a week. Cooked spinach can last for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
To maximize the shelf life of raw spinach, refrigerate it in a plastic bag and do not wash it until you are ready to use it. If you would rather wash your spinach leaves prior to using, you can dry them in the salad spinner, then store the package in the refrigerator.
If you notice that the paper towel in the spinach container is pretty wet, swap it for a new, dry paper towel. If you place moist spinach in your container, the paper towel will become moist with this water and will not be able to absorb any additional water. It is best to store spinach without washing it because adding water only hastens the spoilage.
If you are storing spinach in a container that is not sealed tight, air may enter the container and lead to loss of moisture from the leaves. If you are storing cooked spinach in an air-tight container, then the moisture is trapped within and it provides an appropriate environment for germs to grow. Vegetables are naturally very watery (how much is different between vegetables), so when talking about how to store spinach to ensure that it stays fresh, we are working on keeping as little humidity as possible inside the container that you are going to be keeping your spinach.
When you want to refrigerate fresh spinach, you can put it in a plastic Ziploc bag that has been wrapped in a paper towel. When you seal the bag, leave a small opening so that the spinach has access to essential ventilation.
How long does cooked spinach last in the refrigerator?
When storing cooked spinach in the refrigerator, be sure to keep it in a sealed container or in a resealable plastic bag. Properly stored, a single bag of unwashed pre-cooked spinach usually keeps about 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
Let blanched or cooked spinach cool down before keeping in a Ziploc bag or an airtight container in the refrigerator for about four days. A better option is to freeze blanched spinach or mashed spinach at 0F (18C) and use within 10 to 12 months. The best option for keeping the nutrients in spinach over several months is to blanch or make a puree prior to freezing.
| Lasting Duration | Storage Instructions | |
| Room temperature | 3 – 4 Days | – |
| In the fridge | 10 – 15 Days | Airtight container |
| In the freezer | 8 to 10 months | Airtight container |
If you are considering eating spinach that is starting to wrinkle and turn a shade of yellow, the best way is to use it in cooked dishes. To use your spinach, simply remove it from the freezer and stir it into soups, sauces, pasta salads, and other dishes where you would normally throw in frozen spinach or fresh spinach. When it is time to use leftover spinach, you can pull the amount you need from the freezer and add it directly to a dish as you are cooking, or defrost it in the fridge ahead of time. Yes, you can freeze spinach, but it is worth noting that you will notice a texture difference with frozen spinach when you thaw it.
Find out how much one cup of spinach weighs by checking out this article.
You do not want to wash your spinach beforehand as the water and the chill of your refrigerator will result in the spinach getting wet, thus it spoils quicker. Meanwhile, you need to use new spinach within one day if not store it in the refrigerator. To ensure that your spinach stays fresh for as long as possible, avoid washing them unless you are planning on eating it immediately or using it in a recipe.
This may vary depending on how fresh your spinach is when you purchase it, but this method has nearly always kept my spinach fresh in the fridge for 5-7 days (and sometimes longer). If you are able to get hold of fresh spinach on the day that it is picked, it may keep fresh for as long as two weeks. If you are planning on eating your freshly harvested spinach that same day, you can keep it at room temperature, away from direct sunlight, for several hours.
When is the best time to store your spinach?
The shelf life for spinach is usually 5-7 days but can last up to 14 days when stored properly. You should throw out cooked spinach that has been left out for longer than 2 hours because the bacteria will grow and spoil it. Bacteria grow quickly in temperatures of 40degF to 140degF, so a pre-washed unopened bag of spinach should be discarded if left at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
You can store prepared spinach at room temperature for about 2 hours in conditions ranging from 40 to 140 degrees F. Cooked spinach keeps about 3 to 5 days if stored in a refrigerator in a sealed container or a plastic zip-lock bag at or below 40 degrees F.
If you want to know more about how spinach can go bad, read my other article.
Best practices for storing fresh, cooked spinach
I included best practices on storing your fresh, cooked spinach for a longer period of time to help you enjoy your crops (whether they are grown in the field or from the grocery store) while also wasting less food. In this quick guide, we are going to cover how long spinach lasts, the right way to store it, how to tell when it is going bad, and how to keep it fresher for longer. In this post, we have put together our best practices and tips to keep spinach fresh up to 10 days, along with an easy guide on freezing spinach for longer-term storage, and proper storage of cooked spinach, too.
If you are looking to store spinach that is just picked in your garden or at a farmers market, wash it well and dry it thoroughly before freezing. Avoid washing spinach until the time when you are ready to use it, as adding water is the perfect surface for bacterial growth, which will speed up the decay.
Before eating spinach from a bag, dump it in a big, water-filled bowl and mix it with your hands, then thoroughly dry it in the salad spinner. Like most salad greens, spinach spoils easily, so if you do not store your spinach properly, you are likely to have your spinach wilting before you get the chance to use it.
How do you know if spinach has gone bad?
You’ll be able to tell when your spinach has gone rotten. Initially becoming yellow, the edges of the once-bright, crisp-green leaves gradually become gnarled and mushy, frequently developing a disagreeable odor. The compost pile would be a better place for your spinach at that time rather than your plate.
What happens if you eat old spinach?
Fresh spinach is considered one of the healthiest foods in the world, as it is full of vitamins and minerals. However, it can be unsafe to consume spoiled spinach as it includes health risks like food poisoning, which can cause symptoms like abdominal cramps, nausea, and vomiting.
How long will fresh spinach keep in the fridge?
Refrigerated spinach will last in the fridge for up to a week or even 10-12 days, granted that it is properly stored. The fridge will help maximize the preservation of both fresh and cooked spinach, as long as you plan on utilizing either within several days of storing it.