The Ins And Outs of
Cooking Spinach

Whether cooking spinach or eating it raw, it's important to learn how to clean and prep this yummy veggie. Why? Because although spinach is one of those vegetables that we all seem to despise as kids, somewhere along the way we fall in love with it.

The spinach season runs from March-May and again from September-October. Although you can usually find it all year round, it's at its best and prettiest during these months.

How To Select Spinach

Ready for a nutritional quickie? Visit Vegweb.com
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Byte of Spinach!

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Step 1: Choose organic spinach whenever possible. "But organics are dirty. Ewwww!" Please remember, this is a GOOD THING! So many of us have gotten used to buying totally clean and perfectly sanitary produce. Believe it or not, that commercial produce you've been purchasing that looks so pretty is actually a master of illusion, because in all actuality it's weak and sad due to the poisonous pesticides and herbicides it has grown up with.

In fact, spinach is one of the top 4 veggies that should be purchased organic due to its pesticide content.

Plus, organics are ALIVE and filled with nutrients, which is your purpose to eating in the first place, right? Don't worry, we'll clean that spinach to perfection.

When choosing Spinach, be sure to examine the leaves -- they should be large and full. Avoid bunches that have leaves that are riddled with tears and holes, which could suggest it is out of season, or has been mishandled.

How To Clean and Prep Spinach

Step 2: Fill a bowl (or a Salad Spinner, as I have done here) with clean, filtered water and add 2-3 Tablespoons of Lemon Juice, or any other edible acid, such as Vinegar. This will help to clean your Spinach more thoroughly. Don't skip this step -- it's very important as the acidic properties will help to kill any little critters that may be in your LIVE NUTRIENT PACKED spinach.

name Step 3: Pinch off the leaves at the top of the stem. Discard stems.

name Step 4: Soak the leaves in the water/lemon juice mixture for at least 5 minutes.

name Step 5: Drain.

name Step 6: Rinse. This veggie has a reputation for being fairly dirty, so you will most likely have to rinse and drain a couple more times until the water is clear.

name Step 7: Spin dry. If you don't have a Salad Spinner, I highly recommend you get one as it will become indispensable to you.

Note: Here's the Salad Spinner I use...

Otherwise, you can drain thoroughly and lay out on paper towels to air dry. Or simply use it immediately.

Now you can begin the short process of cooking spinach or you can use it raw. However, you may want to chop it first. Here's a simple way to accomplish this.

name Step 8: To chop: It's easier to chop the Spinach when it's gathered in a bit of a roll. So just grab a handful and roll it together -- it doesn't have to be perfect! Run the knife through the length of the roll of Spinach. This will cut the roll in half the long way.

name Step 9: Next, make cuts into the Spinach along the width for bite-sized pieces.

Your Spinach is ready to go!

Cooking Spinach

Boiled Spinach
Pureed Spinach
Sauteed Spinach
Or Eat Your Spinach RAW

Try This Vegan Spinach Dish...

Vegan Quinoa & Spinach w/Sour Cream Topping

Raw Vegan Caesar Salad

Spinach Vegan Flavor Matches

Create your very own vegan spinach recipe with some of your favorite ingredients from this list of foods that match perfectly with spinach.

Need Organic Herbs & Spices?

Bacon, meat-free (I like Fakin' Bacon. Eat sparingly -
this is not a health food)
Butter, non-dairy (I like Earth Balance)
Cardamom
Carrots
Cheese, non-dairy
Chiles
Chives
Cream, non-dairy
Cumin
Curry
Extra-virgin olive oil
Garlic
Ginger
Horseradish
Leeks
Lemon
Lemongrass
Mint
Mushrooms
Mustard
Nutmeg
Nuts (especially almonds and walnuts)
Olives
Onions
Oranges
Pepper, Black
Peppers, especially red
Raisins
Seeds (especially pumpkin)
Sour Cream, non-dairy
Soy
Sucanat (or other dry sweetener)
Tarragon
Tomatoes
Vinegar (especially red and wine)
Yogurt, dairy-free