How to Store Spinach So It Last for Weeks, According to a Produce Expert

If you’re anything like us, you always grab a bag of baby spinach to keep on hand when you go grocery shopping—and you often end up pronouncing it DOA when you reach for it in the crisper drawer. How should you store spinach to keep it fresh? Its delicate leaves and high water content give this nutritional powerhouse one of the shorter lifespans among vegetables, but correct storage will make it last longer. We spoke with Robert Schueller from Melissa’s Produce, and he shared his best tips for maximizing spinach storage.

The 2 Kinds of Spinach

There are two spinach varieties usually found in supermarkets and at farmers markets across the country, explains Schueller: common spinach, typically sold in 1-pound bunches, and baby spinach, which is generally sold in 1- to 2-pound bags or in large clamshell packages. Baby spinach is sweeter and more tender, as well as more convenient to throw in a salad. Schueller tells us it is also more popular, preferred by 70% of shoppers over large-leaf spinach.

Can You Store Spinach at Room Temperature?

No matter which kind of spinach you prefer, you don’t want to leave it sitting out on the counter. All leafy greens will wilt at room temperature in less than six hours, says Schueller. Once you get home from the grocery store, plan to chill your spinach immediately.

How to Store Spinach in the Refrigerator

Once you get your spinach home, Schueller recommends putting a paper towel in the bag or clamshell to absorb excess condensation. He also notes that stacking heavier items on top of delicate leafy greens like spinach can crush or damage the leaves, making them wilt faster. So choose where you store a bag of spinach in the crisper drawer carefully.`

How Long Spinach Lasts in the Refrigerator

If properly stored as outlined above, bunched spinach can last 7 days in the fridge, while baby spinach in a bag or a clamshell will last 10 to 14 days—its longer lifespan is mainly due to the extra protection from moisture the packaging provides.

Should Fresh Spinach Be Stored in the Freezer?

Schueller does not recommend storing common or baby spinach in the freezer, at least if you plan to eat it fresh. If your spinach is on its last legs and you know you won't have a chance to use it, go ahead and toss it in the freezer. But, plan to use any spinach that you freeze in soups, casseroles, and other hot dishes rather than consuming it at room temperature.

If you want to have spinach on hand in the freezer, it's better to buy frozen chopped spinach, which is easy to defrost and use as needed in various dishes.

When to Wash Spinach

Whether bunched or baby, spinach, like most other produce, should only be washed when you are ready to use it. Schueller notes that packaged spinach, like bagged salad greens, is often pre-washed for convenience, and marked "washed" or "triple-washed," and if so, does not require further washing. He advises checking the packaging to determine if the greens need to be washed.

If you buy bunched spinach, don’t wash it until you’re ready to consume it. “Once you clean off the leaves, the protective layer that keeps the produce from wilting is removed, which speeds up the ripening and wilting of the leaves,” says Schueller. This also applies to mist machines at grocery stores, which can give the appearance of farm-fresh food while slowly deteriorating the leaves. He recommends opting for bagged or clamshell-packaged spinach for that reason. Bunched spinach should always be thoroughly rinsed under cold water and strained before serving to remove any dirt or bugs from the leaves.

Signs Spinach Has Gone Bad

It’s usually easy to tell when spinach leaves have softened to a point of looking mushy or slimy, says Schueller. He notes that this will often happen when someone washes the whole bunch but only uses part of it before putting it away in the fridge. It’s best to remove and wash only what you plan to consume immediately.