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🤗
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!😯🤯
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.
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.
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.
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!
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!!!!
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!!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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 😌
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. ❤️
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.
💚 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. 😃
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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
I was thinking you might use one of the colander inset/insert pasta pots for your boiling pot; lift & drain the whole batch at once, and either move the whole holey insert-part into the ice bath, or dump the spinach and put the insert back immediately.
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.
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.
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!
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.
I have been freezing spinach for years and I do not blanch it. I fill a sink with cold water, soak and wash it thoroughly. Then shake as much water off as possible. then dry with clean towel and then layer spinach on top of each other then bag into ziplock bags, express air out and freeze. It's quick and easy and can be done in small lots of larger lots. I try to pick every four five days and freeze down. That way I am not left with hours of work at one time. I often do it after dinner when I have five mins to spare
you have all ready lost the best part I the hot water, many years ago people told me todo it this way buy is always tasted like it was washed out, even corn cob, for years I just wash and freeze, taste great and just like it was picked, everyone I know today just washs and freezes, them one cut ball is not even enough foe one person at a meal, unless you only give a teaspoon to each
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 .
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
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.
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.
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!
Get yourself a bottle of Colloidal Silver to spray into the back of your mouth when you feel a cold or sore throat coming on. 2 to 3 times a day and it will go away. Takes care of cold sores as well. I even use it sprayed into my nostrils when I have the sniffles starting. LOVE YOU GUYS. We just bought a "farmette", 7 acres, with 2 springs. SO EXCITED to ex[and my homesteading from Urban city to true country!
I knew you had to blanch but I did not know why or anything about the enzymes. Thank you for the info. Love watching all your videos. Only recently found you about 3 weeks ago.... but already planning on getting rabbits and quail for my little 50ftx18ft garden. Would so love a homestead 💕
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
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.
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.
Just a ha ha, when I was a child, 66 now, my mom would wash her spinach and carrots in her automatic clothes washer on the gentle cycle after she had hosed of the excess dirt. Didn't do other veggies cause her picky children wouldn't eat them. Saved her lots of time and work, then would do what you've done. Boy was she smart.
one time my neighbor gave me 2 bushels of her green beans problem was she let her son mow grass and he threw grass all over the fence with the beans--I was like==Oh Lord help me what can I do-then all of a sudden I thought=washing machine with my strainer basket!! YES!! wow I took those beans in 1/2 bushel at time-threw a new nylon scrubber in with them and let it rip--wow they came out beautiful and all that grass was in the strainer basket!!--lol God is good!
I have a friend who washes her pickling cukes in the washing machine before she pickles them. She says it takes off the little prickly nubs and keeps them cold until she's ready for them.
My mom had Dad carry outside the old ringer washing machine. She filled it with carrots and washed them. All the dirt got removed and they were peeled by rubbing against each other then rinsed the same way.
I can't see washing food in the same place I wash underwear and dirty diapers, not too appetizing. But as the mom of a big family I can appreciate the need for short cuts. However....I also believe that chores are a very good thing for children. As long as they can't get hurt, they can help.
Watching mid September 2019 in AZ.. I just planted some spinach.. I have no clue how it's going to grow into the fall.. the weather is interesting to say the least here.. but I live this idea.. freeze in clumps!! Then bagging them up.. so simple. I hope I am able to do this near Christmas.
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.
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
Sarah I absolutely LOVE this idea. Freezing it in one pound packs is perfect! I don’t care for canned spinach and neither does my family. Any I’ve put up in the past I’ve dehydrated. The dehydration process lets it keep its flavor and nutrients but is sooo time consuming if you have a bunch to do. I have frozen it (same process as you did) but just stuffed it into ziplocks and I’d always have too much. This way of measuring and freezing would be the perfect size! You have no idea how excited I am. I’m gonna do it with my collards and turnip greens too. I might try chard this year too? Idk? I’ve actually never even eaten chard before. Do you eat it? If so what is its flavor similar to? Anyway...sorry for all the questions. If you’re too busy I surely understand. Thanks so much for the idea! God Bless you and the family always ~Lisa
Lisa Booker, Swiss Chard is in the spinach family, and tastes very much the same, yet doesn't cook down as much as spinach. In our garden, it's a prolific producer, whereas spinach always bolts almost immediately, producing very little. My husband and I decided last year, we're only going to plant swiss chard from here forward.
Another thing you can do is when you cook squash or pumpkin you can freeze that in Mounds we do it on parchment paper on a cookie sheet and then take it off when they're frozen and put them in a container and that way you have smaller servings of squash or pumpkin to eat or make a small amount of soup
This reminded me I had fresh kale in the fridge,so I blanched it and froze it like your spinach. Awesome. We make soups, quiche, add it to fried potatoes, and casseroles. My spinach didn’t turn out this year, so off to the farmers market 😊 thanks love your channel
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.
Oooh my, what harvest. I would have harvest need that quantity. Listening 🤔. Those such a economical, healthy to budget. I like that. I’m new to this channel business, your support is appreciated. 👍🏽❣️
Try this year the new zealand spinach! It is actually not related to spinach. But it has a great flavour actually better than the original. It selfseeds next year, do not bolt and it is available until fall. It creeps on the ground. You can find the seeds at baker creek.
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!!
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.
Great video! Thanks for putting out this content and always being transparent on your homestead journey! I’m definitely dreaming of having a homestead one day, for now my little suburban garden will have to do! God bless!
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!
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.
I have never blanched my veggies before freezing and now I know why they turned out terrible 😞 I didn’t know how to blanch veggies or even that I needed to. I’m such a newbie! Thank you 😊
Very good idea you just gave me on how to freeze portions!! Btw dont limit yourself or under guess. Also dont spread yourselves thin, you can always go bigger but maybe sometimes you do need more of one thing than another that can benefit you like spinach. You should yield three times as much spinach next time and use one yield for cream spinach. Try basil too and arugula.
Thanks...Do you grow sweet corn? We did on the farm my husband grew up on. Butter and Sugar sweet corn, Harvested when kernels are young. Blanched them, then into ice bath, then cut off cob. Two bag sizes , one for the amount your family needs, the other about a qt size bag for making Chicken corn soup. (Pa Dutch recipe). We froze it several ways for soup, the bag way , and also the finished soup way ,but don't put in the chopped boiled eggs when you freeze it.. add those when heating it up to serve. They get rubbery. We also froze completed Vegetable beef soups .
I freeze my spinach and kale the same way. I also dehydrate them and put them in a food processor for a greens mix. Just add a little to soups, stews, casseroles and even chocolate cake
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🤗
for such i would do ice cube trays. that way you remove just th amount you want or need
sauce soups
Thanks! Excellent idea!
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!😯🤯
justducky2t thanks, great idea.
I'd use a serving ring with a 'push through thingie', so you can stuff the ring, but then easily empty it again :)
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.
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.
Great advice. Thanks!
Get a vacuum packer
That's a really good idea
thats a useful tip. thanks for sharing.
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.
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!
Tamara Butterworth I hope you like it. If you want a no carb option you could use spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles.
That sounds absolutely delish!
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!!!!
Sounds like pasta primavera lol
THANKS 💚🤗
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!!
Outstanding idea! So much faster and undoubtedly better for the quality of the finished product. Thank you!
Next time put a strainer inside your hot pot. Then.dump it on your ice water.Hope this helps. God bless.
YES. That seems way more time efficient. nothing will get overcooked.
Good tip, I will do mine this way, thank you.
That's right. The fries strainer. A metal one of course :)
A two person job would be easier and faster.
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.
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!
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.
No apologies necessary. We are just glad you are doing this video for us. Feel better
Sarah, I love how thoughtfully and thoroughly you educate and demonstrate any process you video! Thank you! Cindy
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!
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.
You seem like a good person
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 ?
@@sherikatz2919 that's what I want to do, so it stays better longer.
Thank you love your hairdo💙
You need a spider.....and way less time in the hot water
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
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.
Thank you for all the great videos to help us newbies looking to homestead and live off our land!
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 😌
I have a lot of bagged spinach I was given. Now I know what to do with it. Thank you for sharing. Blessed be!!!
I’d love to see you cook the meals later with these...
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. ❤️
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.
thank you so much. I really enjoy coming along with you on your adventure. Susan
My mom used to put a little bit of vinegar and 1/2 hard boiled egg on top of each serving. I loved it.
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
💚 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. 😃
It's always such a joy to watch Sarah in the kitchen. I hope to see more Canning videos soon. Be Blessed 💞
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.
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.
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
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.
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!
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.
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
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.
Thank you for showing how to process the spinach and freeze it. 🙋🏻♀️
I was thinking you might use one of the colander inset/insert pasta pots for your boiling pot; lift & drain the whole batch at once, and either move the whole holey insert-part into the ice bath, or dump the spinach and put the insert back immediately.
So proud for you guys! Maybe this time next year I'll be recording OUR first harvest! Keep the vids coming!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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
You definitely need to look into obtaining a spider utensil for things such as this.
I'm picking all my spinach today because we expect a hard freeze tonight. Also, have beet greens. Thanks for sharing your stuff.
What a great tutorial. Thanks for going into that much detail.
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.
I have been freezing spinach for years and I do not blanch it. I fill a sink with cold water, soak and wash it thoroughly. Then shake as much water off as possible. then dry with clean towel and then layer spinach on top of each other then bag into ziplock bags, express air out and freeze. It's quick and easy and can be done in small lots of larger lots. I try to pick every four five days and freeze down. That way I am not left with hours of work at one time. I often do it after dinner when I have five mins to spare
I use this same method for my collard greens 😊
Great video.
Perhaps, when you squeeze the spinach in the measuring cup, you could keep the juice to add to soup, etc. :)
that's a great idea :)
you have all ready lost the best part I the hot water, many years ago people told me todo it this way buy is always tasted like it was washed out, even corn cob, for years I just wash and freeze, taste great and just like it was picked, everyone I know today just washs and freezes, them one cut ball is not even enough foe one person at a meal, unless you only give a teaspoon to each
spinach tea, taste yukky but it good for you, sprinkle a bit of Himalayan salt in it then drink it.
Genius!
I love watching you Sarah in the kitchen. You have great ideas and you make it look so easy.
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 .
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
Thank you for all you do! We really appreciate it!
Thanks Sarah! I know this is an old video but it is guiding me with my abundant spinach harvest. Happy gardening!
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.
Really loooove it. God bless you and your family ❤️❤️❤️
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.
Hope you get to feeling better... The spinach turned out beautiful...
God bless...
God bless you tube. I learn something new every day. Did not know the reason for blanching. Thanks.
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.
Wow !! , You have come so far ! It’s now 2020 💚
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!
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!
I love spinach. Definetly will do this. Ty for sharing.
Get yourself a bottle of Colloidal Silver to spray into the back of your mouth when you feel a cold or sore throat coming on. 2 to 3 times a day and it will go away. Takes care of cold sores as well. I even use it sprayed into my nostrils when I have the sniffles starting. LOVE YOU GUYS. We just bought a "farmette", 7 acres, with 2 springs. SO EXCITED to ex[and my homesteading from Urban city to true country!
Wow can't believe that it shrink down SO much!
I knew you had to blanch but I did not know why or anything about the enzymes. Thank you for the info. Love watching all your videos. Only recently found you about 3 weeks ago.... but already planning on getting rabbits and quail for my little 50ftx18ft garden. Would so love a homestead 💕
Awesome love watching yall.
Great tutorial! 🌸
Thank you so much for sharing with us. I really appreciate watching from start to finish.
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
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.
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.
I'll have to keep a look out for one of those. Thanks for the suggestion.
I nice spyder spoon strainer is GREAT to pull blanched veggies out quickly AND drains the hot water better than a small slotted spoon. 👍
Just a ha ha, when I was a child, 66 now, my mom would wash her spinach and carrots in her automatic clothes washer on the gentle cycle after she had hosed of the excess dirt. Didn't do other veggies cause her picky children wouldn't eat them. Saved her lots of time and work, then would do what you've done. Boy was she smart.
one time my neighbor gave me 2 bushels of her green beans problem was she let her son mow grass and he threw grass all over the fence with the beans--I was like==Oh Lord help me what can I do-then all of a sudden I thought=washing machine with my strainer basket!! YES!! wow I took those beans in 1/2 bushel at time-threw a new nylon scrubber in with them and let it rip--wow they came out beautiful and all that grass was in the strainer basket!!--lol God is good!
I have a friend who washes her pickling cukes in the washing machine before she pickles them. She says it takes off the little prickly nubs and keeps them cold until she's ready for them.
My mom had Dad carry outside the old ringer washing machine. She filled it with carrots and washed them. All the dirt got removed and they were peeled by rubbing against each other then rinsed the same way.
I can't see washing food in the same place I wash underwear and dirty diapers, not too appetizing. But as the mom of a big family I can appreciate the need for short cuts. However....I also believe that chores are a very good thing for children. As long as they can't get hurt, they can help.
Watching mid September 2019 in AZ.. I just planted some spinach.. I have no clue how it's going to grow into the fall.. the weather is interesting to say the least here.. but I live this idea.. freeze in clumps!! Then bagging them up.. so simple. I hope I am able to do this near Christmas.
Informative video. Never really knew any good way of preserving spinach which is rough cause I love it
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.
great video and thanks for sharing your kitchen and your talents
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
Sarah I absolutely LOVE this idea. Freezing it in one pound packs is perfect! I don’t care for canned spinach and neither does my family. Any I’ve put up in the past I’ve dehydrated. The dehydration process lets it keep its flavor and nutrients but is sooo time consuming if you have a bunch to do. I have frozen it (same process as you did) but just stuffed it into ziplocks and I’d always have too much. This way of measuring and freezing would be the perfect size! You have no idea how excited I am. I’m gonna do it with my collards and turnip greens too. I might try chard this year too? Idk? I’ve actually never even eaten chard before. Do you eat it? If so what is its flavor similar to? Anyway...sorry for all the questions. If you’re too busy I surely understand. Thanks so much for the idea! God Bless you and the family always ~Lisa
Lisa Booker, Swiss Chard is in the spinach family, and tastes very much the same, yet doesn't cook down as much as spinach. In our garden, it's a prolific producer, whereas spinach always bolts almost immediately, producing very little. My husband and I decided last year, we're only going to plant swiss chard from here forward.
Another thing you can do is when you cook squash or pumpkin you can freeze that in Mounds we do it on parchment paper on a cookie sheet and then take it off when they're frozen and put them in a container and that way you have smaller servings of squash or pumpkin to eat or make a small amount of soup
Thank you for sharing. Did not know about the spinache blanching. I will try this.
Blessings to you
This reminded me I had fresh kale in the fridge,so I blanched it and froze it like your spinach. Awesome. We make soups, quiche, add it to fried potatoes, and casseroles. My spinach didn’t turn out this year, so off to the farmers market 😊 thanks love your channel
I've found just freezing the leaves works great too.
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.
Oooh my, what harvest. I would have harvest need that quantity. Listening 🤔. Those such a economical, healthy to budget. I like that. I’m new to this channel business, your support is appreciated. 👍🏽❣️
Try this year the new zealand spinach! It is actually not related to spinach. But it has a great flavour actually better than the original. It selfseeds next year, do not bolt and it is available until fall. It creeps on the ground. You can find the seeds at baker creek.
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!!
Good job. Enjoy all your videos
Love this idea for portions.
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.
Thanks for sharing the video.it’s so lovely
Great video! Thanks for putting out this content and always being transparent on your homestead journey! I’m definitely dreaming of having a homestead one day, for now my little suburban garden will have to do! God bless!
You are truly an inspiration, we have learned so much from you
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!
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.
How long do they last?
I have never blanched my veggies before freezing and now I know why they turned out terrible 😞
I didn’t know how to blanch veggies or even that I needed to. I’m such a newbie! Thank you 😊
Very good idea you just gave me on how to freeze portions!! Btw dont limit yourself or under guess. Also dont spread yourselves thin, you can always go bigger but maybe sometimes you do need more of one thing than another that can benefit you like spinach. You should yield three times as much spinach next time and use one yield for cream spinach. Try basil too and arugula.
Thanks...Do you grow sweet corn? We did on the farm my husband grew up on. Butter and Sugar sweet corn, Harvested when kernels are young. Blanched them, then into ice bath, then cut off cob. Two bag sizes , one for the amount your family needs, the other about a qt size bag for making Chicken corn soup. (Pa Dutch recipe). We froze it several ways for soup, the bag way , and also the finished soup way ,but don't put in the chopped boiled eggs when you freeze it.. add those when heating it up to serve. They get rubbery. We also froze completed Vegetable beef soups .
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.
You can use the cling film inside the cup to help get the pressed ball out
I think large cupcake pan is about one cup per dent. That will be great for pan freeze.
A silicone one would be great for getting them out easier.
@@kbumgarner4537 I like that idea
Ming Song great idea!
This should ease the spinach vs measure cup struggle. search "Uncle Jack Professional Stainless Steel Food Tower Presentation"
Ming Song, I have 4x TX sized cup cake holders that I plan to use :)
I freeze my spinach and kale the same way. I also dehydrate them and put them in a food processor for a greens mix. Just add a little to soups, stews, casseroles and even chocolate cake