Home cooks on Reddit have shared a simple method to make frozen spinach taste better: thoroughly squeeze out all moisture before cooking. This prevents the vegetable from turning soggy or watery, a common issue when preparing it.
Frozen spinach is a convenient and long-lasting option, often fresher than fresh produce because it is frozen shortly after harvest. However, improper cooking can leave it wet and unappealing. One Reddit user described the frustration: "Some of our favorite holiday foods are spinach artichoke dip and creamed spinach, but I LOATHE the whole deal of messing with wet, slimy defrosted spinach. Squeezing out the water, squeezing out the water again, floating bits of green stuff on everything….any suggestions to make this easier and less messy?"
Reddit's Top Tip for Dry Spinach
Fellow cooks responded with a consistent recommendation: drain the spinach completely before cooking. One commenter said, "I squeeze the water out in my bare hands, one handful at a time until it's all drained and in a bunch of tight little clumps. It is the simplest and most effective method I've found for getting super dry spinach every time."
Another suggested defrosting the spinach in its bag, snipping a corner, and squeezing out the liquid. They noted, "Liquid is good for stock. Voila, dry-ish spinach with clean hands." A third person recommended using a large mesh strainer and a fork to press out the water, adding that rolling in paper towels helps for extra dryness.
How to Sauté Frozen Spinach
Even when adding spinach to curries or soups, removing excess water makes it less slimy. For a simple side dish, a recipe from Scrummy Lane uses a few extra ingredients: two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, three sliced garlic cloves, 10 ounces (284 grams) of spinach, one lemon, and salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a large frying pan on medium-high heat, stir-fry the garlic for 20 to 30 seconds, then add the spinach and toss until wilted. Cook for an extra minute or two to evaporate any remaining water, then season with salt, pepper, and lemon juice, and drizzle with olive oil before serving.
