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Good things today:
1) I found the perfume I have been wanting for $29 at TJ MAxx instead of $70! I haven't bought new perfume in about 4 years so I am psyched.
2) Fall is coming (at least in stores) and with that comes yummy pumpkin smelling Yankee candles--my fave. I have one lit up in my office right now.
3) I started making FROZEN SPINACH CUBES for Green Smoothies! I usually buy the HUGE bags of fresh spinach at Costco--but even with a green smoothie everyday there is bound to be some leaves that end up bad. I was tired of waste so I decided to blend it up and freeze the spinach in ice cube trays. Now I throw about 5-6 frozen spinach cubes in the blender with some fruit and water/almond milk and I'm set! *Bonus*-they take place of needing any ice if you like your smoothies super cold like I do.
Now, I recognize that there are probably a million people who already do this (I refuse to Google it for fear of seeing my un-orginality). I betcha it was even on Martha Stewart as some brilliant tip years ago. But if you're like me and need an "ah-ha!" moment to help make unused wilted spinach a thing of the past--here it is for you!
HOW TO:
Fill up your blender with fresh spinach leaves and add a bit of water to blend.
Pour it into an ice cube tray and freeze
Take them out of the ice cube tray when frozen
(I then store mine in a ziploc freezer bag in the freezer)
When it's smoothie making time--pop a few frozen spinach cubes into your blender
Add some fruit and liquid
Enjoy!
Seriously folks.
It's Awesome.
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61 comments:
Such an awesome idea! No little pieces of little leaves.
OH MY GOSH!!! This is brilliant!!!!!
I love green smoothies and I absolutely hate it when the spinach goes bad! This is sheer genius, thank you so much for the tip! Totally doing it today.
Do you ever use kale?
Yep--I like using Kale, too. I usually can't use it straight on though--I have to mix with spinach.
Great idea on the frozen spinach cubes! I've been freezing my bananas, but never thought about ice cube spinach!!
=)
Great idea. I just freeze spinach - whole leaves - in pint size ziplock bags. When I'm ready to make it into a smoothie I break off a chunk of frozen spinach into my Vitamix with fruit and water. Works great and no one can ever tell!
Brilliant! This idea qualifies you as an official smoothie connieseur.
Genius. Why didn't I think of this!?
Genius! Love this idea!
I found this idea through Pinterest, and I LOVE this idea! Plus, your comment about it probably being done by Martha Stewart years ago made me giggle, what hasn't she done?? :o)
Ahhh this is something I totally fight... the spinach goes bad everytime! Thank you for figuring this out!
Do you not have to blanch spinach? I thought about doing this but someone told me you have to blanch it firtst beause the enzymes break down the spinach even when frozen.
BeautybyJamie--I don't think blanching is necessary at all. My frozen spinach doesn't even stay in the freezer that long--it's simply a means to make sure no fresh spinach goes to waste. Considering a green smoothie is one of my daily routines, I would say that it's not in the freezer long enough for any concerns.
Sweet! good to know!
Thank you for the idea!! I hate when my spinach goes to waste for my smoothies!!!
Love this idea! This will make mornings faster too as I will put chia and hemp in there when I freeze it. Thanks for the tip!!
This is the best idea ever! I am always adding spinach to my smoothies because that is the only way I will eat it ...going to try this and share (with your permission of course):)
@BeautybyJamie -- The way to insure that you kill off all the enzymes is to blanch the spinach. Your food has to be raw if you want the full nutrient load.
Best idea ever! I now buy the bulk raw spinach at Costco and freeze it all. So much easier and cheaper!
I will do this from now on. Yay...no more wasted spinach! Thanks for the tip.
Awesome idea!!! Thank you so much for sharing. I also hate wasting any food and the large containers from Costco are hard to get through before going bad. Wonderful!!
My name is Wendy and chocolate is the best.
I love this idea. I buy large bags of kale at BJs and even though I make 6 smoothies and 4 large salads a week I often throw some out. Trying to live a low carb lifestyle and brakfast is usually a chocolate Atkins shake turned into a smoothie with either kale or blueberries, cinnamon, and cayanne pepper.
I thought about this a few months back but didn't try it. I will now! I make up smoothie bags with assorted frozen fruits & vegetables. I put one into my blender, add my protein powder & yogurt abd sway I go. Now I can add the spinach too. I will also try a half spinach half kale blend too.
Note to self - PROOF READ.
Can you freeze say , kale ,parsley ,cilantro etc . alsok
I know you can do kale or any green leafy vegetable. Spices as well!
I freeze my spinach and kale, so they don't go to waste. We are blendtec twins! May I share this photo (lovely photography)? Also let me know if you would be interested in using this as a guest post on our blog. Such a great tip!
do you freeze all your fruit or do you buy all frozen fruit?
Traci-- I freeze my strawberries and bananas, but otherwise I buy the frozen fruit bags from Costco.
I totally did this. I am crazy happy about it too...and will forever have cubed pureed spinach in my freezer!
My smoothie recipe for these cubes that makes 12oz in my hamilton beach personal blender:
3 cubes (used organic spinach)
1/2 organic banana (they last longer ...whichever works)
1 tablespoon of thawed orange frozen concentrate
3/4 cup (or to taste) sliced frozen strawberries
2 tbs of local honey.
I am in love. I am pregnant, and I need more veggies, and don't crave them. I do however crave fruit and smoothies, so I just cheated! The orange concentrate is loaded with sugar, but the orange helps neutralize the spinach flavour. You can use something else, but I prefer it.
Thanks for this btw. I'm in heaven. :)
D.D-- I am so glad you love this idea and thanks so much for the recipe:)
You are brilliant!
You are a genius!!!! Thank you sooo much for sharing :) I'm doing this today *hugs from NB, Canada*
I was so happy to see this! I forgot that I used to make spinach and kale cubes for baby food many years back. now I can make it for my smoothies and sneak it once again into my kids food :)
Spinach Health Benefits
Hi- I was just wondering if this would be ok to do with all of my choosen fresh smoothie ingredients- as in apples, bannanas, straw/black/blue berries, and kale. I'm new to smoothies- like havent even opened my blender. lol Can I just blend the ingredients, freeze them then throw in the cubes all at once to make an everyday smoothie?
Anon-- yep, you could do this with any ingredients that you normally throw into a smoothie. I would probably separate the greens/fruit into separate cubes to be able to control your amounts better or change up the flavors a bit. For instance, some days I might want kale and bananas while other days I might want more spinach and strawberries.
I still like the idea of using whole frozen instead of the cubes though, simply because the greens can condense more (shrink down) while if you put fruit into ice cubes, technically you might be getting less of them.
You should try it and see what works best for you!
I think you're brilliant and also refuse to Google! lol ;)
Just wanted to tell you I think this an amazing idea thanks for sharing! I am going to do this from now on.
Great idea! This is how i froze my milk for my babies... and their pureed baby food..i wonder why i didnt think about it for me :) - Amber
ustronethis is brilliant...i have never seen that or thought of it either and makes the am shake so much easier
Just bought a 2.5 lb bag of spinach from costco yesterday and my boyfriend rolled his eyes because he knows what happened to the last bag. So... THANKS!
Love this idea!!! Don't care if someone thought of it before....it's an original in my book!!!! :))
Brilliant! Do you think I could do the same with avocado?
Jenifer--I'm not sure about avocado--but worth a try:)
should have seen this before an entire bag of spinach spoiled at the bottom of my refrigerator ..great idea a must do .:)
Jennifer, I mix avocados with a little orange, pineapple, lemon or lime juice and then freeze. Hate it when spinach and avocados go to waste!
I really love your idea of freezing the puréed spinach as it would save any from spoiling and be ready to try new recipes at a moments notice. I have actually made up lots of different green smoothies and frozen them in serving sized freezer containers. It works well because they are ready to use so I can grab one on my way or leave it in the fridge overnight to be ready when I need it. Thanks again for a great idea!
Great idea! I freeze shredded zucchini in ice cube trays to add to smoothies and used bagged frozen veggies like broccoli in smoothies but never thought of freezing my spinach before it goes bad. Thanks for the tip
I saw this on Pinterest, but I don't understand why you would go to the bother to blend the spinach and put in ice trays. Why not just shove the spinach in ziplock bags and freeze it whole? It works just fine in smoothies this way. I even make separate bags with the spinach, strawberries, and banana for individual mornings of the week. Then I just add some orange slices or pineapple, and voila! It still doesn't rot in the bottom of the fridge my way.
Jamie Jo-
My reason for the ice cubes are many, but one in particular is that by blending it, I have already reduced the size and that saves me freezer room since the spinach gets so condensed.
I am glad that you have found your own method that works so great for you!
I love positive comments! Thanks for the surprise avocado freeze I saw in someone's comments, and will definitely freeze some of the veggies that get trashed on a regular basis!
This is the best site I have been on to date with real life tips!!!!! Love the spinach idea and many of the ones others have shared!!!! kudos to all!
THANK YOU! This is awesome! I've been trying so hard to eat more fresh foods and definitely more veggies, but get so frustrated with the waste when it goes bad. This is brilliant!
What kind of blender do you have?
Jessica-- I have a BlendTec. Vitamix are great, too.
What incredible simplicity. Thanks for this most excellent tip!!!!!!!!
AWESOME tip! I make smoothies all the time in my Vitamix, and I also buy the huge Costco spinach bags (and inevitably some goes bad.) I'm def. going to try this. Thanks! :)
I skip the pre-blend step and just stuff the spinach into freezer bags.
I have just frozen my Spanish but I think I'm going to try you method that way I have both. Thanks for the tip.
Great idea! I think using coconut water with it would be awesome, too!!!
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