In brief
- Fresh spinach shrinks significantly: plan on 400 to 500 grams per person.
- Cooking takes 4 to 6 minutes, wilting or stir-frying 3 to 4 minutes, frozen spinach 8 to 10 minutes.
- Wash fresh spinach thoroughly, as there is often sand between the leaves.
- A splash of cream after stir-frying removes the 'rough' mouthfeel caused by oxalic acid.
A whole bag of fresh spinach reduces to a small pile in the pan. This is normal and exactly why the quantity and preparation matter. You can cook, wilt, or stir-fry spinach.
How much fresh spinach do you need per person?
Plan on 400 to 500 grams of fresh spinach per person. This may seem like a lot, but spinach shrinks during cooking to a fraction of its original volume. Frozen spinach is already wilted, so you need much less of it.
How long should spinach be cooked or wilted?
Fresh spinach is done in 4 to 6 minutes in a pan with a little water, or wilted in 3 to 4 minutes if you want to wilt or stir-fry it. Frozen spinach should be gently cooked for 8 to 10 minutes.
| Preparation | Time |
|---|---|
| Fresh, cooking | 4 to 6 min |
| Fresh, wilting or stir-frying | 3 to 4 min |
| Frozen | 8 to 10 min |
How do you clean fresh spinach?
Wash the spinach several times in plenty of water and let the sand settle to the bottom. Dry the leaves in a salad spinner or kitchen towel and cut off any very thick stems. Proper washing prevents biting into sand later.
Why does stir-fried spinach sometimes feel rough on your teeth?
This is due to oxalic acid, a substance naturally present in spinach. Cooking largely removes this rough sensation, but stir-frying or wok cooking does not. A splash of cream added to the spinach as soon as it’s done dissolves it.
If you want to freeze or prepare fresh spinach, you can blanch it briefly first here. For the technique of stir-frying without releasing moisture, read our guide on sautéing.
