Are You Making This Mistake with Baby Spinach?
Updated: May 24, 2023
Huh. Who knew?
We all know spinach is a superfood. Just look at Popeye! You should add even more to your diet if you want to keep your brain and body healthy. But you’re making a big mistake with that box of baby spinach.
What’s the problem?
You’re using it too much!
Wait. What’s the difference?
Baby spinach is simply spinach leaves that are harvested before they fully mature. Regular “full leaf” spinach has larger, more mature leaves. We’ve got two compelling reasons that regular spinach wins out:
Regular spinach costs less.
Want to know an easy way to save more money on your grocery bill? Choose regular spinach. Baby spinach costs more! You don’t need to fork over the extra dough for baby spinach. You can also buy regular spinach in bulk, so you don’t have to buy more than you need.
Need another reason to skip the baby spinach?
Regular spinach tastes bolder.
When cooked, regular spinach actually tastes better than baby spinach. Crazy, right? But it’s true. Baby spinach tends to turn slimy and mushy when cooked. Regular spinach keeps a more palatable texture.
If you’re looking for a more flavorful option, choose regular spinach. And, remember, spinach is for more than salads!
How can you choose the best spinach?
When shopping for spinach, look for dark green crisp leaves. The leaves should not be yellowing or wilting, as that is a sign the spinach is already on its way into your garbage. Fresh spinach should keep well in your refrigerator for about a week when stored properly. Put your spinach in a container that will protect the leaves from getting crushed by other items.
Test Kitchen tip: Add dry paper towels to your spinach container to help the greens stay fresher longer.
Now that you know the secret about baby spinach, could you be making these other mistakes with produce?
Try Regular Spinach in These Super-Fresh Recipes
Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon DressingAfter having a salad like this at a restaurant years ago, I came up with this recipe. It is especially good when the spinach comes right from the garden to the table.
Chicken Strawberry Spinach SaladThis pretty spinach salad topped with grilled chicken, strawberries and almonds features a delectably sweet poppy seed dressing. Made in moments, the dish is a refreshing lunch or light supper. —Ginger Ellsworth, Caldwell, Idaho
Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese and BeetsHere's a super easy salad that looks and tastes festive for the wonderful Christmas season, but is also wonderful all year round. Vinaigrette dressing coats the greens nicely. —Nancy Latulippe, Simcoe, Ontario
Fruit & Spinach SaladThe combination of sweet fruit and salty feta cheese makes this salad a winner. —Virginia Dack, Asheville, North Carolina
Wilted Spinach Salad with Butternut SquashMake quick work of peeling butternut squash. First, prick it with a fork and give it 45 seconds in the microwave. Then, trim an inch from the base of the squash, making it stand up straight and tall while you run the peeler from top to bottom. —Margee Berry, White Salmon, Washington
Blackberry Balsamic Spinach SaladThis lightly dressed salad is packed with superfoods! When I have time, I make my vinaigrette from scratch. —Mary Lou Timpson, Colorado City, Arizona
Chinese Spinach-Almond SaladThis recipe combines power-packed spinach, a good source of vitamins A and K, with other veggies, lean meat and crunchy, heart-healthy almonds. Reduced-fat dressing adds a light Asian flavor and touch to each hearty serving.
Mary Ann Kieffer - Lawrence, Kansas
Mediterranean Brown Rice Spinach SaladMy family and friends all love this salad, which they refer to as the Greek salad. The recipe makes enough to feed a crowd, so it’s a perfect take-along for a big party. No matter what you’re looking for—something with the Greek flavors you love or just a healthy, simple salad—this will not disappoint! If you’d like, substitute orzo for the rice. —Sarah Hawkins, Wanatah, Indiana
Flat Iron Steak & Spinach SaladMy steak salad with avocado and radishes is a big plate of summer deliciousness. I sometimes add dried cranberries and cherry tomatoes, but you can customize it to suit your tastes. —Marla Clark, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Pomegranate Splash Spinach SaladThe sparkling pomegranate gems make this salad irresistibly beautiful. My family loves it at holiday gatherings when pomegranates are in season. Even the children can't get enough of this antioxidant-rich delight. —Emily Jamison, Champaign, Illinois
Hot Spinach Apple SaladWith a light sweet-tangy dressing, the spinach doesn’t wilt and the apples retain their crunch. We serve this salad with homemade bread. —Denise Albers, Freeburg, Illinois
Strawberry-Turkey Spinach SaladThis light, refreshing salad is a true showstopper, visually and nutritionally, with fresh strawberries and yellow pepper strips tossed with fresh baby spinach. Serve with warm whole wheat rolls or flax or bran muffins. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Mixed Spinach & Greens with Lemon Champagne VinaigretteSimple and delicious, this champagne vinaigrette recipe pairs perfectly with mixed greens or a salad of your choice. —Ray Uyeda, Mountain View, California
Spinach, Apple & Pecan SaladOne day, company was on the way, and I forgot to buy salad fixings. Scavenging the fridge for ingredients, I pulled these together and invented a salad superstar. —Kelly Walsh, Aviston, Illinois
Michigan Cherry Salad with SpinachThis recipe reminds me what I love about my home state: picking apples with my children, buying greens at the farmers market and tasting cherries on vacations. —Jennifer Gilbert, Brighton, Michigan
Colorful Quinoa Salad with SpinachMy youngest daughter recently learned she has to avoid gluten, dairy and eggs, which gave me a new challenge in the kitchen. I put this dish together as a side we could all share. We love it for leftovers too. —Catherine Turnbull, Burlington, Ontario
Cranberry Almond Spinach SaladIf you want something new to try for your Thanksgiving menu, toss this salad together. Fresh spinach leaves are tossed with toasted almonds and dried cranberries and drizzled with poppy seed dressing. It's likely to become a holiday tradition at your house, too. —Michelle Krzmarzick Torrance, California
Strawberry-Quinoa Spinach SaladWe make quinoa with spinach and strawberries year-round, but it's most fun when we go to the farmers market to get the season’s first berries. —Sarah Johnson, Indianapolis, Indiana
Orange Chicken Spinach SaladFor a salad with refreshing color and crunch, we toss chicken and spinach with mandarin oranges and red onion, then splash everything with a tangy vinaigrette. —Jean Murawski, Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan
Grandma's Spinach SaladWith all its fresh ingredients, this pretty spinach salad was my grandma’s favorite. Even my little ones like it (but don’t tell them spinach is good for them)! —Shelley Riebel, Armada, Michigan
Light Strawberry-Spinach SaladThis strawberry-spinach salad makes a wonderful light summer meal. All of the flavors and colors complement one another very nicely. Farmers here in Washington grow a lot of strawberries, and they're the sweetest ones I've ever tasted. I'm always looking for new and different ways to use them. —Perlene Hoekema, Lynden, Washington
Originally Published: January 24, 2019
