Some dehydrating resources have spinach listed on their items that do not dehydrate well, but don’t let that discourage you from trying this preservation method for your own spinach. If you’re thinking you can rehydrate your spinach for a salad, dehydrating is not going to give you great results. But if you want spinach flakes or powder to add to your meals, dehydrating spinach is just what you need. Drying spinach is super simple and a fantastic way to preserve extra greens from the garden, farmer’s market, or grocery store.
Start with fresh spinach. Wash it thoroughly so you don’t have any dirt hanging around on the leaves, and pat them dry. They don’t have to be thoroughly dried before going in the dehydrator. Remove the larger parts of the stems, they get tough when they dry.
Lay the leaves on the trays in mostly a single layer. They can be touching and overlapping some, but you don’t want a whole pile on top of each other.
Dehydrate at 125 degrees (vegetable setting) for 3-6 hours or until they are crispy.
Once the spinach is dry, remove the leaves from the trays and crush lightly by hand for spinach flakes.
To powder your dry spinach, place the crushed leaves in a blender and pulse until they reach the consistency you desire.
Spinach powder can be used in green smoothies, mixed with meat for burgers or meat loaf, or mixed in with other vegetable powders for nutritious, portable, storable powdered baby food.
Keep preparing! Angela
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Dee says
I had to asked myself, why would anyone want to powder spinach? Then I remembered, my grandfather used it to cure meat. It has natural nitrates in it to preserve meat. Since it also is goiterogenic, those with low thyroid need to use moderation but in a long going survival situation, knowing both is good to know.
Thanks for posting this. I’m going to be doing this as I harvest my spinach this next growing season. :)
Sigrid W. says
Dee, how did he use spinach to cure meat? That sounds like a nutrient packed way to preserve it.
Practical Parsimony says
Does spinach need to be blanched before dehydrated?