This is a complete guide on how to use spinach in a smoothie, whether to use fresh or frozen spinach, how much, how to measure it, is raw spinach safe, can you taste it?
So you think you know everything there is to know about how to use spinach in a smoothie?
Why, of course!
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Most people think they only need to throw the leafy greens into a blender, press the button, and let the appliance do its thing.
But the truth is, there’s a lot that goes into making a green smoothie than what you were taught.
It’s like expectation versus reality; what you expect to be the result doesn’t always turn out to be the same as what you’ve imagined.
I’ve heard horror stories from friends who would complain about not achieving their desired consistency.
Some would be disappointed having made a watered-down version of the smoothie, while still many others would cringe upon taking a single sip—either because it’s still bitter or it has chunks of stringy veggies floating on the surface.
Green smoothies are supposed to make things easier, but a few mistakes here and there can make them appear otherwise.
I know where all of these are coming from, and I think I have the solutions.
In this blog, I will answer all the questions related to making a spinach smoothie in hopes that it will make you become a pro in the green smoothie game.
How To Use Spinach In A Smoothie
You need to prepare the spinach first.
Some prefer tossing all the leaves into the blender at once, but this would make the blades struggle to gain momentum as the leaves are not chopped into chunks.
Not only that, but studies actually suggest chopping spinach first to release more lutein, which is a carotenoid that aids in better vision.
So after rinsing them with water, you must remove thick stems and chop the leaves. Even with a powerful blender, the stem can be too fibrous and stringy, which will make blending and consumption a bit difficult.
How Do You Measure A Cup Of Spinach?
Since spinach is lightweight, it makes cup measurement a little confusing.
Hence, you should pack the leaves tightly into the measuring cup to ensure the correct serving size.
Take note that a cup of raw spinach is equivalent to 30 grams.
Unlike when cooked, raw spinach doesn’t shrink and is, therefore, more nutrient-dense for a single cup.
Fitting the leaves snugly into the cup will also guarantee accurate nutritional content.
Can You Put Raw Spinach In A Smoothie?
Yes. In fact, it is highly advisable that you use raw spinach in a smoothie so it retains most of its nutrients, especially the carotenoids.
Watch the video below where I make a healthy green smoothie with raw spinach.
Is It Safe To Put Raw Spinach In A Smoothie?
It is actually safe to drink smoothies made of raw spinach.
The only cause for alarm is when the leaves are not rinsed thoroughly or when you opt to not wash them again despite the label saying they’re prewashed. You can avoid food-borne diseases such as E.coli if you never skip the rinsing part.
Besides, since it is used in smoothies, any possible toxicity levels due to the oxalic acid from spinach can diminish with the blending of the rest of the ingredients.
How Much Raw Spinach Should You Put In A Smoothie?
It’s good to start with one single cup.
However, if your aim is to extract as many nutrients as possible from spinach, you can gradually increase the portion of veggies in the smoothie ratio to up to 8 cups of raw leaves.
Is It Okay To Eat Raw Spinach Every Day?
Yes, of course!
In fact, even before the onset of the green smoothie revolution, people have been consuming spinach raw or tossed into a salad on a daily basis to sustain their daily dietary needs.
HuffPost.com actually recommends starting with one cup of spinach a day.
{RELATED POST: 10 Raw Vegan Spinach Salad Recipes}
Can You Use Frozen Spinach In A Smoothie?
Sure, you can use frozen spinach especially if you’re planning to speed up your smoothie-making task every day.
Not only is it good for lazy days, but it will also retain most of the spinach’s nutrients for longer.
{RELATED POST: How To Freeze Spinach For Your Green Smoothie}
How Much Frozen Spinach Should You Use In A Smoothie?
Apparently, due to their stiff consistency, you can’t fit the frozen spinach into a measuring cup. However, you can just weigh them using a kitchen scale.
Remember the weight conversion of 1 cup = 30 grams.
Adjust the amount of your frozen spinach depending on the recipe requirements or serving size.
How Much Spinach Should You Use In A Smoothie?
To ensure that you get all the nutritional goodness of spinach, you can add 30-250 grams of the leafy green into your smoothie.
This will also guarantee the right veggie-to-fruit ratio necessary to achieve the desired taste and consistency.
Should You Boil Spinach For Your Smoothie?
You may do so.
However, it is not necessary since processing the leaves into a smoothie already produces an edible and ready-to-drink beverage.
Besides, studies have found out that boiling spinach will leach the important nutrients through water. Instead, steam the spinach until they’re slightly tender enough for the blender to process them efficiently.
Can You Put Cooked Spinach In A Smoothie?
Yes, you may even use canned spinach which has been labeled pre-cooked.
Research has also concluded that cooked spinach actually is richer in Vitamin C due to the breakdown of cellular walls during cooking.
Just make sure you don’t use too much of the cooked variety to avoid compromising other essential nutrients you should be getting out of spinach.
Can You Taste Spinach In Smoothies?
Fortunately, no.
The natural sweeteners in the form of fruits, juices, and berries can mask the bitter taste of your spinach smoothies. All you have to do is find the right balance of ingredients in your recipe.
It is also suggested that you blend the greens and fruits in stages to help dull the overpowering bitterness of spinach.
{RELATED POST: How To AVOID Chewing Or Tasting Leafy Greens}
Is Spinach Healthy In A Smoothie?
Yes, indeed. Spinach, whether raw, cooked or processed, is highly nutritious.
Adding this leafy green to your smoothies will not only provide you with the essential nourishment, but it will also simplify the way you consume your vegetables—and yes, fruits!
{RELATED POST: 17 Surprising Spinach Nutrition Facts & Health Benefits}
How Do You Store Spinach For A Smoothie?
Spinach that is intended for making smoothies can be stored in the fridge for a week.
If you prefer to keep it for longer, you can blanch the spinach leaves and put them in the freezer.
You can use frozen spinach leaves for up to 12 months.
{RELATED POST: How To Store Spinach To Keep It Fresh – 5 Genius Hacks}
Benefits Of Raw Spinach
Please feel free to share this infographic on social media or your website with a link back to this post
Conclusion
If you like the idea of simply chugging down your otherwise bitter veggies, then you need to learn how to use spinach in a smoothie.
It takes a little practice and some tweaking to get to your desired taste, consistency and other preferences concerning time, convenience and safety.
You should always bear in mind that spinach may be easy to prepare, but it does take a keen eye for details to ensure that you’re only getting the best out of your green smoothies.
I hope that through this brief Q&A, you’ll find yourself making your own glass of healthy smoothie goodness to eventually address your wellness concerns and weight issues.
Related Resources You Are Also Going To Love
Here are all the most popular resources that will help you take things to the next level:
- FREE Weight Loss Spinach Smoothie Recipe Card
Click here to pin this for later
Sources
- https://www.nbcnews.com/better/pop-culture/how-build-better-smoothie-according-nutritionist-ncna874006
- https://www.msn.com/en-ph/health/diet/putting-raw-spinach-in-a-smoothie-is-the-healthiest-way-to-eat-the-vegetable-because-heat-destroys-its-antioxidants-scientists-discover/ar-BBRwzw5
- https://www.huffpost.com/entry/8-foods-you-should-eat-ev_n_5909080
- https://www.finecooking.com/article/how-to-stem-and-clean-fresh-spinach
- https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/raw-nutrients-spinach-blended-smoothie-2120.html
- https://www.leaf.tv/articles/how-to-measure-spinach/
- https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/eating-raw-spinach-good-you-4840.html
- http://healthland.time.com/2012/04/23/fresh-vs-canned-can-you-get-healthy-food-from-a-can/slide/spinach/
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