Spinach stalks can you eat

Active 4 years, 4 months ago. Viewed 23k times. Improve this question. I concur with Wayfaring Stranger, so I'd say that usually it's best to remove the stems. If you want to avoid the waste and avoid stringiness you could remove the stems and dice them up.

Add the diced stems with the leaves to whatever you're making. I only wonder if anyone else here has had success in not removing them. I've read elsewhere online that [de-]stemming is unnecessary. It will depend upon the spinach. The size and toughness of the stems varies even more than the leaves. It's certainly not necessary to remove the stems, but if the stems are tough, they are very noticeable. If you want to really get the most out of your homegrown spinach, visit the Respect Food website, which has several ideas for preparing spinach stems so they can shine on their own as a standalone dish.

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By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Select healthy spinach. Browse the spinach section at the store or farmer's market for bunches with dark green, fresh leaves.

Don't get a bunch with yellow, wilted, bruised, or mushy leaves. At the grocery store, most of the spinach you find will already be separated from its stems and will be in a sealed bag. At the farmer's market, most spinach will come in a nice leafy bunch. The most common type of spinach is smooth-leafed spinach, which has flat, smooth leaves that are perfect for cleaning. However, its leaves are deeply crinkled, making it harder to wash the soil and grit away from the leaves.

Baby spinach is simply spinach that is plucked after days of growth while regular spinach is plucked after days of growth. Baby spinach has more tender leaves and is better used in salads, while adult spinach is better for cooking. Store the spinach in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. It can be stored this way for 3 days. If you don't plan on using it right away, then you should store it until you're ready to use it.

You shouldn't wash or dry it until you're ready to cook it, or it will wilt. Remove the stems from the spinach. If your spinach is still attached to its thick stems, then you should cut off the stems using a knife or kitchen shears. You can use a paring knife for extra accuracy. Though the stems are still edible, they're a little tough and unpleasant to the taste, and your spinach leaves will be tastier without them.

Clean the leaves with running water to remove any soil particles. Many times, spinach has dirt in it that can make it taste gritty.

If you purchased spinach in a bag that is sealed and states that it's been washed, then you can still wash it to be safe, but you don't have to take as many precautions as you would with spinach from the market. Here's how you can go about washing the spinach: Separate the leaves.

Run your hand down the rib to separate the leafy bit from the stem. This is optional. Some people like to eat the stems. Put the leaves into a bowl of water, swish them around, and drain the water. Repeat until all soil has been removed.