Baby Spinach

[debodun]

All packages of spinach in the store are termed "baby" spinach. What happened to adult spinach?

 

[Aunt Bea]

They sell adult spinach at the local Wegman's.

I pass on it because it is usually twice as expensive as the baby spinach.

 

[debodun]

I pass on it because it is usually twice as expensive as the baby spinach.

I wonder why.

 

[Aunt Bea]

I wonder why.

I've wondered about that myself.

Usually, young tender vegetables command a premium price.

Maybe the mature spinach is more expensive because it takes longer to turn over a crop. For example three crops of baby spinach to every single crop of mature spinach on the same amount of land or greenhouse space.

Anyway, I enjoy the baby spinach.

I put it into a casserole dish with a tablespoon of water and microwave it for at least a minute and then in additional thirty second intervals until it is cooked to my liking.

I enjoy it with poached eggs.

The other night I had some reheated with a sprinkling of shredded cheese and a spoonful of french fried onion rings, that was a very nice change and fattening too!!!

 

[debodun]

I am always amazed at how much it shrinks when cooked. What looks like half a bushel raw looks like a cup after being steamed or fried.

 

[Pink Biz]

And it's virtually impossible to drain out all of the water.

 

[fmdog44]

I don't know if I can taste the difference. If I don't steam it I chop up a big handful and put it in my salads. When I steam then squeeze the water out I wind up with a ball the size of a lemon.

 

[Lashann]

I don't really like the taste of cooked spinach but I do love to use it (baby spinach) in my salads. It also had a lot of health benefits which is a big plus for me.

 

[debodun]

I like to wilt a big pile of spinach on a plate in the microwave, then top with cut up chicken tenders and squirt some BBQ sauce on them.

 

[RadishRose]

I remember when fresh spinach was very dark green, curly and had a big stem to remove. It was delicious.

 

[debodun]

Yes, that is what I seek. Baby spinach is on the wimpy side.

 

[RadishRose]

Yes, that is what I seek. Baby spinach is on the wimpy side.

I haven't seen it in a long time. But then, I haven't been looking that much; buying frozen instead.

Baby spinach to me, has no taste so I agree with you. Curly leafed (or savoy) is nicer.

 

[fmdog44]

For some reason most of the recipes for spinach list frozen a the choice.

 

[debodun]

Frozen has a lot of water. The recipe usually says to squeeze the water out. They you have a compressed ball of soggy green mush.

 

[RadishRose]

Frozen has a lot of water. The recipe usually says to squeeze the water out. They you have a compressed ball of soggy green mush.

I don't use it for salads.

I use it as a hot side, often with sauteed garlic and olive oil, or just a pat of butter; or in soup. Haven't made creamed spinach in years.