How to Steam Spinach

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Steamed spinach can make for a healthy side dish to any meal. Steaming spinach is a simple process that does not take long. You can steam spinach over the stove or using a microwave. Once your spinach is steamed, you can eat it immediately or store it for later. If you have leftovers, make sure to eat them before they go bad.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Steaming Spinach on the Stove

1
Wash and dry the spinach. Prior to steaming, always wash your spinach. You want to make sure you get off any contaminants prior to consuming the plant. Place the spinach in a colander and run it under tap water until it's slightly damp. If you don't have a colander, you can simply add the spinach to a bowl and swish it around as you run water over it.^{[1]
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- Afterwards, you can pat the spinach dry with a clean paper towel. You don't need to get the spinach completely dry, but you should make sure it's not dripping wet.
2
Pour two tablespoons of water into a medium saucepan. Do not add more than two tablespoons, as there will still be droplets of water on the spinach. Make sure you choose a saucepan that can contain all your spinach. You should not have to cram the spinach into the saucepan. A saucepan that's too small will cause your spinach to not cook evenly throughout.^{[2]
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- Set the saucepan over medium heat to cook your spinach.
- If you can't find a big enough saucepan, you may have to cook your spinach in two batches.
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3
Add the spinach. You want to cook your spinach until it's just slightly wilted and soft. This generally takes around five minutes, but may take more or less depending on how much spinach you're cooking. Once your spinach is limp and bright green, you can remove the pan from the heat.^{[3]
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- You do not need to cover the spinach while it cooks. However, you should toss it with a pair of tongs to make sure it cooks evenly throughout.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer the spinach to a colander.
4
Serve your spinach. Gently shake the colander over the sink. This should dry out any excess water. If you want, add seasonings to the spinach. Some herbs and lemon juice taste good with steamed spinach. Steamed spinach can work great as a side dish to most meals, and may pair well with something like meat if you need a vegetable.
- Leftover spinach can be stored in the fridge.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Steaming Spinach in the Microwave

1
Wash spinach leaves. This will remove any contaminants. You can place your spinach in a colander and run tap water over it. You can also place the spinach in a bowl and wash it in a small amount of water.^{[4]
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- When you're done, pat the spinach dry with paper towels. It does not have to be completely dry, but it should not be sopping wet.
2
Place your spinach in a microwave-safe serving bowl. Make sure to find a microwave safe bowl. The bowl should be big enough that the spinach fits comfortably. Do not cram your spinach into the bowl.^{[5]
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- Place your spinach in the bowl. If your bowl is not big enough to accommodate all your spinach, you can do two batches.
- Cover the bowl. If you can't find a bowl with its own cover, use a bowl that you can easily cover with a cover for another dish or a plate. Make sure the cover you use is also microwave safe.
3
Microwave on high in 3 to 7 minute intervals. For a small amount of spinach, do intervals of 3 minutes. For a larger amount, go for intervals of 7 minutes. Check the spinach when it's done and, if necessary, cook for slightly longer. Make sure the microwave is switched to the high setting.^{[6]
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- The spinach should be limp, wilted slightly, and bright green when it's done.
- If your recipe calls for it, gently squeeze out the excess moisture from the spinach. You can save the green water in another bowl. It can be used later in a soup.
4
Serve your spinach. After squeezing out any excess water, you can serve your spinach. You an serve spinach as a side dish to a bigger meal, especially if you need some vegetables to add to a protein based dish. Make sure to store your spinach in the fridge if you have some leftover.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Storing Your Spinach

1
Store your spinach with paper towels and a plastic bag. Roll your spinach up in a paper towel. Then, place this paper towel in a plastic bag. Place the bag in the refrigerator. The towel should absorb the excess moisture. This will allow you to store the spinach without it becoming more wilted.^{[7]
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2
Use a plastic storage container. Line a plastic Tupperware container with a layer of paper towels. Set your spinach in the container, seal, and place the container in the refrigerator. This will keep your spinach fresh.^{[8]
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- Make sure you use a Tupperware container big enough to comfortably hold all your spinach. If spinach is packed down, it will become mushier during the storing process.
3
Discard spinach once it goes bad. Your spinach will last about 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator. Make sure to finish eating it within that time frame. If you do not eat the spinach in time, throw it out after 3 to 5 days have passed.^{[9]
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- When it's gone bad, spinach will darken in color. Bad spinach will become dark green or even black.