En cierto modo, las espinacas congeladas son superiores a las frescas
Las espinacas frescas se echan a perder rápido y pierden vitaminas tras la cosecha, por lo que las congeladas ofrecen ventajas claras.
The fresh fruit and vegetable section is usually the first stop when shopping, and that's no coincidence: supermarkets place it first to encourage you to fill your cart. Don't be dazzled by the piles of strawberries and pumpkins, because many of them have drawbacks, especially fresh spinach.
Fresh spinach is one of the most wasted foods, as it spoils in less than a week. Furthermore, it loses many vitamins within days of harvesting, making it no healthier than frozen spinach.
Fresh isn't always best. Fruits and vegetables that are frozen or canned are processed within one or two days of harvesting and retain their vitamins and minerals. In contrast, fresh produce can take a long time to get from the field to the grocery store. According to Pennsylvania State University, leafy greens can lose most of their nutrients after four or five days, depending on how they are stored during transport.
Waste also takes its toll. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the average American family of four throws away $1,600 worth of fruits and vegetables a year, with perishable greens like lettuce and spinach being the biggest culprits. Many of these leaves are discarded in their original plastic bags, so they don't compost or biodegrade.
Frozen spinach comes pre-prepared: it's blanched in boiling water or steamed before being flash-frozen. There's no need to separate stems or search for perfect leaves for cheese and spinach manicotti, and it has a much longer shelf life. If you keep one or two bags in the freezer, you can use a cupful for a recipe without wasting the rest of the package. Fresh spinach is only worth it when texture matters, like in a salad.
