Spinach

[brionon]

Is it safe to warm it up ? If not-what about shop bought dishes which contain Spinach ? should they have a warning ? Please.

[Kristine73]

Spinach is safe raw, wilted (slightly warmed/cooked), fully cooked and you can buy it frozen. Personally, I prefer raw or wilted.

Personally, I don't like the texture of fully cooked spinach. :-/

Just make sure you rinse raw spinach, well

[.ghost.]

I'm the opposite way round, I think spinach tastes a while lot better cooked and I like the texture too :p

Like Kristine said, just make sure you wash it well.

As for ready meals containing it, just follow the usual cooking instructions on the back.
Just out of interestest what made you think it should have a warning?

[brionon]

Because we are told that re-heating Spinach is dangerous to our health.
So, if the Meal is partially or fully pre-cooked then warming it could /or Not be unhealthy.

[greensgood]

Because we are told that re-heating Spinach is dangerous to our health.
So, if the Meal is partially or fully pre-cooked then warming it could /or Not be unhealthy.


where did you learn this? what kind of dangers are associated with cooked spinach?

[greensgood]

it is actually better for you cooked:

"Eating about one cup of raw spinach offers roughly one-third of the nutrition as half a cup of cooked spinach (which is actually equal to about three cups raw). So, while spinach makes a great addition to cold salads and sandwiches, enjoying your spinach hot packs a better nutritional punch."
http://www.schreiberandsons.com/spinach.html

[hoodedclawjen]

internet says it used to be thought that reheating spinach caused cancer, but it turns out it doesn't, and its safe to do unless you're a baby:


I heard it is unhealthy to reheat spinach. Is this true?

Spinach and other leafy vegetables contain high concentrations of nitrate. The amount depends on the variety, season, and the soil and water conditions where the vegetable was grown. Nitrate itself is totally harmless, but it can be converted to nitrites, and then to nitrosamines, some of which are known to be carcinogenic. Enzymes present in bacteria convert nitrate to nitrite. This happens especially when spinach is heated, stored and then later reheated. Nitrite itself is a harmless compound, but it should be avoided by infants of up to 6 months. It can affect the ability of the blood to transport oxygen by transforming haemoglobin, the protein that carries oxygen in the blood, into methaemoglobin, a form of the protein which is unable to carry oxygen. This can be dangerous for babies and is commonly known as “Blue Baby Syndrome”. However, in view of the fact that acidic conditions favour the formation of nitrosamines from nitrite, coupled with the facts that nearly all foods contain some protein and are exposed to acid in the stomach nitrosamine production cannot completely be prevented. Hence the recommendation to avoid reheating spinach.

http://www.eufic.org/page/en/faqid/unhealthy-reheat-spinach/


Vegetables (and most other natural foods) contain nitrate. High concentrations can be found in leafy vegetables. The concentration of nitrate depends on the variety, season, soil and water used for the cultivation. The quantity of nitrate present in a certain vegetable, thus, is completely unpredictable.

Nitrate is totally harmless; however, it can be converted to nitrite and nitrite to nitrosamines, some of which are known to be carcinogenic.

Until recently it was assumed that re-heating of spinach and other leafy vegetables was dangerous, due to the formation of these nitrosamines. New research has shown that the concentrations of possible toxic nitrosamines is not as high as assumed. It is thus not dangerous to re-heat leafy vegetables. The only drawback is the (additional) loss of vitamins and other nutrients during re-heating, but this is not a food safety concern.

http://www.food-info.net/uk/qa/qa-fp7.htm

[BostonSG]

thankgod.... i got extemely worried for a second cause i always re heat my spinich :|

[jenni-anti-fur]

I'm the opposite way round, I think spinach tastes a while lot better cooked and I like the texture too :p

Like Kristine said, just make sure you wash it well.

As for ready meals containing it, just follow the usual cooking instructions on the back.
Just out of interestest what made you think it should have a warning?

I like it raw but cant stand it cooked:)

Peace love and Happiness

Jenn