Steaming Spinach: Crockpot Pressure Cooker Magic

Yes, you can make steamed spinach in a Crockpot pressure cooker. It is a great way to add more greens to your diet and is a healthy and delicious side dish. Spinach is a superfood loaded with nutrients and is very easy to make in a pressure cooker. You can use fresh or frozen spinach, and the recipe can be adapted to your taste with the addition of ingredients like bacon, garlic, and seasoning.

Using fresh vs. frozen spinach

Yes, you can make steamed spinach in a Crockpot pressure cooker.

Fresh spinach is more fibrous and will cook down considerably. It also needs to be drained after cooking. The benefit of using fresh spinach is that you know it is 100% fresh and you can season it any way you want while it’s cooking down. Fresh spinach works best in salads or sautéed as a side dish.

Frozen spinach is usually chopped, boiled or blanched, and flash-frozen. This results in a texture that goes well in soups, dips, casseroles, and egg dishes. Frozen spinach produces a lot of water when it’s thawed, so it needs to be drained.

To substitute fresh spinach for frozen, use a pound of fresh spinach, which will cook down to about a cup and a half. This is roughly equivalent to a 10 oz package of frozen spinach.

To cook fresh spinach, cut the spinach into small pieces and cook in a non-stick pan with some olive oil for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat, scoop into a colander, and drain the excess water.

To cook frozen spinach, you can steam it in an Instant Pot pressure cooker. Simply add the frozen spinach and water to the pot, close the lid, and set the valve to the sealing position. Set the Instant Pot to cook on high pressure for 0 minutes. When the Instant Pot beeps, quick-release the pressure valve and wait for the pin to drop before opening. Then, use a colander to strain the spinach or scoop it onto a plate with a slotted spoon.

How long to cook spinach in a Crockpot

You can cook spinach in a Crockpot in just a few minutes. The exact cooking time will depend on the type of spinach you are using (fresh or frozen) and the desired texture.

Cooking Fresh Spinach in a Crockpot

Fresh spinach cooks very quickly in a Crockpot, and you can have it ready in just a few minutes. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Pour some water into the Crockpot.
• Add your desired seasonings, such as salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
• Place fresh spinach leaves into the Crockpot.
• Close the lid and set the valve to the sealing position.
• Set the Crockpot to cook on high pressure for 0 minutes. This is because the Crockpot will cook the spinach as it comes up to pressure, and this is just enough time for the spinach to be steamed without being overdone.
• Once the Crockpot beeps, indicating it's finished, release the pressure valve and wait for the pin to drop before opening.
• Use a colander to strain the cooked spinach or scoop it onto a plate with a slotted spoon.
• Season the spinach to your liking and serve.

Cooking Frozen Spinach in a Crockpot

Cooking frozen spinach in a Crockpot will take a little longer than fresh spinach. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Place the frozen spinach in the Crockpot.
• Add water (usually around 2 tablespoons).
• Close the lid and secure it.
• Turn the valve to the sealing position.
• Select the "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" option and set the timer for 4-9 minutes on high pressure.
• When the cooking time is up, release the pressure by turning the valve to the venting position.
• Open the lid and stir the spinach. If there is too much liquid, you can press "Cancel" and then select "Sauté" to evaporate some of the excess liquid.
• Season the spinach with salt and pepper, and it's ready to serve.

Tips and Variations

• You can add other ingredients to your spinach for extra flavor. For a non-vegetarian option, try adding diced bacon, salted pork pieces, or leftover ham. For a vegetarian option, consider adding diced mushrooms.
• If you want to make a creamy spinach dish, you can use cubed cream spinach instead of regular frozen spinach.

Adding extra ingredients

There are many ways to elevate the flavour of steamed spinach. You can add a variety of extra ingredients to steamed spinach to make it a more substantial side dish or to add a kick of flavour.

One option is to add some protein to the dish. You could add diced bacon or salted pork pieces, or even some leftover ham. If you're vegetarian or vegan, you could try adding diced mushrooms instead.

Alternatively, you could add some spices to the dish. A simple option is to season the spinach with salt and pepper. You could also add some garlic powder, or some chilli powder for a spicy kick.

Nutritional benefits of spinach

Yes, you can make steamed spinach in a Crockpot pressure cooker. Here's a simple recipe:

Instant Pot Steamed Spinach

Ingredients:

• Fresh spinach leaves
• Salt, pepper, garlic powder, or seasonings of choice

Instructions:

• Pour some water into the Instant Pot.
• Add in the spinach.
• Close the lid and set the valve to the Sealing position.
• Set the Instant Pot to cook on High Pressure for 0 minutes (the Instant Pot will steam the spinach as it comes up to pressure).
• When the Instant Pot beeps, quick-release the pressure valve and wait for the pin to drop before opening.
• Use a colander to strain the spinach or scoop it onto a plate with a slotted spoon.
• Season the spinach to your liking.

Now, for the nutritional benefits of spinach:

Spinach is a leafy green vegetable that is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is an excellent source of potassium, lutein, vitamins A, C, K, and folate, iron, calcium, and magnesium. Here are some of the specific benefits of including spinach in your diet:

• Lower blood pressure: Spinach is rich in potassium, which helps to keep blood pressure low.
• Improved eye health: Spinach contains lutein, an antioxidant that helps protect against age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts.
• Bone health: Spinach is rich in vitamin K, which is essential for bone health and growth. Just 1 cup of spinach provides the recommended daily amount of vitamin K.
• Skin health: Vitamin A in spinach helps to grow new skin tissue and keeps it hydrated, which may reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
• Improved digestion: Spinach is high in insoluble fiber, which adds bulk to stools and helps prevent constipation.
• Cancer prevention: Spinach contains two components, MGDG and SQDG, which may slow down cancer growth. It is also rich in antioxidants, which may fight cancer.
• Heart health: Spinach contains high amounts of nitrates, which have been linked to lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of heart disease.
• Improved thinking skills: Lutein has been shown to help preserve thinking abilities, such as verbal fluency, memory, and reasoning ability.

Serving suggestions

Steamed spinach is a great side dish for lunch or dinner. It can be served with chicken or fish. Here are some specific recipes that go well with steamed spinach:

• Air Fryer Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
• Baked Greek Lemon Chicken Thighs
• Baked Whole Red Snapper
• Baked Salmon With Creamy Garlic Yogurt Dill Sauce
• Baked Lemon Garlic Butter Tilapia/White Fish

You can also serve it with beef brisket and slow-baked salmon for a healthy, well-rounded dish.

If you want to make a more substantial meal with your steamed spinach, you could add bacon or salted pork pieces to the dish. Alternatively, you could serve it with an Indian stew, such as Dal with Spinach, which includes chickpeas, baby spinach, and Greek yoghurt.

Frequently asked questions