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What is Savoy (curly leaf) spinach?
Savoy spinach is a variety of spinach with crinkly, dark green, curly leaves. Its crisp, crunchy texture makes it a popular ingredient in fresh salads and sandwiches, and it also tastes great cooked as a complement to soups, meat, fish, and other vegetables. Curly leaf spinach has been a culinary favorite in the United States for more than 100 years, while newer flat-leaf varieties have gained in popularity in the past decade.
Curly leaf spinach is an excellent source of important vitamins and minerals including vitamin C and vitamin A, calcium, folate, iron, and magnesium. The nutrients in curly leaf spinach help maintain bone structure, assist in the production of red blood cells, fight free radicals, and promote healthy eyes.
How is curly leaf spinach best prepared?
Extremely versatile and easy to prepare, adding the great flavor and nutrition of curly leaf spinach to any meal takes very little effort. |
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| Fresh |
After washing, dry curly leaf spinach leaves completely by using a salad spinner or by blotting with paper towels. |
| Sautéed |
Use a small amount of oil. One teaspoon of oil is sufficient for three cups of chopped fresh curly leaf spinach in a non-stick pan. Curly leaf spinach may also be sautéed in stock by stirring the leaves constantly and adding more stock as it evaporates. |
| Microwaved |
This is one of the healthiest ways to cook curly leaf spinach because all of the nutrients are retained during preparation. Place ½ pound of freshly washed (not dried) spinach in a microwaveable dish, cover loosely, and cook approximately three to six minutes until tender. |
| Cooked |
Substitute curly leaf spinach for any other variety of spinach in any recipe. For great-tasting recipes, click here. |
Where is curly leaf spinach grown and how is it different than other varieties of spinach?
Once it’s picked, only curly leaf spinach is packed in specially designed, sanitized, ice-packed containers to maintain nutritional value and ensure the quality and safety of the curly leaf spinach as it is sent to re-packers in the produce industry.
Curly leaf spinach is grown in the East, Midwest, South, and Mountain States regions of the United States depending on the time of year, and is available year round. (See map.) Since curly-leaf spinach is grown only in these areas, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has concluded it is safe to eat.
To assist consumers in identifying where curly leaf Savoy spinach was grown, all re-packers include a label on the packaging that clearly identifies the origin of the product near the date code. Retailers selling unpackaged, bulk curly leaf spinach should clearly identify the point-of-origin via store signs.
Should I wash curly leaf spinach after I bring it home from the grocery store?
Consumers should take precautions when using fresh produce of any kind. Always wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating, and make sure preparation surfaces are sanitary.
Packaged curly leaf spinach or bulk curly leaf spinach should be washed, dried, packed loosely in a plastic bag, and stored in the refrigerator crisper. Properly stored, it should last 3-4 days.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is reminding consumers that proper storage of all fresh produce can affect both quality and safety. To maintain the quality of fresh produce the FDA recommends storing it in a clean refrigerator at a temperature of 40°F or below.
Please visit the following websites for more information.
www.fda.gov - U.S. Food and Drug Administration
www.cdc.gov - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
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