Squeezing Water out of Thawed Frozen Spinach

[Sodaro]

This is one of my least favorite kitchen tasks -- always just do it by hand. Any tricks or tools out there for doing this when a large amount needs to be done?

[coolJ]

How about using a salad spinner ?

[CompassRose]

If it's the chopped kind, though, it might just fly right through the holes in the spinner. I've used some brands of chopped spinach that were just this side of pureed!

I use one of those fine-mesh pointy-bottomed strainers, and press with a wooden spoon. Or if one had a strainer and bowl of compatible sizes, one could put the spinach in the strainer and press with the bowl, maybe?

[Anneke]

Hate that one too! I do it a lot myself and I find that your hands really are the best instrument for that one because any other method simply leaves too much water in.
...Although I've always been tempted to line a potato ricer (the giant garlic-press)with cheescloth and give it a go with that...Hmmm..

[Chef David Simpson]

The best way in my opinion is to thaw in a perferated hotel pan in the sink. After thawing, using another hotel pan, sqeeze together.

[Dlee]

Sodaro,

To add to Chef David Simpson's method, after putting the spinich in a perf. pan place that pan in a deeper hotel pan. Place another pan on top of the spin. and then put two or three #10 cans in this pan. You now walk away and do some thing else and when you are done your other task the spinich is just about dry.

D.Lee

[Pastachef]

I always start out that way too, CompassRose. It seems to help a lot to contain the mess to the strainers instead of stopping up the sink Then I finish it up by hand. I guess our hands are our most important tools.

[garlicginger]

I just use a potato ricer. Insert the plate with the smallest holes and squeeze away. The spinach doesn't go through the holes, even if it's been chopped. I have a Japanese friend and she puts the spinach in a tea towel, folds it over, then twists the ends in opposite directions. It works well, but I hate to do anything which makes more laundry!

[Pastachef]

That's very interesting, Garlicginger, but isn't it hard to get the clingy spinach out of the tee towel? Do you mean one of those disposable cloth like towels, or a terry cloth type?

[Mezzaluna]

I use a large fine mesh strainer (I don't have a chinois) and press globs of spinach against the sides of it with a fork. That does a really good job for me. Of course, I do only a 10 oz package or a 1 lb. bag at a time! Wring large amounts in cheesecloth? Put the spinach in cheesecloth, lay it between two towels and use a rolling pin? You got me....

[Mezzaluna]

I use a large fine mesh strainer (I don't have a chinois) and press globs of spinach against the sides of it with a fork. That does a really good job for me. Of course, I do only a 10 oz package or a 1 lb. bag at a time! Wring large amounts in cheesecloth? Put the spinach in cheesecloth, lay it between two towels and use a rolling pin? You got me....

[logose]

I use a sushi mat that I use to roll the seaweed rolled sushi. It works great.Just put your spinach in the middle, roll your mat and squeeze over the sink.

[judy]

I put the spinach between two plates and squeeeeze.