Is Spinach A Vegetable?

There are so many variations of leafy-like options when it comes to food, which is why it is sometimes hard to tell what constitutes being a vegetable and what does not. Spinach is a staple plant that goes in various dishes, but the question remains is spinach a vegetable?

Spinach is a leafy green vegetable that flowers, so one may confuse it for not being a vegetable. It is part of the Amaranthaceae family and is related to Swiss chard and beets. It can be eaten either raw or cooked, but the taste is distinctly different. The taste is also different fresh or after storage.

Spinach, or if you want to sound fancy, Spinacia oleracea, is a leafy green vegetable from central and western Asia, particularly Persia. The plant is incredibly healthy as it offers a range of nutrients, minerals, and antioxidants. It’s also a great source of nutrients for bone health.

Table of Contents

The Classification And Origin Of Spinach

Before we can understand what spinach is, we need to look at how vegetables are classified. A vegetable is considered to be the edible component of a soft-stemmed plant. This may include the roots, stalk, and leaves (as is the case for spinach).

Spinach is a leafy, generally dark-green vegetable originally from Persia and the English name dates back to the late 14^th century. The plant grows in a rosette which is usually between eight and ten inches across. The leaves can be flat, or they may be curly.

This leafy vegetable which came from Persia (modern-day Iran), was first known as aspanakh. It was sent to China in the 7^th century by the king of Nepal, and it finally reached Europe in the 11^th century. It first reached Spain and was called “the Spanish vegetable” by those in England.

Spinach reached England and France in the 14^th century, and it made its way there from Spain. It rapidly grew in popularity because it was one type of vegetable (during this time in history) that actually grew during the spring when other vegetables did not.

It was only by the early 19^th century that North Americans started cultivating spinach. In the 20^th century, the cartoon character Popeye was the vehicle for popularizing the vegetable. When the character made his debut back in 1929, spinach was listed as the third most popular food for children. It sat behind only ice cream and turkey.

Growing Spinach

In 2018, the global production of spinach sat at 26.3 million tons, and interestingly enough, China was recorded as having grown 90% of that amount.

Spinach can grow in various parts of the world, and fresh spinach is typically available all year round (you can grow spinach in one of these lettuce rafts). In the United States, the major suppliers are found in California and Texas, and it is usually grown as a winter crop.

Spinach seeds come from a tiny fruit that grows on the plant, and the fruit, in turn, comes from even smaller flowers.

If you hope to grow your own spinach, it is advisable to plant the seeds directly into the garden, usually a month before the final spring frost. To aid in the germination process, one should soak the seeds in water several hours before planting them. The best type of soil to grow spinach in will have a pH level close to neutral, so around 6.5 to 7.5.

Spinach is grown during cooler seasons, and the plant will flower when temperatures are warm. Most spinach varieties mature between 37 and 45 days, and it is ideal to harvest them when the plant has a rosette of at least five or six leaves.

Fresh spinach is usually sold loose, in a bunch, or packaged in bags. The unfortunate thing about fresh spinach is that it loses most of its nutritional value when stored for more than a few days. This is why it is often canned, cooked, and then frozen, or blanched.

Types Of Spinach

Flat or smooth leaf

This type of spinach, as the name suggests, is free of wrinkles, and its leaves usually have a spade-like shape. It is commonly canned or frozen and used for soups, baby foods, and various processed food items. It has a milder taste than Savoy spinach.

Savoy

This type of spinach has dark-green leaves that are typically crinkled and curly. Although the texture of this spinach is different from flat or smooth leaf spinach, it has an equally satisfying taste. You are more likely to find this spinach sold fresh at markets or your local grocer.

Semi-savoy

This type of spinach has slightly curly leaves, but not to the same extent as the Savoy. What makes this type somewhat more popular than the Savoy is its ease of cleaning. You will find this sold fresh, usually, but it is also used in certain processed foods.

Why Should We Eat Spinach?

This low-growing annual, which has to be replanted every year, can be eaten either fresh or cooked. Eaten raw, it tends to have a milder flavor and is somewhat crisp, where cooked it holds a distinct smell and has a generally mushy texture. The vegetable comes either canned or fresh and can be added to an array of dishes.

Eating spinach may offer an array of health benefits such as reducing stress, maintaining eye health, helping to prevent cancer, and lowering blood pressure.

It is no secret that spinach is good for you as it contains rich amounts of vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B6, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and iron. Unfortunately, although it has a higher quantity of iron, it also contains oxalate, which prevents organisms from properly absorbing the iron in the plant.

This is not to say that you will not receive high amounts of iron from the plant, but just that it is not as effective as it could be. Iron is essential because it helps red blood cells carry oxygen to the various parts of the body, without which one could become anemic.

Ways To Incorporate Spinach Into Your Diet

Spinach is a vegetable that goes well with almost anything you can think of, and its health benefits are a great reason to add more to your diet.

You can enjoy raw spinach as part of a salad or sandwich, or even just eat it as it is. You could also use cooked spinach in omelets or casseroles, and more, as described below:

Include spinach in dishes such as casseroles, pasta, and even soups.
Sautee spinach and use it as the base of a grilled chicken or salmon dish.
Cut up spinach and add it to dishes containing eggs, such as quiches and omelets.
Instead of using lettuce, put spinach on your wraps or sandwiches.
Use spinach as a base for any salad instead of lettuce or in conjunction with it.

There are many great ways to use the spinach leaves in your kitchen and in your meals and so many benefits to doing so. For example, it helps you have healthy skin and lowers your risk of heart disease. If that’s not reason enough to try this yummy veggie, then you can also add in improved eye health, and lower blood pressure.

Spinach is an excellent source of many nutritional benefits so it just makes sense to give it a try today. Check out my list of 9 ways to eat spinach.

Is Spinach A Vegetable? – Conclusion

So the scores are in, and we have discovered that spinach is, in fact, a vegetable. It is also one of those that offer you a variety of ways to use it. It’s such a versatile veggie, that you are sure to find ways to work it into your diet with ease. Like many other vegetables, spinach has an interesting past, and we sometimes take such things for granted.

Undoubtedly, this vegetable that has been around for centuries is still just as beneficial to our health needs today. So be sure to look at some recipes that will help you incorporate this into your diet and maybe even consider trying your hand at growing some in your garden!

Adriana Copaceanu

Website | + posts

Adriana Copaceanu is a passionate nature lover living in the country on her dream property where she grows vegetables, lavender, and wildflowers that she shares with the wildlife they attract. When she's not in the garden, she loves spending time with her chickens and planning her next nature project. Check out her books below:

How to Grow Lavender for Fun and Profit: Lessons Learned from Planting Three Hundred Lavender Plants

How to Raise Chickens for Eggs: A Guide to Raising Happy, Healthy Chickens for Nutritious, Organic Eggs at Home