Does spinach have to be refrigerated?

[Babyyet]

It’s been left out maybe 6 hours since we bought it. I want to use it in a recipe. I thought it was fine but checked the back of the packet and it says keep refrigerated. A quick google says it spoils after 2 hours and bacteria start to grow. Anyone know how accurate this is? Would you use it?

Yes

It’s not in refrigerators In supermarkets I don’t think

I bought it from M&S and it was in there. Wonder if that’s because it was prewashed. Who knows

Of course you can use it, as common sense would tell you.

It’s fine. Refrigeration once opened just to prolong it.

You're clearly not referring to fresh spinach, so what specific product are we talking about? Frozen creamy?

Of course you can use it after being out 6 hours. No wonder there's so much food waste in this country if people actually think that a vegetable would be unsafe being out the fridge for a few hours

Fresh spinach? It will be fine. It would keep for days longer if it's in the fridge, but being out for half a day won't do it the slightest damage.

Of course it's fine! It just keeps for longer if refrigerated. I use all "leaves" until they start to look manky.

We actually freeze our spinach though. Lasts for ages ages, can just be added frozen to pretty much everything. If you absolutely have to defrost, it defrosts in seconds in cold water.

Only thing it doesn't work for is salads!