You can keep your spinach fresh and avoid it becoming slimy by storing it with a common kitchen item.

Spinach, renowned for its high vitamin, mineral and antioxidant content, is hailed as one of the top healthiest vegetables and can be enjoyed raw or cooked. It can easily be incorporated into an array of dishes such as salads or pasta.

However, its high moisture content means spinach typically lasts no longer than a week and is susceptible to spoiling quickly if not stored correctly. TikTok user Lyssa Louise shared her hack to extending the freshness of her fruit and vegetables from the day they are purchases, including spinach.

In her handy guide, Lyssa says: "I've just done my shopping. I'm gonna show you how I keep all my fruit and veg lasting three times as long as if you just chucked it in the fridge."

Highlighting the importance of ditching the plastic bags, she transfers some spinach onto paper towels nestled in a bowl to "absorb the moisture" and prevent sliminess. For any leftover spinach, Lyssa recommends tightly rewrapping it and popping it in the freezer for future use, advising to cook it immediately once thawed.

In the caption of her TikTok post, Lyssa added: "How to keep your groceries fresher for longer. I can't believe how much my food shops have become lately with the cost of living increasing so here's some tips I use to stop my fruit and veg going to waste. I promise this is something that actually works."

Exposure to too much moisture can spoil any leafy green. EatingWell notes that wetness "creates an environment that causes the leaves to begin to break down, and they can start to rot."

This results in a slimy texture. Moisture can appear due to to water or condensation from the environment or come from the leaves themselves as they can release liquid when bruised or squashed.

The shelf life of spinach hinges on the care taken when storing it in the fridge, the resource adds. For example, chucking fresh produce into the crisper drawer without reorganising could mean your spinach becomes damaged.

The website continues: "If the spinach gets smooshed or crushed, breaking the leaves and releasing their moisture, the leaves will deteriorate more quickly. Hard-shell plastic packaging shields the leaves from such harm, thereby extending their freshness."

It recommends opting for containers if your fridge doesn't offer a secure spot for bagged spinach. MasterClass suggests that with proper preparation, frozen spinach can be kept for up to six months.

It also supports Lyssa's technique of using dry paper towels to wrap loose fresh spinach. MasterClass recommends storing the wrapped spinach in a sealed freezer bag or plastic container and then placing it in the crisper drawer.