Overview
Portion blocks in particular are a format worth understanding, since they are what most European retail frozen spinach actually is.
Grades, cuts, and formats
These are the formats commonly traded from Egypt. They serve different applications rather than representing quality tiers, so the format should follow the finished product, not the price.
Whole leaf
Leaves frozen individually and intact. Used in foodservice and premium retail where the leaf structure is visible in the finished dish.
Chopped 2-4cm
Cut format for industrial and prepared-food applications where spinach is an ingredient rather than a component.
Portion blocks, 20-25g cubes
Compressed frozen cubes at a fixed portion weight. The dominant format in European retail frozen spinach, because it lets consumers use a measured amount without thawing the whole pack.
Technical specifications
| Form Options | Whole leaf, Chopped (2-4cm), Portion blocks (20-25g cubes) |
|---|---|
| Blanching Index | Peroxidase negative |
| Storage Temperature | -18°C or colder |
| Microbiology Limits | Total Plate Count < 100,000 cfu/g, E. Coli < 10 cfu/g, Salmonella: Absent/25g |
| Packing Configurations | 1×10kg carton bulk, 20×400g retail, or frozen portion blocks |
| Packing options | 1×10kg bulk; 20×400g retail; Portion blocks |
| Harvest season | Oct–Apr (peak Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb) |
| Container fit (40ft HC reefer) | 10kg cartons, 100 cartons per pallet, 20 pallets per container |
Sourcing notes for buyers
- Blanching peroxidase negative, which for spinach is particularly important for colour retention.
- Harvest runs October through April, peak November to February.
- Microbiological limits: total plate count under 100,000 cfu/g, E. coli under 10 cfu/g, Salmonella absent in 25g.
- Portion block weight should be specified and tolerance agreed, since consumers and retail buyers both treat the portion count per pack as a stated quantity.
- Packing is 1x10kg bulk, 20x400g retail, or portion blocks.
Frequently asked questions
What are frozen spinach portion blocks?
Compressed frozen cubes at a fixed weight, typically 20-25g each. They are the dominant format in European retail frozen spinach because they let a consumer use a measured portion without thawing the entire pack.
When is the Egyptian spinach season?
October through April, with peak volume from November through February.
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