Though it’s usually more expensive, pre-washed, bagged lettuce now outsells head lettuce by 2 to 1 in the US. Pre-washed lettuce and pre-mixed salads certainly are convenient – and anything that encourages us to eat more … Here are some mistakes you're making that could be ruining your salad greens, according to experts. Once opened, I could never get another day out of it. Don't let your lettuce go bad before you get a chance to use it. Because they go bad so quickly, and because there’s nothing really to be done with wet, slimy, limp salad greens, there are lots of tips floating around the internet about how to keep them fresh, the best way to store, and how to buy the best greens.Not all of those tips can be trusted. Yes, usually those mixed greens have already been washed, but remember, it's the residual moisture from washing and then draining the greens, along with the wet paper towel, that helps keep them crisp and fresh, along with adequate airflow. Keep lettuce away from any ethylene-producing fruit and vegetables, such as apple, pear, avocado, tomato, etc. Food blogger Marie Saba shared the kitchen hack on Instagram . 3. All types of lettuce belong in the refrigerator, preferably in the crisper drawer. Another fail. The good news is you can use the method described above for your bagged loose greens, too. Updated 05/18/20. Fresh spinach leaves are perky, hold their shape well and are a bright green color. Freezing also makes a head of lettuce remain fresh for up to 3 months. Store it in the produce drawer of your refrigerator, where it should stay fresh for up to two weeks. The Paper Towel Trick. Log in. However, once the bag is opened, it is very important to consume it in a short time. How to Keep Lettuce Fresh Longer. To refrigerate lettuce, break the leaves from the stem, wash and dry them properly, put them in a plastic bag and place in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. Many companies that sell lettuce and salads use bags that are specially made to maintain peak crispness and freshness for as long as possible. How to Keep Lettuce Leaves Fresh. Written by. For commercially bagged lettuce or bags of fresh lettuce, experiment with a trick proposed by Dorie Greenspan, author of 10 cookbooks including Around My French Table. It doesn’t matter which variety⁠—iceberg, romaine, butterhead, or leaf lettuce. You’ll wash the lettuce when you want to use it. Grab your roll of Viva paper towels too. Leaves that have started to wilt can still be added to soups, stews, meatloaf, smoothies, wilted in a pan, added to omelets or used for dips. Ways to Store Lettuce. Tay Jnr / Getty Images. The guide below will help you store lettuce and preserve it for long. 2 months ago | 2K views. You don’t want to wash it beforehand, this is going to keep it fresher longer. Bagged greens are some of the most delicate grocery items you might regularly buy. All of this changed when I started buying the bagged lettuce at Trader Joes. Follow. 2. So glad for the info. Keep an eye on the expiration date: Like most packaged products, bagged or boxed salad comes with an expiration date, which should be used as a … Keep Lettuce Fresh Longer. WalterDrake Lettuce Keeper. You don't check the expiration date when purchasing pre-packaged greens. Erin Huffstetler. While they have a soft, velvety texture, fresh leaves don't show visible signs of wilting and have no dark spots, yellowing or discoloration. 2 months ago | 2K views. All Recipes. Gather up your lettuce leaves. I was asking that question and found this article on line. We live in the country so I will … Not! Sign up. Here are some pictures of how I use paper towels to keep packaged salad greens fresh longer: Step 1 of keeping lettuce fresh – open the package of lettuce greens. 2. Turns out that wilted lettuce is a common problem — especially when buying tender greens like mesclun and spring mix. Keep unopened pre-shredded lettuce in the bag it came in. To keep romaine lettuce fresh for as long as possible, take it out of the bag it came in, dry the leaves as much as possible, and then wrap them loosely in fresh paper towels. Lettuce comes in cases of 24 heads and can weigh roughly 20 pounds or more depending on the type of lettuce. Watch fullscreen. Salad greens, like lettuce and kale, ... Fortunately, there are a few ways you can store and care for these vegetables that can keep them fresher and better-tasting for longer. These storage tips will help keep bagged salad fresh longer, and a few easy purchasing hacks can help you make a … Chances are, the last time you ate a lettuce salad, it came to you prewashed, pre-cut, prepackaged and ready to eat. How to Know If Broccoli Has Gone Bad. Not! Bagged Lettuce vs. Fresh November 13, 2017. Even if I opened the bag on the day I bought it, the lettuce never seemed fresh. And with bagged, it’s important to look … These storage tips will help keep bagged salad fresh longer, and a few easy purchasing hacks can help you make a … How to Keep Bagged Salad Fresh As Long As Possible. Keep refrigerated – One basic rule to keep lettuce fresh is to always keep it refrigerated. Our readers chimed in on their favorite ways to keep lettuce fresh in this post. Library. With over $200 billion of food going to waste every year, these are the foods we most regularly throw out. Bagged lettuce is usually washed and disinfected and keeps very well in its container up to a week if it doesn't open. If you want to store prepared lettuce, you should wash it and spin dry. By spending about 10 minutes prepping one head of lettuce ahead of time, it can now be conveniently available to you when you need it. Factors such as color and texture should be considered when purchasing greens, whether fresh or bagged. Let's try to make this better with our tips, ideas and recipes for alleviating such waste. Instead of fresh and fab lettuce, it was sad and slimy by day 4. How to keep bagged lettuce fresh. Also, pay attention to the sell-by, use-by or best-by date on the packaging. It’s important to use good quality paper towels for this because you want a cloth-like paper towel that’s going to absorb all the extra moisture. MonicaNinker/E+/Getty Images Perhaps the bag of greens allows a gradual leakage of … Just follow these simple steps to have fresh, clean lettuce ready for use in your fridge: 1. Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process. The good news is that you don’t have to keep tossing those tattered leaves. Plus, the simple, durable design ensures your container will last for years to come. As with all vegetables, it's important to wash iceberg lettuce to remove any contaminants it might have picked up in the field or during the harvest process. Use It for Loose Greens, Too . Prepared salad stays fresh in the refrigerator for two to three days. Erin Huffstetler. Lettuce in particular is a big offender, here. Storing lettuce in a wet produce bag is a recipe for disaster. I’m here to tell you — from personal experience — you don’t have to trash half the bag anymore. Supposedly the carbon dioxide in your exhale can keep the greens fresh all week. Bagged lettuce, perhaps a necessary evil, is notorious for slipping into a slimy, half-rotted state before you’re able to use even half the bag. One of the problems was that the bagged lettuce from the grocery was almost on its last leg. Storage Tips. Does your bagged lettuce keep going soggy? Adjust your fridge to keep lettuce fresh. Place the wrapped lettuce in a re-sealable plastic bag, removing as much air as possible. Search. In addition, this type of lettuce requires not to cut its cold chain and keep it at about 4 degrees Celsius. These storage tips will help you keep those bagged greens fresh for longer. They keep it in the fridge along with apples, broccoli etc. (Or at least soggy, wilted greens.) Bagged greens start slipping into that slimy, half-rotted state before you even get through half the bag. One problem any farm produce lover faces is can you freeze iceberg lettuce fresh in the refrigerator so it's ready to use whenever you want it. Its type of packaging does not allow air flow. I always knew that the lettuce in a bagged package wilts so fast after opening. Place shredded lettuce in a container with paper towels. 3. I usually buy head lettuce and will continue to do so, mixing it with other greens. Restaurants buy lettuce and other produce by the case. It's a terrible feeling to start pulling out ingredients for your favorite meal only to discover that your lettuce is frozen solid; it takes awhile to defrost and the texture and taste are always affected. The good news is that you don’t have to keep tossing those tattered leaves. Whichever type you're buying, and whether it's a whole head, bagged lettuce, a container of salad mix or some other package, choose fresh-looking, nonwilted, vibrantly colored leaves that aren't slimy, browning or dried out by the stem. The bagged greens made it about 7 days in good shape, whereas the boxed greens made it 10. Remove all the lettuce leaves, and place them in a big bowl or salad spinner. It is so much more fresh than that at the gocery store and it lasts a whole week. Related LeafTv Articles. Facebook; Twitter; LinkedIn; Erin Huffstetler is a writer with experience writing about easy ways to save money at home. 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