How to Keep Lettuce Fresh
How to Keep Lettuce Fresh
Fresh lettuces add a refreshing crunch to salads, sandwiches, wraps and grain bowls. However, one of the reasons lettuces are so delicious can also be their downfall. Because lettuces are so delicate, any moisture can make them soggy or cause them to spoil quickly. Keep lettuce fresh at home with these easy tips.
Choose carefully. Avoid buying lettuces that look wilted or slimy.
Rinse and dry. To remove dirt, rinse lettuces and lay them out on a dish towel. Dry gently with another dish towel.
Pack well. For larger lettuce leaves such as butter lettuce, use paper towels in between the leaves to absorb additional moisture. For small leaves such as mixed greens, wrap paper towels around a bunch of leaves. Pack lettuce in a mesh bag.
Store in the crisper drawer. The crisper drawer, also called the high-humidity drawer, is best for vegetables that have thinner skins including lettuces, leafy greens, broccoli and cucumbers. Keep lettuce leaves in an environment that helps maintain the right moisture to make them last longer.
Store wisely. Ethylene is a gas released by some produce that speeds up ripening and may cause spoilage for other produce. Some fruits and vegetables, including lettuce, are categorized as ethylene-sensitive, which means that they should not be stored with produce that produces ethylene such as apples, avocados, peppers and tomatoes.
