storage tips – prewashed leaves
These days most prewashed packaged salad have neutral gas flushed into the packaging to remove the oxygen and keep the salad fresher for longer. This only works until you open the pack.
Once it is open make sure you close the bag tightly as possible when you put it back in the fridge to stop the leaves drying out. Keeping in the crisper part of the refrigerator can help prolong the life.
storage tips – whole lettuce
If I’m going to be eating a lettuce within a few days, I tend to store whole lettuces sealed in a plastic bag in the crisper section of unwashed. Because it makes putting the groceries away much quicker.
But if you are wanting the leaves to last longer, I find it’s best to separate the leaves from the head of the lettuce. Then wash thoroughly and spin dry before wrapping in paper towel to absorb any excess moisture. Finally I pop them in a plastic bag, push out the excess air and seal the bag. The paper absorbs and excess moisture and the sealed bag keeps the oxygen to a minimum, prolonging shelf life. The sealed bag also prevents the lettuce drying out in the arid fridge air.
storage tips – unwashed loose leaves
As with the whole lettuce, I just keep unwashed loose leaves and herbs in a plastic bag to prevent drying out for short term storage.
To keep loose leaves and herbs for longer, follow the same washing and paper towel wrapping technique as for whole lettuce.
back to: 5 Minute Salads Overview.
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