How to Wash and Store Lettuce + 12 Incredible Salad Recipes (2024)

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Love fresh lettuce, kale and other leafy greens, but they always go bad before you can use them up? Extend their life by using these simple tricks for how to wash lettuce and how to store it. Be sure to stick around because at the end of this post I’ve got some seriously delicious ways to get your salads in all year long!

How to Wash and Store Lettuce + 12 Incredible Salad Recipes (1)

We have quite the affinity for salads. My kids love them, and have been known to my Farmer’s Market Salad with diced bakedchicken breast for dinner over chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. I really love salads, and it makes me happy that they love them too. Salads are a great way to incorporate more vegetables and fiber into your diet, and they are a perfect meal for these hot summer days.

In the past year, I’ve been buying more and more produce at our local farmer’s market. I love to mix it up when it comes to lettuce, so I usually end up buying two or three different kinds. But even with us eating salads nearly every day, a lot of my lettuce was going bad because I hadn’t quite mastered storing it properly. I finally have a great method down and I’m going to share it with you today! Keep in mind that it’s important to do this within one day of bringing it home.

How to Wash and Store Lettuce + 12 Incredible Salad Recipes (2)

How to wash lettuce

I highly recommend having a salad spinner on hand for this step, but you can manage without one (the process just takes quite a bit longer).

Gently peel your lettuce leaves and place them in the colander of the salad spinner. If they’re really big, you can tear or cut the leaves to fit.
Next fill the bowl about halfway with water and swish the leaves around in the water to rinse the dirt away. Lift up the colander and empty the dirty water.
Repeat this step a couple of times until the water is clean. Now you can place the top on your salad spinner and dry it.
This is a great way to get little ones to help in the kitchen – mine love to pump it up and down…and in the most unusual ways.

How to Wash and Store Lettuce + 12 Incredible Salad Recipes (3)

How to store lettuce

Place a paper towel in the bottom of a sealablecontainer or bag.
Place dried lettuce leaves in the bag on top of the paper towel.
Place a second paper towel on top.
Seal completely and store in your produce drawer or near the middle of your fridge.

So that’s it!Now you know how to properly store your lettuce and other leafy greens to keep them fresh for as long as possible.

How to Wash and Store Lettuce + 12 Incredible Salad Recipes (5)

But what if my lettuce is wilted? Can I revive it?

YES! If your lettuce has begun to wilt, revive it by giving it a little ice bath. Place the lettuce leave in a bowl filled with water and ice for about 10-20 minutes. Keep in mind this is for lettuce that is only partially wilted, so if the leaves have already started to turn brown or a slimy, no amount of soaking will fix it!

Be sure to try out these tips with these delicious salads and dressing recipes. The best part is they can be made all year long!

12 Salads to Make All Year Long

How to Wash and Store Lettuce + 12 Incredible Salad Recipes (6)

This Farmer’s Market Salad with homemade Ranch Dressing takes advantage of whatever produce is in season.

How to Wash and Store Lettuce + 12 Incredible Salad Recipes (7)

This Easy Taco Salad is always a hit – especially with hard to please kiddos!

FAQs

Should I wash lettuce with vinegar? ›

Adding vinegar to the water (1/2 cup distilled white vinegar per 1 cup water), followed by a clean water rinse, has been shown to reduce bacterial contamination but may affect texture and taste. After washing, blot dry with paper towels or use a salad spinner to remove excess moisture.

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Is it better to store lettuce washed or unwashed? ›

Head lettuce, such as iceberg and romaine, keeps fresh longer when it remains attached to the head and unwashed. Rinse the leaves only when you are ready to use them.

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Why does aluminum foil keep lettuce fresh? ›

"Aluminum does not, on its own, have any specific synergies with lettuce. If it's protective it's either protecting it from drying out or it has just the right permeability to allow the lettuce to breathe without drying it out (aluminum foil IS permeable)," says Nestrud.

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What is the best way to store iceberg lettuce in the refrigerator? ›

For iceberg lettuce, remove and discard the outside layer of leaves, rinse the whole head of lettuce well under running water, shake it dry (water can work it's way inside when you rinse it) and wipe excess water off with a towel. Wrap the entire head in a paper towel, place in a plastic bag, and store in the fridge.

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Should I wash lettuce with vinegar or baking soda? ›

The US Food and Drug Administration, the US Department of Agriculture and other scientists agree: use a cold water soak with baking soda to effectively help remove dirt, chemical residue, and other unwanted materials from your fresh vegetables and fruits.

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Do you need to dry lettuce after washing? ›

Dry Well. Spin the greens dry or lay them out on a clean kitchen towel. Dry greens stay fresh longer and are easier to dress. Now your lettuces or greens are ready to be dressed and enjoyed.

How do you wash romaine lettuce to prevent E coli? ›

The best way to wash leafy greens is by rinsing them under running water. Never use a bleach solution or other disinfectant to wash produce.

What kills E coli on lettuce? ›

Rinsing some produce, such as leafy greens, with a vinegar solution (1/2 cup distilled white vinegar per 2 cups water) followed by a clean water rinse has been shown to reduce bacterial contamination but may affect the taste.

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How long should lettuce sit in vinegar? ›

Instructions. Cut the end off the lettuce head. Pull the lettuce leaves apart and soak in water/vinegar solution for 2 minutes. Move lettuce to a colander and rinse leaves to remove remaining dirt/bugs.

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How long should you soak lettuce in vinegar? ›

Washing fruits and vegetables with vinegar kills up to 98% of bacteria on the surface of your produce. Use 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water for your vinegar bath. Soak fruits and veggies in vinegar bath for 2 minutes.

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How do you preserve lettuce after washing it? ›

After washing the greens, store them in plastic bags with paper towels to absorb moisture, and tuck everything into your fridge's crisper drawer. Just know that washing greens makes them go bad faster, so try to eat them within a couple days.

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Do you wash lettuce before storing in fridge? ›

You can wash most salad greens before storage, but experts recommend washing iceberg lettuce before serving because it has a high water content that can encourage wilting if washed beforehand.

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How long does washed and cut lettuce last in fridge? ›

Depending on the type of produce, lettuce can generally be stored in the fridge for up to 10 days when properly washed or prepared. While most varieties of lettuce can usually last between 7–10 days in the fridge, it's best to use freshly chopped or shredded lettuce quickly, within about 2–3 days.

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How do you keep cut lettuce from turning brown? ›

How to Store Lettuce

Wrap. Wrap whole heads of lettuce loosely in Glad^® Food Storage Zipper Bags.
Once cut, seal lettuce in a Glad^® Food Storage Zipper Bag or a GladWare^® food protection container.
Place a lightly dampened paper towel in with the lettuce to keep it crisp.
Store in the refrigerator.

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How to Wash and Store Lettuce + 12 Incredible Salad Recipes (2024)

How to wash lettuce

How to store lettuce

But what if my lettuce is wilted? Can I revive it?

12 Salads to Make All Year Long

FAQs

Should I wash lettuce with vinegar? ›

How do you preserve lettuce after washing it? ›

References