Keep Produce Fresh by PuffingĮxtend lettuce life with a simple version of a preservation technique used in the produce industry. These pre-mixed salad greens and bagged shredded lettuce last longer if you cut the top off the product’s packaging before storing in your designated lettuce crisper drawer.
Let Bagged Greens Breatheīagged lettuce, spinach and chard salads are a good example of crispy combinations with a high water content. If you prefer to wash it before putting it away, separate leaves from the heart.Īfter a gentle rinse, pat the romaine dry, tightly seal in a plastic bag, and store in the lettuce-only crisper drawer where it lasts the longest. If you’re in a hurry, fresh romaine can be stored unwashed in a loosely closed plastic bag. Insider Tip: After washing lettuce leaves in a bowl of cold water, clear away residual debris by letting them float to the top.
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This ensures the lettuce is ready for the fridge and free of sand, dirt and organic contaminants. Whether it's bagged or boxed, the lettuce is usually pre-washed, but treat it to a final rinse.
However, it stays fresher longer with a little extra care. Loose-leaf lettuce is a great time-saver in a busy kitchen. Insider Tip: You can purchase restaurant-grade perforated bags for storing lettuce at many grocery stores and through online suppliers. Its high water content keeps it crisp, but external moisture can make leaves wilt.īaby iceberg lettuce keeps for up to a week in a perforated plastic bag. Whether it’s butterhead or baby iceberg, don’t wash this type of leafy lettuce before storing it in the fridge. Insider Tip : A colorful foodie decal on the outside of each crisper drawer helps everyone remember which is which. Now you have a storage area that's always ready for fruits and veggies that prefer low humidity. Reverse this strategy with the other drawer.
Simply adjust its vent to create a high-humidity environment, and you're done. Make One Drawer a Lettuce-Only Zoneĭesignate one crisper drawer as a lettuce-only zone. The round, red beauties really are fruits, not veggies. Keep papayas, peaches and cantaloupes away from fresh lettuce, and don’t forget the tomatoes. Most harvested fruits release ethylene gas that causes leafy greens to ripen too quickly. It’s best to put some distance between fruits and lettuce stored in the refrigerator. Keep it high for lettuce, and don’t crowd the produce. Most modern refrigerators feature crisper drawers with adjustable humidity settings. This handy fridge drawer earns its name by maintaining ideal moisture levels for vegetables. The enclosed environment also reduces the growth of microorganisms that can damage fresh produce.Īlways put lettuce in the fridge as soon as it comes home from the store. The chill inside your refrigerator slows down the natural processes that ripen vegetables. Romaine leaves should be tightly wrapped around a firm core.īoth types of lettuce have a pleasantly faint, earthy fragrance when they're fresh.
Know what to look for, and trust your nose too.Īvoid iceberg heads with discolored or wilted leaves. That lettuce in the produce section looks fresh, but you want to be sure. We offer this overview as your guide to keeping lettuce fresh and ready for favorite recipes. There are a few general product rules to follow too. Some methods work for all types of leafy vegetables while others are specific to one variety. There’s more than one way to preserve fresh, crisp lettuce, and that’s good news for the home kitchen.
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