Leaf lettuce is a nutritious food, but this vegetable is easily wilted, tasteless or rotten. Use this method to keep head lettuce (a bunch of leaves that form a ball like cabbage and have a core) fresh or lettuce made into salads (without dressing) fresh.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Keeping the Head Lettuce Crisp
Step 1. Remove the lettuce from its packaging/wrapper
Unless it is stated on the package that the lettuce is packaged to maintain its freshness and is useful for protecting the lettuce from damage/rotting, then the lettuce needs to be freshened before storing it.
Step 2. Fill a sink or large bowl with cold water from the tap
Step 3. Separate the leaves from the core
Place the lettuce leaves in a bowl of cold water for 5 minutes. If your lettuce is limp / wilted, this method can make it fresh again.
Step 4. Remove the leaves one by one
Shake the leaves to drain the water on the leaf surface.
Step 5. Place the leaves in the lettuce dryer (salad spinner)
You can buy them online or at major convenience stores, such as Target and Walmart. Make sure you don't put too many leaves in it; You may need to divide it into several drying groups.
Step 6. Turn the turning lever on the lettuce dryer
This tool will drain the remaining water on the leaves so that the remaining water collects at the bottom of the container.
Step 7. Place the leaves on a dry dish towel
Stack into one to two rows. Remove the water from the container at the bottom of the lettuce dryer.
- Repeat this process until all the lettuce leaves are dry.
- You can also use paper towels if you don't have a dish towel at your disposal.
Step 8. Roll up or wrap the lettuce in a towel
Place the wrapped lettuce in a large frozen food bag. Close / tie the bag.
Step 9. Put in the vegetable drawer in your refrigerator
Remove leaves as needed.
Leave the rest in the refrigerator for one to two weeks
Method 2 of 2: Keeping the Lettuce Leaves in the Salad Fresh
Step 1. Follow the instructions in the first method above to clean and keep your lettuce fresh
Step 2. Separate the leaves into smaller pieces and put them in a large bowl
Mix different types of lettuce, such as green lettuce, red lettuce and cabbage to make a healthier salad.
Step 3. Place a folded paper towel on top of your salad greens
The paper towels will absorb any remaining moisture, preventing the salad greens from wilting.
Step 4. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap
Place in the refrigerator until you are ready to use it.
Step 5. Remove the bowl from the fridge
Pour some of the salad into another bowl. Stir separately.
Make sure you don't season it while the salad is in the storage bowl. The salt will make the lettuce wilt faster, as the salt will make the lettuce leaves moist
Step 6. Change paper towels every few days and store leftover lettuce for up to 1 week
Tips
- This method can be used for almost any type of leaf lettuce, although tightly wrapped butterhead lettuce and iceberg lettuce may be better if stored whole with the core intact. Some shops sell cabbage lettuce with the roots intact to keep it fresh for a few weeks.
- If you want to store unwashed lettuce in its original packaging, line the inside of the storage bin with paper towels. Place several paper towels in the center or on the sides if the container is large. Close the container as tightly as possible.
