Say so long to soggy, slimy salad greens.
But only a few days later, those greens are likely looking a little gross.
The good news is that you don’t have to keep tossing those tattered leaves.
Cara Cormack
A little tweaking can give your bagged greens a longer shelf life.
Generally, a bag of lettuce will last around three to four days in the fridge without intervention.
Try the paper towel trick.
Cara Cormack
The moment you’re home, pop open that bag of greens.
The paper towel will absorb excess moisture that would otherwise lead your leaves to rot.
Replace the towel every day for the best results.
Remove wilted leaves.
This could be the day you bring the bag home or on day two or four.
Store in another container.
First, layer the bottom of the container with paper towels.
They’ll absorb moisture.
Then, gently pack the leaves in the container and top them with another paper towel.
Airflow will eventually oxidize the leaves, but you need some to keep the greens crisp.
Place in the crisper drawer.
The best place to store most bagged lettuce is in the crisper drawer.
While you want to remove excess moisture using paper towels, you don’t want to remove humidity altogether.
(It’s similar to how grocery stores use misters to keep greens crisp and hydrated.)
The consistent, higher humidity and cooler temperatures help keep your bagged greens from prematurely spoiling.
Just remember to protect bags from other produce that might be rolling around.
Don’t wash until you’re ready to eat.
As with most fruits and vegetables, don’twash produceuntil you’re ready to eat it.
The rinsing process introduces a large amount of moisture that can promote microbial growth.
Also, in the case of bagged lettuce, it can make it extra soggy.
This is true even for pre-washed or triple-washed bagswhererinsing at all may be unnecessary.
Once washed, use the lettuce or freeze it within a couple of hours.
Smart Tips for Purchasing Packaged Greens
Storing isn’t the only key to fresher bagged lettuce.
Buy greens in a clamshell.
Clamshells, on the other hand, are more sturdy.
They can take the impact of a long transport and leave your leaves in better shape.
These protective plastic containers are also recyclable and can be used to store other greens you buy later.
Choose heartier greens.
More bang for your buck.
choose the freshest possible bag.
Head for the back of the rack to find the freshest lettuces.
If, however, you’re planning to use these greens soon, get the first bags.
They’ll be fine for a few days, especially if you heed these storage tips.
