Have you bought lettuce only to find it weeks later in the back of the fridge in a limp mess? Did it sweat into slimy oblivion in the plastic wrap it was purchased in, or self combust through neglect?
A man who knows a lot about hydroponic lettuce, a grower himself, told me some must-do practices when it comes to long-life lettuce storage.
In simple terms:
- cut off the roots asap (if it comes attached with roots)
- wash well
- spin well
- store well in airtight containers (in your fridge)
Remove Roots
If you aren’t fortunate to grow lettuce yourself, and supermarket lettuce is most convenient for you, remember a few pointers. Many lettuces are grown hydroponically, with roots in a constant stream of water and nutrients. Once picked, just like any living plant removed from its growing haven, it begins to die. If the roots are left in tact, the roots still attempt to suck up moisture and distribute it to the leaves. With no water, the leaves begin to wilt rapidly. Remove the roots and the leaves will no longer be under the strain of survival. To boot, plastic sweats, so if wrapped in plastic at time of purchase, remove it as soon as possible.
Wash Leaves
Hydroponic lettuces or not, any lettuce (whether homegrown or purchased at the market) MUST be washed before consuming. It is all too tempting to look at ‘a bag’ of lettuce and presume it’s all done for you. No it hasn’t – well, not to food consumption quality. The odds are that it has been through a ‘wash’ to kill any bugs, but that doesn’t mean it’s ready to eat necessarily. Read the pack clearly and if in doubt, wash anyway.
Spin Leaves
You just can’t go wrong with a lettuce spinner. You can pick one up at your local charity shop for a gold coin. The contraptions are plastic and contain an inner ‘spinner’ that is activated by spinning a handle on the lid. It whizzes around at a million miles an hour, flinging water all over your bench but has a WONDERFUL result that I would highly recommend. Failing that, put in a netting bag and ‘spin’ vigorously so the water is removed, or wave around manically over a sink.
Store Correctly
An air-tight container is a must for longer storage of lettuce. Better still, line the bottom of the container with a sheet of paper towel to soak up any extra moisture. Your lettuce should last for weeks!
Simple, eh!
Too Late, Limp Lettuce Alert
Are you reading this already at ‘limp lettuce leaf’ status? The Love Food Hate Waste team suggests that “Limp lettuce leaves can be revived by soaking them in cold water for up to twenty minutes in the fridge.”
If in doubt when standing in the supermarket (eg: not sure if you’ll really eat all the lettuce), baby spinach is a super alternative instead. Not only is it delicious raw in a salad, it can also be COOKED of course (in casseroles, pies, tarts, stir-fries etc) so there is no wastage, even if it does look to be beyond its best appearance-wise.
Also, on a personal note, I would suggest you only make a salad for a meal and not attempt to save it for another day. A ‘green mix’ is OK (think lettuce, rocket, baby spinach and herbs) and ‘dry vegetables’ (think grated carrot) but once you start introducing other moisture-laiden ingredients, the whole salad storing process is jeopardised. Cheeses, tomato and nuts will loose their texture and indeed effect the crispness of the salad.
Happy summer salad days, people! Don’t forget these 8 easy dressings and vinaigrette dressing recipes you can make at home.
