When you buy fresh vegetables and greens from the grocery store, there are probably some that never seem to get used up before they go bad. Greens like lettuce and spinach tend to be at the top of the list. But don’t worry – there are ways to help all your fresh greens last longer.
Wash and Rinse Well
The first step to making your greens last a little longer is to not only wash them, but make sure the water is drained properly. If you rinse your lettuce and put it right into a container, all that moisture is going to lead to wilting. Instead, chop or tear your lettuce leaves, and wash them well. Then put them into a salad spinner, and spin several times to get all that excess water out. This only takes a couple extra minutes and helps your greens last a lot longer.
Store it Properly
Once your greens and lettuce are rinsed and drained of as much water as possible, store them in a way that gets even more moisture out of them. For example, if you are going to put your lettuce in a container to be stored in the refrigerator, line the bottom with paper towels. If you put your lettuce directly into the crisper bin, line the bottom of the bin with paper towels or a clean dish towel to soak up the extra water as it sits there.
Lettuce does need air, so if it is being put in an airtight container, leave a corner of the lid or bag open.
Remove Leaves That are Spoiling
Every time you go into the greens container for lettuce, take a look at any leaves that might be starting to spoil or wilt. You want to remove these in order to keep them from spoiling the rest of your lettuce. Just like with other plants, one rotten leaf can ruin the whole bunch. Just make a habit of checking all the lettuce whenever you go into that container to make a salad, and remove leaves that don’t look great.
Keep it Up Front
With greens and other fresh produce, keep it up front in your refrigerator! When you see it every time you open the refrigerator, you are more likely to use it because it stays fresh in your mind. If it is hidden in the back, you won’t even remember you have lettuce.