Instead of storing your lettuce in a plastic bag or wrapping it in plastic wrap, simply wrap it tightly in aluminum foil. The foil will help retain moisture in the leaves, keeping them fresh and crisp for much longer.
Wrap it in a dish towel (or paper towel) to absorb any excess moisture during storage, and place in the crisper drawer of the fridge. This way, it should last from one to three weeks. Loose leaf lettuce might be expected to keep for as long as a week or 10 days if stored with a towel to absorb excess moisture.
Proper air circulation and a small amount of moisture will keep your lettuce crisp and fresh. The easiest (and most effective) way to do this is to line a sturdy glass or plastic container with a few paper towels, then scatter your greens on top. Top with a matching lid and refrigerate.
Regardless of variety, lettuce heads should be stored in a plastic bag (we like this reusable one from Stasher, buy it: Target, $27). Many lettuce heads come wrapped in plastic at the grocery store, so you can leave it as is. Place the lettuce in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.
bloom guard is ideal for packing lettuce, as it is waterproof and the paper does not draw moisture from the lettuce.
They Use Perforated Container
The use of perforated bins is the key to keeping lettuce fresh and crisp at all times. Restaurants keep them in perforated containers to allow air circulation in the refrigerator. What is this? To keep its crispness, lettuce requires air and a small amount of moisture.
Wrap whole heads of lettuce loosely in Glad® Food Storage Zipper Bags. Once cut, seal lettuce in a Glad® Food Storage Zipper Bag or a GladWare® food protection container. Place a lightly dampened paper towel in with the lettuce to keep it crisp. Store in the refrigerator.
You can wash your lettuce before or after storing it in the refrigerator. If you wash the lettuce before storage, place a paper towel in the plastic bag or reusable container, which can absorb excess moisture, preventing your lettuce from turning soggy and extending the shelf life.
The paper towel will absorb moisture that would otherwise lead your leaves to rot. This will help the greens stay fresh, giving you more time to use up the bag.
1. Lettuces and Greens: Wrap lettuce and greens in a dry paper towel and place in plastic bag in the fridge. The paper towel will absorb any excess moisture that makes the lettuce rot and will keep it fresher for much longer.
Grab a few paper towels, and you're ready for another easy trick that preserves lettuce for a long time. Lay out clean, dried leaves on paper towels. Carefully fold and roll, and place in a plastic bag. Press out any air, seal tight, and store in the lettuce-only drawer for a week to 10 days.
A plastic bag is an excellent way to store washed lettuce if you leave the lettuce whole and un-chopped or un-torn. It will definitely last longer than buying a bag of salad mix from the store.
Lettuce actually needs a good amount of airflow, in addition to a bit of moisture, in order to stay crisp. That's why restaurants store their lettuce in special perforated bins that allow for air circulation while it's held in the fridge.
Don't despair! There's good news: a little brown lettuce doesn't necessarily mean that the whole head is bad. Professional chefs call these spots “rust,” and they simply remove them before making a salad. Don't throw that perfectly good lettuce away!
Restaurants salt their salads.
In the restaurant I worked in, I also noticed that cooks seasoned every element with a pinch of salt — even the lettuce. This resulted in every bite tasting vibrant and flavorful. "Season your salad just like you would anything else," Simpson said.
Some restaurants will use a sulfite spray over the salad bars and in the prep kitchen to keep that shiny new sheen on their food so that it appears fresh and appetizing.
It also works for tender herbs and hardy greens. Soak your leafy greens in ice-cold water, they say. It'll make them plump and crisp, they say.
Instead of storing your lettuce in a plastic bag or wrapping it in plastic wrap, simply wrap it tightly in aluminum foil. The foil will help retain moisture in the leaves, keeping them fresh and crisp for much longer.
We enlisted the University of Otago to test the best storage methods for bagged lettuce. It found that storing them in an airtight container can keep them fresher for longer. The worst way to store your salad greens is to leave them in the opened bag that you bought them in.
Lettuce is one of the best vegetables to grow in containers, indoors or out. It is easy to grow. It does not require a large container. You can grow lettuce to maturity in a pot just 4 to 6 inches (10-15 cm) across.