Lettuce and leafy greens have a reputation for having a short shelf life, but there is a simple way to stop them from going soggy, wilted and brown after only a few days
Leafy greens like lettuce are well-known for their frustratingly brief shelf life but cookbook author Carleigh Bodrug has revealed a nifty trick to keep them crisp and fresh far longer than usual. Lettuce often starts to spoil soon after purchase due to its high water content, which draws bacteria that lead to decay.
Carleigh Bodrug, sharing her expertise on Brightly, explained a clever food storage hack that can keep your greens vibrant for weeks. In an online tutorial, Carleigh advised: “Here’s how to keep lettuce fresh for up to one month.” The essentials for this freshness-preserving method include a spotless kitchen tea towel, paper towels, scissors, a knife and a glass container.
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To extend the life of your lettuce by a whole month, begin by chopping it into bite-sized pieces. For a quick and easy chop, employ the scissors hack: hold the lettuce steady with scissors and then slice through the leaves with a knife.
After cutting, wash the lettuce thoroughly and ensure it’s completely dried with a tea towel; any remaining moisture could sabotage the storage technique, reports the Express.
Carleigh recommends: “Give your lettuce a good wash and then get out as much moisture as possible. I like to use a salad spinner.”
Once you’ve thoroughly dried your lettuce leaves, pop them into a glass jar and top with either a freshly laundered tea towel or kitchen paper to soak up any excess dampness, suggests food guru Carleigh.
Carleigh explains that the kitchen paper or tea towel will absorb any lingering moisture, while the glass vessel acts as a shield against bacteria, ensuring your lettuce remains perky for up to a whole month longer.
Secure the glass container in your refrigerator, remembering to swap out the tea towel or kitchen paper every handful of days for optimal freshness.
Carleigh advises: “Make sure to change this out every other day. Lastly, store your lettuce in the fridge!” She adds: “Your lettuce should be crisp and odourless. Make sure to watch for signs of spoilage like slime or smell.”
Food storage enthusiasts have taken to the comments section to extol the virtues of this lettuce preservation method, with many offering their own nuggets of wisdom to extend the salad staple’s lifespan.
A user chimed in: “Wrap in paper towels and then wrap in aluminium foil. Will stay crunchy for a month also. I found this out on accident!”
Another shared: “Never cut your lettuce with a metal knife it turns brown easily.” Adding their two cents, another commenter noted: “I’ve been doing this with greens, veggies and fruits for a while. It works!”