Lettuce is essential for lunchtime for salads and an added some crunch to sandwiches, but most of it gets tossed away since the majority of people store it incorrectly. It might seem simple to just leave lettuce in its supermarket packaging, but the plastic traps moisture can cause it to spoil faster to waste both your food and money.
Luckily, Kristin Marr, a healthy eating expert and founder of Live Simply Mom has shared keeping lettuce fresh for weeks is easy as all you need is to store it with a paper towel. She said: “The towel will soak up extra moisture, keeping the greens from getting too wet which causes premature rotting and slimy greens.”
Lettuce, kale and other salad leaves are mostly made up of water, which slowly leaks and will cause their storage area to become really humid.
This excess humidity can cause them to wilt or even grow mould just a day or two after you bring them home from the supermarket.
Using paper towels helps soak up any moisture caused by lettuce and other salad leaves, so they will stay fresh for a week or even longer.
Paper towels are the key to making sure lettuce does not spoil before its time, but you also need to take them out of plastic packaging to keep them dry.
How to store lettuce properly so it stay fresh for longer
All you need to do is separate the leaves if you are using a whole lead of lettuce, and then store them in a glass container lined with paper towels.
Avoid packing the leaves too tightly in the container, and skip sealing them with a lid. Instead, lay a paper towel on top to absorb moisture, and replace it if it becomes damp.
Proper airflow around lettuce helps regulate the humidity, as too much moisture will create a soggy environment and encourage bacteria growth.
Just remember the best way to keep lettuce fresh is to try and make its environment as dry as possible.
Place the lettuce in the crispier drawer, and it should stay crisp for seven days, but usually lasts longer and up to 10 days more.
