As the sunshine slowly returns and summer days draw near, many of us will be turning to summer salads and healthy eating to get ‘beach body ready’ – and for those still looking to shed some Christmas pounds, lettuce is a popular choice.
The only problem is that it goes off so fast, sparking a race between your diet and your fridge to get it eaten before it goes brown and wilts. That’s why food storage experts have issued a tip to keep lettuce fresh, crisp and green for longer without going off – using tin foil.
Kitchen foil, as it’s also known, can help keep lettuce fresh for up to 30 days, because it regulates moisture and stops the air rotting the veg.
According to Wheeldon Brothers, wrapping a fresh lettuce in tin foil before putting it in the fridge can extend its shelf life by up to 30 days.
They said: “Wrapping freshly bought lettuce in tin foil before placing it in the fridge can extend its shelf life significantly — up to 30 days.
“This clever trick helps to regulate moisture and airflow, preventing those pesky brown spots that often plague salad greens.”
Other salad favourites can also benefit from a storage hack. Cucumbers should be stored in a plastic bag in a cool part of the kitchen, not the fridge, they said, while spring onions should be put in a glass with some water.
“When it comes to cucumbers, steer clear of the fridge. Instead, store them in a plastic bag with holes for ventilation, and place them in a cool spot in your kitchen to maintain their crispness.”
Another way to keep lettuce fresh is by storing it in a plastic container with paper towels.
This stops air getting to it, while the paper towel absorbs and traps moisture, which also stops it from going off.
All Recipes.com adds: “Even though the lettuce did last long past the best-by date, the paper towel doesn’t necessarily stop it from wilting or getting slimy. The main difference, however, is that the slimy lettuce isn’t coming into contact with a lot of pieces around it because the paper towel is trapping the wetness. Whereas, when you store lettuce right-side up, the slimy pieces on the bottom touch every piece around it and contaminate them in the process.”