How to keep lettuce fresh longer in the refrigerator

How to store lettuce to help it last longer

You can help keep your lettuce fresh in the refrigerator with a few steps. Cut the lettuce and separate the leaves, then soak it in cold water for about 30 minutes. Dry the lettuce thoroughly and wrap it in clean, lightweight cloth or paper towel, then either place it in an airtight container or directly in your crisper drawer.

Use the following instructions to help properly store lettuce in your refrigerator.

Step 1: Cut the lettuce and soak in cold water

Place the head of lettuce on a cutting board and slice off the stem. Gently separate the leaves, removing any wilted leaves. Place the lettuce in a bowl of cold water and let it soak, gently stirring the leaves with your hands to help remove dirt and debris.

Step 2: Dry the lettuce

There are a few ways to help remove excess moisture from your lettuce. If you have a salad spinner, place the freshly washed lettuce in the basket and spin off the excess moisture, or you can hand dry your lettuce by laying the leaves flat and patting them dry with a paper towel. If you’re doing other tasks in the kitchen, you can leave the lettuce out to air dry on a baking sheet or dry cutting board.

Step 3: Wrap lettuce leaves and place in the refrigerator

Using a clean, lightweight cloth or paper towels, gently wrap your lettuce. This helps soak up excess moisture as it sits in your fridge. Once wrapped, you can either place the lettuce directly in your refrigerator’s crisper drawer or place it in an airtight container before storing it in the fridge.

If you’re storing lettuce directly in a crisper drawer without a container, be mindful of the other produce you’re storing with it. Fruits like apples and bananas release a gas that may speed up the ripening process.

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Which containers are best for keeping lettuce fresh?

Locking out excess moisture that can lead to wilted leaves can help keep lettuce fresh in the refrigerator. Be sure to store your lettuce with a paper towel or a clean dry cloth and replace it every few days.

There are a few storage options you can try to help keep your lettuce fresh in the refrigerator, including:

• Sealable bag: Whether you have a single-use plastic bag or a reusable, sealable silicone bag on hand, you can use it to store lettuce.

• Container with perforated bottom: Plastic or glass containers with perforated bottoms allow some airflow in, which is okay, because any residual liquid drains out the bottom. If you don’t have one of these, any container will do, simply add a paper towel to help keep the lettuce dry.

• Clean kitchen towel: You can even forgo an extra container for storing your lettuce if you wrap it in a clean, lightweight kitchen towel directly in your crisper drawer.

How to help keep different types of lettuce fresh

Ideally, lettuce should be kept according to the specific storage needs of the different varieties. Use the following table as a guide for helping to keep lettuce fresh, according to its type:

How to store prepared vs. whole-leaf lettuce

Prepared lettuce and whole leaves may need to be stored differently to keep them fresh and flavorful in the fridge.

Prepared (bagged) lettuce usually comes prewashed and chopped into bite-sized pieces, making it a great option for busy family mealtimes. To store bagged lettuce, open the packaging and insert a paper towel inside to help absorb excess moisture, placing the bag in the fridge—preferably the crisper drawer. Replace the paper towel daily to help maintain the freshness of the lettuce.

For whole-leaf lettuce, you can easily wrap the head in a food-safe liner and store in a refrigerator crisper drawer for optimal freshness.

Tips to keep lettuce crisp and fresh

Use the following tips to help keep lettuce fresh in your refrigerator and get more out of your weekly grocery haul.

Store different types of lettuce the right way

Lettuce comes in a variety of types with different storage needs. Lettuce with a higher water content, like iceberg, needs a humid environment, while bagged lettuce needs to breathe. 

Particularly delicate or tender greens, like arugula or baby spinach, can be stored in a protective plastic salad container between layers of paper towels to help preserve their taste and freshness.

Use crisper drawers to keep lettuce fresh

You can help maintain the crisp texture of lettuce by using refrigerator crisper drawers and a high humidity setting to help prevent browning and wilting. Similar to temperature-controlled compartments, refrigerator crisper drawers can help you better control airflow and preserve the flavor and color of the lettuce.

Rinse and dry lettuce to extend its freshness

By rinsing lettuce leaves with cold water and then patting them dry, you can help extend their shelf life in the fridge. If needed, wash the lettuce in advance to get a head start on meal prep for lunches or quick weeknight meals.

Keep lettuce cool and fresh while traveling

You may be able to keep lettuce fresh while camping or traveling without access to a refrigerator by storing it in a dark and cool place, such as a picnic cooler or inside your tent, weather permitting. If you're on the road, help ensure it remains cool by storing it with ice packs.

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