With grocery prices so high, it’s more painful than ever to reach into your fridge for the lettuce, and be greeted by a slimy mess.
The best way to keep lettuce fresh is as follows: plunge the whole head of lettuce into a sink filled with cold water. Gently move it around a bit in the water, to loosen any dirt that might be trapped among the leaves. Let drain and dry. Wrap in paper towels, and place loosely in a clean plastic bag.
Well, that was the quick answer, but stick around to learn more about keeping your lettuce at peak freshness for as long as possible. As the Washington State University Extension tells us,
Taking a few minutes to prepare your lettuce this way saves you time and money.”
Washington State University Extension
The Enemies of Fresh Lettuce: moisture
The main factors you need to control to keep your lettuce fresh are moisture, temperature, and location.
Managing the right moisture level, to keep your lettuce at its peak, can be a challenge. Of course, you don’t want it to whither.
Humidity is more of a threat, however. It may seem odd that too much wetness could be a problem for a vegetable that is 95% water! This is why refrigerators have a crisper drawer, where that humidity is reduced.
The Enemies of Fresh Lettuce: temperature
Temperature is another reason for using the drawer, typically located at the bottom. It’s important to keep your lettuce in the warmest part of the fridge, well away from the freezer. If you’ve ever had something near the top of the fridge get frozen, you’ll know what I mean.
The Enemies of Fresh Lettuce: location
Pay attention to what foods are placed near your lettuce. Be sure it’s not going to have other things tossed on top of it, or get smashed when the drawer is closed.
Do not store lettuce near bananas, apples or pears. These fruits release ethylene gas, which causes other fruits and vegetables, including lettuce, to ripen quicker.”
— Livestrong
Lettuce Freshness Storage Upgrade
Instead of using a fresh plastic bag on every head of lettuce you buy, you may prefer a one-buy solution. Check out this reuseable cloth storage bag (view it here). I mean, it’s got one job (holding lettuce); it’s not like it’s ever going to wear out. It’s also a good bet for those wishing to reduce their carbon footprints.
Bad Lettuce? When to Throw it Out
So, if you haven’t followed the steps above, or at least bought the storage bag, you may be reading this and wondering how your lettuce is doing. Follow this easy guide:
If there is any mold present on the head of lettuce, throw the entire thing away (or compost it – Compost loves mold). Never try to salvage any part of it. I know, it seems like such a shame; but mold can go deep in ways that are not visible to the naked eye. Don’t take a chance of getting sick.
Discard any leaves with spots that are not fresh and light green anymore; and do not use a leaf that is next to it.
Once you’ve opened a head of lettuce, try to use it up within ten days. I wouldn’t use the rest of it after that, unless it is still clearly fresh and appetizing looking. If you store your lettuce right, it should last. Occasionally, I have had heads of Romaine lettuce that are showing growth, in the fridge, two weeks later!
Once you start finding parts of the head that have gone to slime, it’s time to say goodbye.
When Lettuce Looks Funny, But is Actually OK
Do not give up on lettuce that has simply withered. Take a knife to the core (at the bottom), and remove a slice from the end. Then, you can stand the head up in a bowl with some water in it (say, 1/2″). Let it rest on the counter, and see if it freshens up in a few hours. You can also store it like this in the fridge, water and all.
Brown discoloration of your lettuce may not necessarily be a problem. If you have cut into the head with a knife, you may find, later, that the cut edges turn brown. This is oxidation, not spoilage, and does not affect the flavor or make it inedible.
Another blemish that people wonder about are the small, brown, pinprick-sized spots that sometimes appear on the white stems of lettuce. Remember above, the quote from Livestrong about ethylene gas? That’s what causes the spots. The lettuce is still OK to eat; but use it up – It may not last much longer.
Pink discoloration along the rib is supposedly all right to eat. I usually will cut this part out. This is lettuce that is past its prime. The discoloration can be caused by the ethylene exposure described above, or it may have occured earlier. Excessive heat during growing can cause this, as well.
The Freshest Lettuce Starts in the Garden
- Lettuce likes cooler temperatures. Grow it early in the season.
- Harvest all of your lettuce, if it suddenly looks a lot taller – This is the first sign of bolting. That growth spurt today means bitter lettuce tomorrow.
- “Harvest greens in the morning, before leaves begin to wilt.” Extension at Oregon State University
- Pack those heads snugly in plastic bags in the fridge. Fold top of bag over loosely. They’ll stay fresh for a few weeks.
