How to Store Lettuce: Tips for Keeping Lettuce Fresh

Whether you have a bag of pre-washed lettuce from the grocery store or a head of fresh lettuce from the farmers’ market, it’s a good idea to wash the fresh veggies before serving it to prevent contamination.

Since lettuce is prone to sand and dirt buildup between the ridges of the leaves, a good wash is key to preventing bacteria, such as E. coli and other foodborne illnesses, which transfer through the soil or improper handling and transporting after harvest.

You can wash your lettuce before or after storing it in the refrigerator. If you wash the lettuce before storage, place a paper towel in the plastic bag or reusable container, which can absorb excess moisture, preventing your lettuce from turning soggy and extending the shelf life.

You can wash most salad greens before storage, but experts recommend washing iceberg lettuce before serving because it has a high water content that can encourage wilting if washed beforehand. The following method works for many types of lettuce, including arugula, spinach, butter, and romaine lettuce:

1. 1. Prepare a bath: Fill a large basin—either your kitchen sink or a large bowl—with cold water.
2. 2. Remove damaged leaves: Before washing your heads of lettuce, remove any damaged outer leaves and cut off the stem ends with kitchen shears.
3. 3. Soak the greens: Separate the lettuce leaves and add them to the water bath, swishing them around with your hands. Leave the lettuce in the water for a minute or two to allow any dirt or sand to settle to the bottom. Remove the leaves from the water and drain any excess water with a colander. If the lettuce is still gritty, change the water and rewash.
4. 4. Dry thoroughly: Put the leaves into a salad spinner in small batches, no more than half full at a time, and spin the leaves dry. Empty the water from the spinner after each batch. If you don’t have a salad spinner, pat the leaves dry with a paper or kitchen towel.

Once your lettuce is dry, you can store it in a plastic container or a resealable bag in the refrigerator to keep it crisp. Here’s how:

1. 1. Wrap the leaves in paper towels: The key to preserving your leafy greens during storage is to create the driest conditions possible. Wrap dry lettuce leaves in a paper towel to prevent waterlogging.
2. 2. Store in the crisper drawer: Place the wrapped lettuce in a sealable plastic bag and press out the air. If you’re using a reusable storage container, tightly seal the lid. Store your lettuce in the refrigerator’s crisper drawer, but keep it away from fruits that release ethylene gas, which speeds up the ripening process.
3. 3. Freshen as necessary: If the lettuce starts to wilt, you can revive it in ice water, but discard lettuce that is slimy or has an odor because it may not be safe to ingest.

To keep lettuce fresh longer, avoid storing it in an overcrowded container or bag. Salad greens may wilt faster without adequate air circulation, so filling the storage container to the brim can cause early spoilage.

You can also try “puffing” your lettuce to elongate its shelf life—simply breathe into your bag of lettuce, and the carbon dioxide will slow down the ripening process.

Shredded or cut lettuce lasts about one week in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight storage bag or container. On the other hand, a whole head of lettuce lasts up to three weeks in the refrigerator with proper storage.

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