Have you ever dug to the back of your refrigerator for the lettuce or spinach, only to realize it was soggy and wilted? If so, this SUPER SIMPLE tip to keep lettuce fresh longer is just what you need!
Seriously, it only takes 10 seconds to implement, and your lettuce will stay fresh several days (even weeks) longer!
As you know, our family has been on a mission to eat more veggies for the last few years.
Lettuce, spinach, and other salad greens are a big component of our “more veggies plan” — so I buy A LOT of leafy greens!
And since I try to grocery shop as little as possible, I need our lettuce to last as long as possible.
How to keep lettuce fresh for weeks:
Simply layer a few sheets of paper towels or flour sack towels (these are my favorite) between the lettuce leaves. Change out the towels every few days (or whenever they become very damp).
That’s it!
I’ve used this tip for 15 years now (way back to my college days). I notice a huge difference in how long my salad greens stay fresh, and I’m confident you will too!
This tip works well to keep garden lettuce fresh longer too!
We have grown lots of fresh-from-the-garden salad greens over the years… and we always utilize this tip to keep our garden lettuce fresh longer.
We wash the lettuce really well, spin it dry in our salad spinner, and then layer it between paper towels or floursack towels.
This tip works for any type of lettuce and any type of green — I even use it for kale, swiss chard, and any other edible “leaves” I want to last for more than a few days!
Bonus tips to keep lettuce fresh longer:
1. Don’t pack lettuce leaves into the container or bag too tightly.
You want the produce to have room to “breathe”. Feel free to separate the lettuce into multiple smaller containers with various sheets of paper towels.
2. Eat greens in order of “hardiness”.
We eat the more delicate greens first, then heartier Romaine lettuce, and we save Kale for the end as it is much more hardy and seems to hold up longer.
Also, if I see any sign of the spinach starting to wilt, I immediately throw it in the freezer to use in casseroles, smoothies, quiche, and soups. We NEVER waste spinach!
3. Use leftover store-bought lettuce containers to store your greens.
I often save the plastic containers from store-bought lettuce and reuse them all year long. They stack really nicely in the fridge and are easy to open and close again.
This works especially well for our garden-fresh lettuce, but also to divide up the over-crowded store-bought containers (see bonus tip #1 above).
There is NO right or wrong way to this. Just make sure you check your towels every couple of days and change them out if they are too damp. I change out the paper towel every few days, or whenever it gets pretty damp.
Also, there is no need to keep the lettuce in your produce drawer because it will stay just as fresh anywhere in your fridge.
Simple Tip: How to Keep Lettuce Fresh For Weeks
This simple tip will help you keep lettuce and other salad greens fresh for weeks at at time -- saving you money on wasted produce and time going back to the store!
Instructions
- Wash and dry lettuces (if necessary).
- Divide clean, dry lettuce leaves and salad greens between various bags or storage containers.
- Layer with sheets of paper towel or floursack towels.
- Change out paper towels every few days, or whenever they become saturated.
- Refrigerate, eat, and enjoy!
Notes
You may dry damp paper towels and reuse them again.
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SO simple!
For those who might be skeptical, I should mention that all the lettuce and salad greens in these pictures are at least 2 weeks old.
It still looks just as fresh as the day I bought it!
Frank says
Paper towels and plastic wrap or bags will extend lettuce for about 10 days. But, tightly wrapping in aluminum foil will extend lettuce for up to 30!
For the sceptical, try it both ways with half of your lettuce, in a side by side comparison.
Andrea says
so interesting — I’m definitely going to try this!
Sarah says
I chop a lot of lettuce at once, wash it, dry it, and then store it in glass mason jars with air tight lids. It stays fresh as is for weeks and is always ready to eat!
Chris says
I store fresh strawberries in glass jars. They also last longer.
Andrea says
great tip — I’ve heard glass is best for storing produce… maybe when our kids are little older and less clumsy 🙂
Liane says
This method does indeed work! I buy one of those huge tubs of spinach and mixed salad greens every week plus a couple smaller one of kale and arugula. My only concern is that cheap generic paper towels are made from post recycled material. I tried cooking bacon on some in my microwave and there were microscopic metal particles that caused the microwave oven to arc! So I switched back to the expensive brand with select-a-size. I just wondered if the bargain brands are safe at all for food. So… did a bit of snooping and found this: http://www.helpherself.com/toxic-effects-of-paper-towels-how-paper-towels-are-poisoning-the-environment/
Argh! I’m glad I only use them for gross and yucky messes like with oven cleaner or barbecue grill wiping. I heartily endorse using old flour sacking as produce towels. I’ve even cut some into strips. Yes they get green occasionally but at least they won’t kill me.
Andrea says
good to know — thanks for doing the research Liane!
I have been using the floursack towels more often over the last few years (and saving paper towels for the gross messes like you mentioned!
Lynn says
For wilted lettuce, I soak my lettuce in the spinner with a tablespoon or two of white vinegar and ice water for about 15 minutes then spin. The lettuce firms up nice and crisp. I then layer the leaves in paper towels and use a cloth bag to store it.
Christa Sterken says
I wouldn’t have thought of that, thanks for the tip! I was amazed to recently learn that cutting wimpy forgotten celery and placing in a mason jar of water will crisp it back up too. THings we should all learn as young women 😉 Better late than never
Andrea says
I know — I think high schools should revive traditional Home Ec. classes (for both girls and boys) and teach them the basics again. Everyone is so eager for a “career” these days that they don’t learn how to properly care for their home, yard, food, family, etc. 🙂
Nancy says
I do this for all produce, roll a sheet of paper towel around gr onions or a cut pepper. i grow tons of lettuce in our garden and wash and spin dry, then layer paper towel between the lettuce. You can take the damp paper towels out after a few days and air dry and put them back in the bag between the layers. My lettuce keeps for atleast 2 weeks but it is used up by that time. I never throw out lettuce anymore, I do this for store bought lettuce as well, wrap a sheet or 2 around a head before putting it in a bag for the fridge.
Chris says
Do this on shopping day so you can eliminate leaves that are already slimmy. And, yes, my Costco has excellent produce, but when you think of how far it may have been shipped, you will have a few slimmers. I save a carton from last time and start layering from the new carton, paper towel, lettuce in a 3/4″ layer, then another towel. I, too, let the used towels dry and wipe up messes from where my dogs eat. Reuse, Re-invent, recycle.
Robin P says
Before reading this blog I had just finished washing my store bought Spring Mix by hand, leaf by leaf. I recently had rotator cuff surgery and just had foot surgery. By the time I finished my foot was pulsating. The reason for all the washing was the lettuce was wilting and getting slimy. Way too expensive to waste. I didn’t expect to find an answer to preserving already cut up lettuce. I’ve always squeezed all the air out of the bag thinking it would stay fresher. Thank you so much for your advise. It will save me a lot of aggregation.
Andrea says
Sorry to hear about your foot surgery — but SO glad to (hopefully) help you keep your lettuce fresher longer. You’re right, it’s just too expensive to toss!
Mike says
I got u all beat. I got a tub of kratky hydroponic lettuce growing in each of my house’s window sills. My lettuce stays fresh for MONTHS without wasting money on all those paper towels and refrigerator electricity you guys are using. $5 for a box of vigoro/miracle gro, a few initial starter seeds, and you are set for life!
Erin says
Suggestions for someone who does not use paper towels? Will a regular kitchen towel work?
Andrea says
I would think so — maybe try to find a really thin towel.
Karen D says
I TRIED THIS and IT WORKS EXCELLANT– the first time I bought romaine and it lasted the 2 of us 3 weeks, still fresh crisp and then I bought head lettuce and we are now on week 2 1/2 and just as fresh as when we bought it– with head lettuce I have changed paper towels couple more times than the other but hey it works and i shared it I am impressed— THANK YOU for sharing with us
Sylvia says
Would you do anything different for a hydroponic lettuce (store bought) that still has the roots on? Or do you think I could keep it in water?
Kind regards
Sylvia x
Maria says
Wonderful tip! This is going to save me from so much stress! I hope this will work for other green leafy vegetables too such as kale etc. Again, thanks for sharing all your great ideas.
annette says
I have a large bag of lettuce and I have to wash it., after it is washed does it have to be completely dry before I put it into the bag or is it better in containers
Dorothy says
Thanks for your tip on keeping lettuce fresh longer…I’ve played around with different ways but yours is the simplest! Those are the ideas that usually work best.
Janice says
Someone sent me your website a week or so ago and I can’t get enough of it. I immediately subscribed. YOU ARE AMAZING AND SO IS YOUR SITE!!!! The only downside…. I spend more time than I have on your site and don’t get some of the things done that I need to do. I’m not real tech savvy. I posted a comment on your food blog and never received a reply and wonder if it’s because I left the space bar as it was “Don’t subscribe”? For this comment, I selected “Replies to my comments” hoping that will work. Anyways…. I too do this. I am growing a garden this year, but have no lettuce ready for picking yet, but can’t wait to have my own fresh organic veggies again!! When I do buy it, it is the same as what you have pictured. I buy it at Costco and one of the employees there told me of this trick, minus “tucking” them in, as I returned the lettuce as it was not even lasting until the expiration date. I only put the paper toweling on the top and turn the container upside down so that the lettuce “falls” on the top of the container. The difference in it lasting way beyond the expiration date must be due to the fact that you “tuck” them in between, as well, as mine still pretty much only lasts through the expiration date with the toweling and it’s freshness has definitely been compromised. I then take the damp towels, let tem dry and use them for other jobs I have around the house like picking up spills etc., as they were intended to be used :^) I’m going to call Earthbound, or maybe you know, if the plastic container that their Organic salad is packaged in is BPA free? Hope so. It doesn’t make sense to have an organic product that is being packaged in a toxic container. If it isn’t BPA free, I guess I will have to buy even more containers that are and use them for my organic produce I’m growing. Thanks Andrea.
Andrea says
Thanks Janice,
So glad you are enjoying my blog 🙂
And yes, I do believe one of the main reasons my lettuce stays fresh for so long is because I wedge paper towels in between the lettuce as well as on top. I find that if the lettuce is tightly packed together, it won’t stay fresh as long as if it has a little “room to breath”!
Thanks again and good luck with your garden!
Truffles Magazine says
Andrea,
As someone who doesn’t have a backyard for a garden I always purchase my produce at the store, especially lots of spinach. I just tried your tip last week and my spinach is still going strong I see me being able to save a lot of money in the future, normally my spinach lasts 3 days after purchasing before going bad, were on our 9 days!
Thank-you so much!
Andrea says
yay — so glad it’s working for you! We have a tub of lettuce in our fridge from 2 weeks ago… and it’s still fresh!
Bonnie K. says
I have these containers from Tupperware that let you control the humidity level. They make produce, esp lettuce last for SO much longer! And very handy!!
Rivki Locker (Ordinary Blogger) says
I use the same trick with herbs, whether store bought or homegrown.
Megan says
Do you buy lettuce heads or the pre-bagged/boxed lettuce?
Andrea says
I usually buy the pre-washed tubs of lettuce {like the tub of lettuce in my pictures} but this method works either way. If you buy heads of lettuce, just wash it and chop it up, then layer it between paper towels.
Heart and Haven says
Great tip! I’ll have to try this!
We have been growing lettuce & spinach in our home garden too.
Andrea says
I find that homegrown lettuce lasts MUCH longer than store bought — so hopefully yours will last for weeks and weeks!!
Lisa @ I'm an Okie says
Love it! thanks for the tips.
erin says
two weeks old? that’s amazing! we have lettuce go bad after just a few days if we don’t eat it up. thanks so much for sharing!
Monika says
Wow. I hope this will work with the big bags of spinach we buy.