How to Clean and Store Salad Greens
Clean salad greens in a large bowl of cold water to shed grit, then dry them completely in a spinner before storing them in an airtight container layered with paper towels to prevent wilting.
Water is the enemy of shelf life
Moisture is essential for crispness, but trapped water causes slime. Drying thoroughly is the most important step for maintaining texture.
- large mixing bowl
- salad spinner
- paper towels
- large airtight container or produce bag
What goes in.
- 1 lbfresh salad greens (lettuce, arugula, spinach, or mixed field greens)
Removing hidden debris
Submerge leaves in a bowl of ice-cold water to loosen dirt; the grit settles to the bottom, leaving your greens clean and crisp.
The method.
Trim the base
If you bought heads of lettuce, snap or cut off the core. For bagged greens, pluck out any browned or wilted leaves before washing.
The cold soak
Fill a large bowl with cold water. Submerge the greens and swish them gently for thirty seconds. Let them sit for two minutes so the grit falls to the bottom of the bowl.
Lift and drain
Lift the greens out of the water with your hands, leaving the silt at the bottom. Do not pour the contents into a colander, or you will simply pour the grit back onto the leaves.
Spin until dry
Transfer the leaves to a salad spinner. Spin until you no longer see water droplets hitting the clear walls of the container. If you lack a spinner, lay the greens in a single layer on a clean tea towel and pat gently.
Layer for storage
Place a dry paper towel at the bottom of your container, add the greens, and top with another paper towel. Seal the container; the towels will pull away excess humidity throughout the week.
Other turns to take.
Hearty greens
For kale or collards, remove the tough central stem and massage the leaves with a drop of oil after drying to soften the fibers.
When it doesn't go to plan.
Always store greens away from ethylene-producing fruits like apples or tomatoes, which will cause them to yellow faster.
If your greens look limp, soak them in ice water for ten minutes to restore their rigidity before drying.
Do not wash your greens until the moment you intend to prep them for the fridge; storing wet, unwashed greens is a recipe for rot.
The ones that keep coming up.
How long will cleaned greens stay fresh?
When stored properly with paper towels in an airtight container, most greens last between five to seven days.
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