Keep your salad ‘crispy’ and ‘fresh’ for a month longer with an easy food storage tip

Lettuce and other leafy greens are notorious for their short shelf life, often turning soggy, wilted and brown after just a few days. This rapid spoilage is due to the high water content of the lettuce, which attracts bacteria to the surface, causing decomposition.

However, cookbook author Carleigh Bodrug shared an easy trick on Brightly to keep your greens fresh for longer. In an online video, she presents, “Here’s how to keep lettuce fresh for up to a month.” Materials you will need include a clean kitchen towel, paper towels, scissors, a knife, and a glass container.

To extend the freshness of the salad for a month, start by cutting it into small pieces. Using scissors – securing the middle of the salad with a pair of scissors and then lightly cutting the leaves with a knife – is an effective way to do this. After that, wash the lettuce pieces well with water, then dry them completely using a towel. For this food storage trick to work, the salad must be completely dry, reports Express.

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Carleigh advises, “Wash your lettuce and then squeeze out as much moisture as possible. I like to use a salad spinner.” Transfer the clean, dry lettuce pieces to a glass container, covering it with either a clean, dry towel or a paper towel.

According to Carleigh, the towel absorbs excess moisture, while the glass container protects the salad from bacteria. This can help your leafy greens last up to a month longer.

She recommends placing the container in the refrigerator and changing the towel every few days for optimal freshness. Carleigh urges, “Make sure you change this every other day. Finally, store your lettuce in the refrigerator! The salad should be crisp and odorless. Be sure to watch for signs of spoilage, such as slime or odor.”

These practical tips have been highly praised by social media users who have shared their own tips on how to keep the salad looking good. One user revealed: “Wrap in paper towels and then wrap in aluminum foil. It will stay crispy for a month. I found this out by accident (sic)!”

Another shared an additional tip: “Never cut lettuce with a metal knife, it turns brown easily.” Another user agreed with the effectiveness of the method, commenting: “I’ve been doing this for a while now with greens, vegetables and fruits. It works!”