LETTUCE WILL STAY CRISP AND FRESH FOR SIX WEEKS WITH CORRECT METHOD - WITH NO MOULDING

Throwing away soggy lettuce is now a thing of the past.

As the seasons change and the weather gets warmer, many of us will be starting to swap out hearty winter stews for deliciously crisp salads. The base of any good salad is lettuce, but for most of us, we'd need to be eating the leafy vegetable every single day to use it up before it goes soggy and limp, as it has a very short shelf life.

However, according to a food storage expert, there is a way you can ensure your lettuce lasts for weeks rather than days. All you have to do is store it correctly before placing it in the fridge.

Amy Cross, who teaches people to save money on food shopping on her website The Cross Legacy, said: "It seems like when you buy a large amount of lettuce from the store, at least one of them is doomed to die (or at least start the process) before you get a chance to use it. Often, those bad leaves tend to spread their love to other heads of lettuce as well, and then it's a race against the clock to eat that lettuce. Always a good time!"

To give your lettuce the best chance of surviving for up to six weeks, you should first soak the leaves in a solution of water with a small amount of white vinegar, as this helps remove bacteria and dirt from the greens. The best way to do this is to cut the end of your lettuce and give the veg a good wash under a running tap, before submerging it in a bowl filled with water and around 60ml of vinegar.

Your lettuce should soak in this mixture for around two minutes. Then, take the leaves out and rinse them under the tap again to remove any loose dirt that may still be on the veg. Moisture is another big factor in your lettuce spoiling quickly, so the next step should be to make sure your leaves are completely dry before storing them.

To do this, either use a salad spinner or simply lay the leaves on a paper towel for a couple of hours. If you want to invest in a salad spinner, you can find various types on Amazon - such as this one which costs £8.99, or this OXO brand one for £32.49. For an even cheaper alternative, IKEA stocks a salad spinner for just £5.

Once your lettuce is completely dry, store it in a glass container. Glass is more resistant to temperature changes than plastic, which helps keep food fresh, and you can buy a set of nine glass storage containers with air-tight lids from Amazon for around £25. Then, place a paper towel or cloth inside the container, which will help collect any excess moisture - and your lettuce should last for up to six weeks.

Amy said: "I was averaging six weeks with this container when I was testing it out. You can choose to put it in a ziplock bag with a piece of paper towel, but it won't last as long. It is worth the extra effort to know we have fresh lettuce anytime we want a salad."

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2024-04-10T08:35:55Z dg43tfdfdgfd