While among the greatest issues in life—like PB&J, ice cream and sprinkles, and salt and pepper—are higher collectively, that may’t be stated about every part. As an example, in the case of storing bagged salad, moisture and lettuce are positively *not* a pairing you’ll ever need to encourage.
Regardless of our greatest intentions, every so often, we’re confronted with the necessity to throw away yet one more bag of wilted, soggy, and (ahem) costly bagged salad greens. Is it simply me, or do bagged child greens, bibb lettuce, and spinach appear to show into a tragic pile of mush within the blink of an eye fixed? Since meals waste actually isn’t our jam, we examined out one of the best methods to maintain bagged salad recent and decided which was the simplest technique. Spoiler: There’s positively one clear winner, and it’s so price the additional step.
Learn how to maintain bagged salad recent for so long as potential
As tempted as you might be to toss that new bag of lettuce into your crisper drawer as quickly as you are dwelling from the grocery retailer and name it a day, we’re right here to say: please don’t! Except you plan to eat the whole bag of salad the identical day, storing greens simply the way in which to procure them can result in their demise before you need. To maintain them recent for at the least per week, begin by grabbing a couple of clear sheets of paper (or skinny, reusable fabric) towels.
Check 1: Including a bit of paper towel to the bagged salad
One of many best methods to increase the lifetime of bagged salad is by including a bit of paper towel into the combination. Although it might sound virtually too easy, know that including a towel to the combination might help take in any moisture trapped within the bag, which can assist stop undesirable wilting and cease bacterial progress.
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As demonstrated on this TikTok video by @the.lolamercado, Lola Mercado opens the bag, throws in a couple of paper towels alongside the sides, removes the air from the bag, and seals it (you should use a chip clip). After we examined this technique—although efficient for maintaining your greens in fine condition for 3 to 4 days—we discovered that it triggered our tender greens (like spinach) to bruise and get scrunched up within the bag. That being stated, in case you’re tight on further room within the fridge, it’s positively a stable space-saving trick—and by far the best of all of them.
Check 2: Transferring bagged salad right into a resealable bag and including paper towels
Similar to within the earlier technique, this one requires transferring the contents of the bagged salad right into a clear plastic bag lined with paper towels and storing it within the fridge, as proven on this video by @annarockstarfitness. Sure, this technique offers the bagged salad just a little extra room to unfold (as long as you are utilizing a big gallon-sized bag), which is nice information in the case of avoiding crushed, soggy greens. Plus, the resealable lock makes accessing small parts at a time a breeze. Nonetheless, except you’re utilizing a *reusable* resealable plastic bag (like Stasher luggage), it could trigger pointless plastic waste.
@annarockstarfitness #veggiehacks #keepsaladfresh #kitchenhacks #foodtips #onlinecoach ♬ FEEL THE GROOVE – Queens Highway, Fabian Graetz
Check 3: Transferring the bagged salad to a container and changing the paper towels every day
This may be probably the most labor-intensive technique out of the bunch. It entails transferring the bagged salad right into a clear bowl (or container), including a couple of paper towels on high, sealing it with a lid, after which—an important half—flipping it the wrong way up earlier than storing it within the fridge. Then, as described on this video by @easyrecipesandtips, you’ll need to swap out the paper towels every day. We discovered that this technique helped keep moisture ranges at bay and maintain salad recent for upwards of per week (relying on the heartiness of the greens). Nonetheless, it did entail a couple of further steps that may be thought of a tad too tedious for some to keep up, which is truthful.
@easyrecipesandtips Preserve your salad recent all week with this easy hack! #salad #freshsalad #lettuce #greens #lifehacks #kitchenhacks ♬ unique sound – Simple Recipes/Weight Loss Suggestions
Check 4 (the winner!): Including paper towels to the salad in a clamshell container
Out of the bunch, this technique, as demonstrated right here by @kailinschoice, proved to be our favourite when it comes to efficacy, ease, and practicality. It includes merely opening a clamshell container crammed along with your greens, including a couple of paper towels to cowl the greens, after which flipping it over earlier than storing it within the fridge. We discovered that this technique additionally stored salad recent for as much as per week (possibly even longer in case you’re fortunate), plus it was the best trick to execute and didn’t require further plastic baggies or further steps. It’s a ten out of 10 for us.
@kailinschoice No extra rotten greens. #lifehack #randomlifehack #storagetips #saladsoftiktok #healthyfood ♬ Final life hacks – Kelly – The Life Tub
Extra methods to maintain bagged salad more energizing for longer
Tl; DR: To make sure that your bagged salad stays more energizing for longer, scale back moisture wherever potential. This may occasionally imply swapping out the paper towels every day as they take in humidity, or ready so as to add any toppings or dressings that may moisten the fragile leaves.
Moreover, as quickly as you convey dwelling a bag of greens, sorting by them to take away any leaves which have began to wilt might help scale back humidity ranges or micro organism that may unfold to the remainder of the salad. Plus, selecting heartier greens (like kale or arugula) may also assist lengthen their life, as they aren’t as much less vulnerable to wilting versus different softer, extra delicate varieties.
So, what to do with *all* of your oh-so-fresh greens? This simple kale salad with recent honey lemon dressing, in fact:
