While these options for how to wash lettuce can’t remove serious pathogens (cooking over 160° F should do the trick), washing greens is a food safety best practice if the vegetables are not already pre-washed. It will reduce the risk that you’re consuming dirt, of course, as well as any bugs, pesticides, or additional contaminants that got associated with your greens during harvest, transport, or handling. Read on for our Test Kitchen’s pro tips for how to wash lettuce in its most common varieties, be it iceberg, romaine, butter lettuce; tender greens like arugula or spinach; or sturdier leaves like radicchio, kale, or collards.
How to Wash Lettuce
If you have invested in bagged greens that are labeled “ready-to-eat,” “no washing necessary,” or “triple-washed,” this means that they are already clean, according to the CDC. There’s no need to turn to these instructions for how to wash lettuce. But in all other cases—whether you harvested the greens from your vegetable garden, scored them at your local farmers market, or bought them at the grocery store—read on to discover how to wash lettuce.
How to Wash Lettuce With a Salad Spinner
Since it makes meal prep so much easier and efficient, our Test Kitchen experts are firm believers that a salad spinner is worth the kitchen cabinet real estate. Here’s how to wash lettuce if you, too, swear by your spinner.
How to Wash Lettuce Without a Salad Spinner
No salad spinner? No sweat. Follow steps 1 through 3 above, then place the washed leaves in a colander instead of a salad spinner. Allow the lettuce to drain well. Proceed to step 5 of the how to wash lettuce guide above or store the greens in your refrigerator to use another time.
How to Store Lettuce to Keep It Fresh As Long As Possible
It’s best to wash and dry your greens immediately before you plan to use them. When the refrigerator is set to about 35 to 38° F, unwashed greens generally last about 7 to 10 days in the refrigerator. But if you’d like to get a head start and pre-wash your leaves, be sure to dry them thoroughly after following the directions above for how to wash lettuce. Aim to use pre-washed greens within 3 days. Store already-washed lettuce on a couple layers of paper towels. Gently roll up the towels with the lettuce tucked inside; the paper towels will help absorb excess moisture (to slow wilting) while allowing a damp environment to remain (to prevent overly-dried leaves). Transfer this roll to a clean bag and place it in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. Up next: 32 Fruits and Veggies You Should Store in the Fridge (and 7 You Never Should)
