The lettuce leaves wilt very quickly, but there is a new way to preserve them to extend their shelf life.
The process is extremely simple. First, remove any outer leaves that are damaged or wilted, then wrap them in a few sheets of paper towel. Store them in the cooler drawer of your refrigerator until ready to use – this compartment is designed to maintain ideal moisture and air circulation for the produce. By doing this, the paper towel will absorb excess moisture and keep the lettuce fresh and crispy.
If done this way, the lettuce will stay fresh for another 7 to 10 days. You can apply this method to all types of lettuce: romaine lettuce, curly lettuce, etc.
The most important thing to note is that, after buying them, keep the whole head intact and do not wash them until you are ready to use them. Whole lettuce heads will stay fresh much longer than individual leaves or small pieces.
“Reviving” wilted lettuce
If you notice that the lettuce is wilting, you can “revive” it by dipping the leaves in a bowl of ice water. Let them sit for about 5 minutes, then remove and pat dry. This will shock the leaves and make them crisp again.
Storing lettuce in a bag or container
Adequate air circulation is the key to keeping lettuce leaves crisp and fresh longer. For this reason, an airtight plastic or glass container may be more suitable than a bag. Containers provide more space for the leaves so they don’t get crushed during storage, allowing air to circulate inside the container. It also seals off external air to maintain freshness.
Minimizing moisture is also crucial to prolonging the life of lettuce. That’s why, whether you use a container or a bag for storage, placing a paper towel inside will help absorb moisture and keep the lettuce fresh and crisp for longer.