Straightforward strategies to Retailer Lettuce, Kale, and Leafy Greens for Weeks

For the time being, practically all of my of grocery searching for is accomplished on the farmer’s market (see my farmer’s market hauls on Instagram).

The overwhelming majority of our meals is present, just-picked-from-the-field. As a consequence of this model of buying, I’ve realized methods to retailer present meals to be able to make that meals remaining for on the very least per week and typically a bit longer.

I’d desire to share my favourite methods to retailer leafy greens (lettuce, kale, and completely totally different leafy greens) with you. Every technique (there are 3 that work comparatively successfully) retains lettuce, kale, and completely totally different greens present and crisp for on the very least per week all through the fridge, and typically for for for much longer!

As quickly as I stage out leafy greens, I’m speaking about: lettuce (any alternative), Swiss chard, collard greens, spinach, arugula, mustard greens, teen greens, beet greens, carrot tops, dandelion greens, and loads of others. Herbs mustn’t on this class and must be saved one other method. I shared methods to retailer herbs on this put up.

What to Look for When In search of Leafy Greens

First, it’s necessary to stage out that regardless of the method you retailer a head of lettuce or completely totally different leafy inexperienced, a foul head of lettuce is solely that. No technique will delay the inevitable in case your lettuce has already gone dangerous. It’s necessary to purchase the freshest lettuce, kale, and completely totally different leafy greens. Correct proper right here’s what to hunt for when buying for lettuce and completely totally different leafy greens…

• vibrant and free greens: Vibrant inexperienced leafs which may very well be crisp and on no account wilted or yellowing and ideally greens that aren’t packed in plastic baggage or compact containers (go for the free heads of lettuce and completely totally different greens).
• for bagged greens, akin to teen greens: I get it. There are occasions when the one likelihood is one think about a bag or sealed bin. On this state of affairs, resolve up the bag or bin and research all sides, shifting the greens, searching for any indication of an excessive amount of moisture or rotting greens (very darkish, mild yellow, and/or slimy greens)
• select pure when attainable for spinach, kale, collards, and mustard greens: Consistent with the EWGthese explicit greens comprise the right diploma of pesticides out of all fruits and veggies and since lettuce and greens don’t have a peel, it’s largest to go pure.

How one can Hold Lettuce, Kale, and Leafy Greens Present for Weeks

There are two key components to conserving lettuce, kale, and completely totally different leafy greens present for on the very least week or longer: moisture and air.

• Greens want air move into. This means not packing your greens correct proper right into a bag or container too tightly (and that is the explanation I desire to advocate buying totally free greens when attainable, not these packed in sealed baggage or bins). Take into accounts making a roomy ambiance for the greens, the place the air can flow into into.
• Greens want some moisture, nonetheless an excessive amount of moisture is the enemy and should set off the greens to rot prematurely. That is the explanation you don’t need to clear delicate greens upfront, solely to ensure that you them. I’ll share methods to scrub greens the fast and simple technique afterward this put up.

How one can Retailer Lettuce, Kale, and Leafy Greens

Methodology 1: Retailer Lettuce and Greens in a Ziplock Bag

For this method, you’ll want a gallon-size Ziplock bag (or it’s best to make use of a silicone bag like a Stasher Bag) and a paper towel.

Place the greens all through the bag (separating the leaves should you’re working with a whole head of lettuce or completely totally different leafy greens), guaranteeing to not pack the leaves too tightly (the greens want airflow). As rapidly as a result of the greens are all through the bag, place a paper towel on one side of the bag. The towel will take up further moisture, conserving the greens from getting too moist which causes untimely rotting and slimy greens. Seal the bag (you don’t ought to take the entire air out of the bag) and place all through the fridge. Retailer for as quite a bit as 1 week, typically longer.

Methodology 2: Retailer Lettuce and Greens in a Particular Produce Bin

For this method, you’ll want an OXO Inexperienced Saver Produce Keeper (I profit from the medium measurementnot sponsored–I’ve used these bins for years and LOVE them).

The produce keepers protect an excessive amount of moisture from deciding on the greens, whereas conserving the air circulating, and use a charcoal filter to absorb the gases that set off the greens to rot prematurely. Merely place the greens contained throughout the Produce Keeper (separating the leaves should you’re working with a whole head of lettuce or completely totally different leafy greens), place the lid on, and retailer all through the fridge. I haven’t modified the charcoal filters in years (I’ve tossed them at this stage) and my bins nonetheless work unimaginable for storing greens. That is my go-to technique. My greens remaining about 2 weeks utilizing this method.

Methodology 3: Retailer Lettuce and Greens in a Glass Container

For this method, you’ll want a big glass container (I like the 11-quart measurement from Pyrex) and paper towel.

Place the lettuce all through the container (separating the leaves should you’re working with a whole head of lettuce or completely totally different leafy greens), guaranteeing to not pack the leaves too tightly. Place the paper towel on extreme of the greens, then place the lid on the container. Retailer the container all through the fridge for as quite a bit as per week, normally longer.

How one can Wash Lettuce, Kale, and Leafy Greens

Solely wash your leafy greens when it is advisable use the leaves. There are 2 methods to rapidly and simply wash greens.

For salads and greens that you just simply’ll be sautéing or baking with and don’t need any moisture on the greensthe best strategies to scrub leafy greens is to make the most of a salad spinner:

• Add the quantity of greens you’d desire to utilize to a salad spinner (correct proper right here’s my favourite).
• Fill the salad spinner base with chilly water to cowl the greens.
• After a couple of minutes of soaking, take away the salad spinner basket insert and dump out the water from the underside of the spinner.
• Rinse greens beneath present chilly water after which return the basket to the underside of the salad spinner.
• Give the spinner just a few good spins, emptying water as wanted till the greens are dry.

For smoothies and completely totally different meals all through which some moisture is totally high-quality (the moisture isn’t going to mess with a salad dressing or sautéing the greens), run the specified quantity of greens beneath present chilly water. There’s no ought to dry the greens earlier than use on this case.