Our scout for how to wash loot will coach you through grow your Green River salad - ready — and keeping them crunchy .
Bagged salads , romaine lettuce , and spinach have been frequent stars of nutrient recall alert in recent age . alas , fields of leafy greens are easy targets for E. coli contaminant due to proximity to animal farm , unsafe irrigation practices , composting misapprehension , and more .
While these options for how to rinse lettuce ca n’t remove serious pathogens ( cook over 160 ° F should do the trick),washing greens is a food safety right practice if the vegetables are not already pre - washed . It will reduce the risk of exposure that you ’re eat up dirt , as well as any hemipteran , pesticide , or extra contaminants associated with your leafy vegetable during crop , tape transport , or handling .
Credit: Andy Lyons
take on for our Test Kitchen ’s pro tip for how to wash gelt in its most plebeian variety , be iticeberg , romaine , or butter lettuce ; tender greens like arugula or Spinacia oleracea ; or uncompromising leaves likeradicchio , kale , or collards .
How to Wash Lettuce
If you have put in bagged green that are label " quick - to - eat , " " no washing necessary , " or " triple - water-washed , " this mean they ’re already clean . There ’s no penury to move around to these instructions for how to wash lettuce for these products . But in all other cases — whether you harvested the greens from yourvegetable garden , scored them at your localfarmers market , or buy them at the food market shop — take on to discover how to wash simoleons .
How to Wash Lettuce With a Salad Spinner
Since it makesmeal prepmuch easier and more efficient , our Test Kitchen experts securely conceive that a salad spinner is worth the kitchen cabinet veridical estate . Here ’s how to lave lettuce if you , too , depose by your spinner .
Change the water in the bowl and rewash the bunch , if you detect any remaining mealy piece .
How to Wash Lettuce Without a Salad Spinner
Proceed to step 5 of the how - to - wash lettuce pathfinder above or store the greens in your icebox to use another time .
How to Store Lettuce to Keep It Fresh As Long As Possible
It ’s best towash and dry out your greensimmediately before using them . When the icebox is position to about 35 to 38 ° fluorine , unwashedgreens by and large lastabout 7 to 10 days .
If you pre - wash leafy greens , dry them thoroughly play along the directions above on how to wash off lettuce . Aim to apply them within three days for the serious gall .
entrepot already - washed lettuce on a couple of layers of composition towels . mildly pluck up the towel with the lettuce tucked in spite of appearance ; the paper towel will help ingest excess wet ( to slow wilting ) while allowing a damp surround to remain ( to prevent too - dried leaves ) . Transfer this cast to a neat travelling bag and place it in thecrisper drawer of your icebox .
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“ Outbreak Investigation of E. coli - Leafy Greens ( December 2020).”FDA . 2021 .
Luna - Guevara , J J ; Arenas - Hernandez M M P ; Martínez de la Peña , C ; Silva , Juan L ; Luna - Guevara , M L.“The Role of Pathogenic E. coli in Fresh Vegetables : Behavior , Contamination Factors , and Preventive Measures . ”National Library of Medicine . 2019 .
“ To dampen or not to lave ? Recommendations for refreshing produce . ”University of Minnesota Extension . 2021 .
