For the past two weeks, we have been going to a local U-Pick farm, Sterken Farms, and bringing home bags of baby and head lettuce for the rest of the week. Washing and storing it properly is the key to making it last the whole week.
If I have the choice, I pick baby greens, instead of heads. They are easier to clean and have less bugs. 
I wash three times in cool water, then spin dry in the salad spinner. Then I stuff the lettuces in a zipper freezer bag, as many as I can fit and sucking out as much air as possible, and store in the fridge. If I have paper towels around (not usually) I’ll add a piece inside the bag to absorb excess water.
This is one of those tasks in the kitchen where I haven’t found a way to replace the plastic. So I buy the zipper bags but reuse them as long as I can. Eventually, I will dispose of them, but I don’t consider them as truly disposable if I get so much life out of them. When I think about how many zipper bags I used to use – I feel I’ve come along way if I only buy a box twice a year, if that, now.
I’d be happy to hear any suggestions for how you wash and store lettuce and/or avoid plastic use!
I would like to share what you know with the great and inspirational readers of gnowfglins.com. Send your favorite kitchen tip(s), accompanying photos, and your website address (optional) to: tips at gnowfglins dot com. You’ll be credited as the author/owner of the information submitted. Please understand that I may not post all tips. By sending me your tips, you are granting me permission to include them in gnowfglins.com publications. Of course, you may revoke your permission at any time.
Hi,
I’m new to your site and really enjoying it!
When it comes to storing greens, glass is the best. We make up large salads at the beginning of the week to eat off of for the whole week, and I have found that if we store our salad in a large glass bowl, as opposed to the plastic I *used* to use, the salad lasts much, much longer. Same with your washed greens. Store them in a large glass bowl (I use the kind with a rubber lid) and put in a paper towel to absorb the water and they will last long and you don’t have to use plastic. It does take up more space in the fridge, but, well, I guess you have to sacrifice somewhere!
I have also thought about (but haven’t tried yet) storing them in large mason jars and using the foodsaver to suck out the air. That might really make them last, but I don’t know for sure.
Rhonda – Thank you for sharing that! I have been scared to try my glass bowls, afraid the greens would dry out. I have stackable glass storage dishes (with glass lids) by Anchor Hocking. They are not air-tight, although they don’t let alot of air in either. I don’t think I could fit my week’s worth of greens in my Pyrex bowls with plastic lids – you must have some big ones, or lots of them? The Mason jars is a good idea. I wonder even about using the big gallon size glass jars? Great ideas – thanks!
I store my lettuce in the crisper drawer and wash as needed. I usually buy Romaine or leaf lettuce. I wash then tear into bite size pieces. I then wrap in a clean white cotton bar towel and place in the fridge for about 15 mins – enough time to prepare the rest of the salad ingredents. The lettuce crisps and is as fresh as just picked. I too use very few paper towels but can’t live without my 100% cotten thin bar towels. They are great for straining, wrapping things in the fridge, draining fruits or vegetables, wrap warm rolls fresh from the oven, etc. I wash them in hot water and they are ready to use again and again.
BeckyAnn – that’s great! Where do you get your 100% cotton thin bar towels? It sounds like they would be a great addition to any plastic-free/plastic-avoiding kitchen!
Hi Wardeh,
\ for my greens, BUT,….I have recently tried using a tupperware container I found at a yard sale that has a small grid on the bottom that holds any water that drains off the leaves that weren’t spun out. It worked okay, so I was thinking I may try to ‘create’ a grid for a glass container that has a lid. (?) ;o) I’ll let you know if it works.
I too typically use ziploc bags
**By the way, I currently have a request in to our local library for Nourishing Traditions (they have to inter-library loan it for me),….I am so excited to read it!!!
)
Thanks for all you share with us!
)
Elena-Mother of 8
NH
I buy mine at Wal-mart but they are much like these. I think I paid $5 for 6 last time so you may want to try local first. My family knows that these are for food use only – I know that sounds silly but just a quirk with me.
http://www.amazon.com/Floursack-cotton-thread-medium-quality/dp/B001IUWNJM/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1242499622&sr=1-5
BeckyAnn – thanks! They look wonderful! I will look around locally. If I can’t find them elsewhere than Wal-Mart, I’ll order some. I try not to shop at Wal-Mart and even if I were enticed, my daughter has promised to disown me if we ever go there again.
I wash on an as-needed basis, too- just keep the greens in the crisper until we need them. I think they keep best in the most natural state possible!
However, nothing is fresher or better stored than having a garden full of greens to pick- once our garden gets going, the girls are happy to pick greens to eat for every meal, then we wash and eat them right then!
Kyrie – yes, that is the best! One day we’ll have a garden and we’ll enjoy that freshness very much. Good for you for having a garden with your three very little ones!
The garden is really mostly the girls’- they do all the planting and weeding, I just water. No kidding! They do all the harvesting, too. Lazy mama
They have always said they are going to be farmers when they grow up (Bunny wants to be a cowgirl, too), and if they continue the way they’ve started, I have no doubt they will be!
Kyrie – You’re not lazy! I call that smart. You’re training them right and look at how much they love it! I wish we’d had a garden area when my kids were small. We still don’t.
Soon hopefully.
I too have learned that storing salads in a glass bowl with a towel (paper or cloth) on top and then a rubber lid, keeps the entire salad fresh all week!! I suspect that leftovers etc… probably stay fresher also. I am trying to increase my glass storage collection slowly, as plastic storage and cooking/heating in plastic bowls worries me.
Wardeh, I think those glass storage containers you use for sprouts would work great for lettuce…. One day I’m going to have to get one to try out.
To conserve storage space I reuse the plastic salad containers organic lettuce comes in, they are rectangle in shape and stackable. I take the lid, and using my kitchen thermometer I punch lots of holes in it. Then I place a kitchen cloth in the bottom and put in my washed lettuce. The lettuce last about two weeks depending on it’s starting condition, but I don’t like to leave it that long. I’ve been using the containers going on two years for some, and they were free!
Jami