How To Keep Bagged Salad Fresh
I love pre-made, bagged salads. They are such a convenient meal that I love to have in my fridge. However, bagged salads can spoil so quickly! I often open the bag just to find wilted, slimy lettuce that has gone bad after just a few days in the fridge. But now, I have discovered a few tips and tricks to help keep bagged salad fresh for longer. Every bagged salad lover needs to know these salad hacks! Keep reading and you will never need to worry about wilting lettuce ever again.
By using a paper towel at the bottom of your container, you help keep the environment inside the container dry because the paper towel absorbs any excess moisture. Remember to replace the paper towel every day or so to maintain its effectiveness in absorbing excess moisture. You can even wrap the salad completely in paper towel, discarding the plastic bag. This will keep it completely dry and fresh!
Did you know most refrigerators have a crisper drawer intended to create an optimal humidity level for storing vegetables? After transferring your bagged salad to an airtight container with a paper towel, place the container in the crisper drawer to help maintain freshness. This humidity and temperature-controlled drawer will definitely help your salads stay fresher for longer.
When transferring your salad to a container, be careful not to pack it too tightly. Overpacking can bruise the leaves, which not only affects the texture but also accelerates spoilage. Give your salad leaves the room they need to breathe. Always put the salad into a bowl or container that is larger than needed so that there is plenty of air flow.
If your bagged salad feels damp when you open it, try giving it a quick spin in a salad spinner. Excess moisture can cause wilting and spoilage in your greens, but a salad spinner effectively removes this moisture, leaving your leaves dry and crisp. The drier the leaves, the longer your salad will last.
If your bagged salad is a mix of different greens, separating them might be beneficial. Different greens have different moisture and storage needs. This way, you can avoid the scenario where one type of leaf spoils faster and affects the rest of the mix. You may want to consider purchasing bagged salads that have only one type of lettuce so you don’t have to worry about this common problem.
It might be tempting to wash your entire bag of salad when you first open it, but it’s best to wash the greens only before you eat them. Pre-washed bagged salads are convenient, but additional washing and then storing can introduce extra moisture, accelerating spoilage. When you are ready to eat your salad, place it into a salad spinner to wash, dry, and then immediately eat.
An unconventional but effective method to keep your bagged salad fresh is to place a slice of bread in the container. The bread acts as a moisture absorber, drawing away the humidity that causes greens to become soggy. This simple trick can help maintain the crispness of your greens. You will be amazed by how much moisture the bread will absorb.
Ethylene gas, produced by fruits like apples, bananas, and tomatoes, can cause vegetables to ripen and spoil faster. To ensure your bagged salad stays freshest, keep it in a separate drawer or on a shelf different from these fruits and veggies. While those ingredients may taste good inside of a salad, they do not store well with the delicate leaves.
Check your salad daily and promptly remove any wilted or rotten leaves. By regularly checking and removing bad leaves, you help maintain the salad’s overall health. This daily maintenance routine can prevent the spread of spoilage and keep your salad fresh for longer. It is amazing how one bad lettuce leaf can quickly spoil the whole bag!
If you have a vacuum sealer, use it to store your bagged salad. This method can greatly extend the shelf life of your greens by removing the air from the container, keeping them fresh and crisp for much longer than other storage methods. You may even be able to double the self-life of your lettuce since it will be tightly sealed and protected. Try dividing your bagged salad into portions and sealing each individual portion. This will make serving and eating the salad very easy.
This simple step of dating your bagged salad helps you monitor the freshness of your greens and ensures you use them in a timely manner. It’s easy to forget how long something has been in the fridge, and a date label gives a clear reminder. Your bagged salad should have an expiration date on the label. Use this date to help you know when you salad is safe to eat or when it needs to be trashed.
When buying bagged salad, make sure you are purchasing fresh, healthy-looking salad in the store. Check the lettuce before purchasing, making sure the leaves look crisp and green rather than wilted or brown. You will be surprised by how many bagged salads already look bad in the store. Grocery stores are not always good at rotating and discarding expired salads, so make sure you do not buy a bad one by accident!
