Monday, August 12, 2013

Making Lettuce Last

Wanna know a secret?

If you have been to a Pampered Chef party recently, you may have learned this...
...or maybe you already do this and I'm the slow one :) 
It's really not a secret at all but I have found that many people have not heard of it.
This keeps lettuce fresh longer than any other way I have ever known!


I like romaine so this is what I buy.
I assume this works with any kind of lettuce


First, tear or break...don't cut the core ends from lettuce.


Then separate the leaves and rinse in cold water. Let drain in a colander.


You will need a large stainless steel bowl. If it has a lid, awesome!
If not, aluminum foil works great.

Line the bowl with a few layers of paper towels.


After lettuce has drained, carefully pat the leaves dry with more paper towels.


Place the leaves in the bowl and add another couple of layers of paper towels on top.


Cover bowl with lid or foil and store on regular shelf in the fridge....not the vegetable compartment.




43 comments:

  1. Wow a great tip, thanks for sharing! I find wrapping the leaves in a damp tea towel also works well. Have a great week, Laura

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    1. I think the key is getting it out of the bag and getting most of the water off...plus the metal bowl keeps it really cold!

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  2. Interesting tip! I really like Romaine lettuce, too. It's just crispier to start with, huh?

    Do you think the wet paper towel would help keep ME from wilting, too?? :)

    GOD BLESS!

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    1. Lol...it might! I was surprised how long it lasted...and so crispy...just like in a restaurant :)

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  3. I have never tried this, anything that makes anything in the frig last longer to me is a very good thing...it is then all ready to go too...love that... Hope to see you over for a visit, I have some watermelon for you...Phyllis

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    1. Yum...I love me some watermelon :) I am the only one who eats the lettuce...hubby doesn't like romaine. I kid you not, it lasts for weeks! Coming to see you now!

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  4. HI Debby! Oh, I did not know this and will have to try it. Thanks so much for popping in to see me.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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    1. Sheila,

      I was amazed the first time I tried it! Let me know how it works for you!

      Debby

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  5. I've never heard this, can't wait to try it! Thanks so much for sharing at Amaze Me Monday!!!
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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    1. Cindy, I found this out from a Pampered Chef party I attended several months ago and I have not used my lettuce keeper or the crisper drawer for lettuce ever since! The aluminum bowl keeps it extremely crisp and cold. Let me know if you try it!

      Have a blessed week :)

      Debby

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  6. Now this I have to try. Thanks tons for the tip and thanks for joining Inspire Me. Hugs, marty

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    1. You are welcome, Marty! Let me know if you try it!

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  7. Great idea that I will definitely try! I think Romaine lasts better than other lettuces, anyway, but usually not long enough before wilting begins. Do you think it makes a difference if you use a stainless bowl or some other kind? I do always wash and dry my lettuces using my salad spinner. Getting that excess water off the leaves is very important. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Carol,

      Hi...thanks for your interest! I absolutely think the stainless steel bowl is the key to keeping it fresh. The paper towels help to absorb the moisture which can increase the spoiling but the metal bowl keeps it so cold and crispy! I was astounded when I first tried this. Even after getting as much of the water out that I could, my plastic lettuce keeper never did this. Good luck and let me know how it works out for you!

      Debby

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  8. I love eating a salad. Great idea....Thanks for sharing.

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  9. Hi Debby! My Mom used to do all those steps with lettuce, but not the foil thing. No wonder it was all soggy! It's all in the foil!

    I am usually the last one to hear about anything, Debby, you will always fascinate me! LOL!
    Ceil

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    1. Ceil,

      The Pampered Chef girl was demonstrating their set of SS mixing bowls and they actually had plastic lids. She said foil would work just as well. I actually think it adds to the coldness factor. Even if the lettuce goes limp, a day or so in the fridge crisps it up again! I have had last 3 plus weeks! I will never buy bagged lettuce again...except when my hubby wants shredded for tacos, etc. :)

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  10. Hi Debby! Thank you so much for your sweet comments on my tablescape.
    be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  11. Okay, now I am going to have to try this. Stopping by from Grace at Home.

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    1. Bernadette,

      Thanks for stopping by! I have never found any other way that works as good as this! Let me know how it works for you!

      Blessings,
      Debby

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  12. Great tip, now I need to get a stainless steel bowl. I wonder if it works for baby spinach. Have a great weekend! ~Ann at Tarnished Royalty

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  13. Ann...thanks for stopping by! I would think that it should work for spinach too...it might not last as long as the romaine but probably longer than what it would normally. If you try it, I would like to know how it worked for you!

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  14. Going to give this a try! We waste so much romaine. Thanks for sharing this tip. Stop by my Friday's Five Features and link up this post (and others)! http://diy-vintage-chic.blogspot.com/2013/08/fridays-five-features-no-4.html

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    1. Hey Becca!

      Thanks for inviting me to share... I did :)

      Blessings,
      Debby

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    2. Debby ~ Thanks for stopping by DIY Vintage Chic’s Friday’s Five Features and Fun Festivities. Don’t forget to stop back by this Friday!

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    1. Thanks for the visit! Let me know how it works for you :)

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  16. Visiting from Imparting Grace : ) I am so excited to try this tip! We grow a lot of lettuce in the garden so this will come in handy ~ thank you.

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    1. PS: Your blog header makes me want to come visit - how cute!

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    2. Mindy..thank you...and for visiting! You are welcome anytime! Let me know how the lettuce keeping works for you!

      Have a great weekend :)

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  17. Really! I buy my lettuce the same way - I'll give this a try! I am Delighted that you shared with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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  18. Kathy...just to let you know...I prepared the lettuce in this post about a week and a half ago. Tonight, I opened it up to chop some up for on top of my burrito and it was cold and crisp and still very fresh. I will never keep lettuce any other way and will never buy bagged romaine again!

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  19. Thank you so much, Debby! I've thrown away more romaine than I care to remember--I'm going to try this!!

    Thanks so much for joining Grace at Home--I'm featuring you this week! :)

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    1. Awesome, Richella...thank you so much! I was telling one of my other commenters yesterday that the lettuce in my post was prepared almost two weeks ago and when I got some out yesterday, it was still so crispy and fresh! It really is a great way to store it!

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  20. I've never heard of this. Thanks!!

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    1. Kathy...thanks for stopping by! Let me know how it works for you :)

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  21. I'm visiting from Imparting Grace. Thanks for sharing your great tip.

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    1. Thanks for visiting...hope it works for you!

      Debby

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  22. I so appreciate you sharing this tip! Will use it the next time I have lettuce to save :)

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  23. Fab post Debby! Thanks for the great tip! So much easier to get out to serve as well. I need all the encouragement I can get to eat more salads!

    Blessings,
    Linda and Jeannie at The French Hens Nest

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  24. Well, isn't this simply fabulous, my friend! :) Thanks for the great tip and thanks for sharing with Roses of Inspiration. Happy hugs!

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Thank you for stopping by today! Your sweet comments are such an encouragement to me.