If you have ever wondered how to keep shredded lettuce fresh and keep it from turning brown you are not alone. Preserving food and ensuring nothing goes to waste is an important part of my budget, especially lately. I am sure you too want to make sure your food budget is put to good use with little waste. So I have tried a few different ways to store shredded lettuce. Here is how they turned out.
Hopefully, you will learn the best way to save unused shredded lettuce in the refrigerator. I recommend my favorite products including one that you cannot do without, so make sure you read through to the bottom of the article. It is a must-have kitchen tool for keeping fruits and vegetables fresh in the refrigerator. You need this product!
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Types of Lettuce
Leftover shredded or cut lettuce will turn brown if not stored properly. This is true of any type of shredded lettuce. However, some types of lettuce are more susceptible to turning brown or wilting quickly, such as iceberg, butterhead, and romaine. I found that heartier lettuces with a more deep green color, such as spinach, green leaf/looseleaf, kale, or radicchio. There are dozens of types, including these 18 Types of Lettuce that are most commonly eaten here in the United States.
Keep this all in mind when cutting or shredding your lettuce. Depending on the type of lettuce you have leftover, the answers to how best to store & how long it will last in the refrigerator may be different. It will be easy with this guide that includes all the best information on how to keep cut-up lettuce fresh. It will cut down on a lot of wasted produce and stop fresh lettuce from going bad.
Top 3 Ways To Store Shredded Lettuce
I tried many different ways to store lettuce in the refrigerator, both whole heads, hand torn, and cut or shredded lettuce. Some did ok some did not do well at all. We know that lettuce will eventually spoil, wilt, and turn brown. The key is how to try and keep it as fresh as possible for as long as possible.
Here are the 3 best ways to store shredded lettuce in the refrigerator. It is the most fragile state of lettuce and needs more care to preserve it than say the full head of lettuce does. If you follow the how-to steps shared here today, you will enjoy leftover lettuce anywhere from 1 day to a week later. (great for meal planning, just staying!)
All of the methods I tried and share below, help lettuce that is in shreds or thinly sliced stored well for a period of time. Keep in mind using shredded lettuce on the same day is best. But you can enjoy it later if you store the leftovers properly in the refrigerator.
So let the countdown of the best 3 ways to store leftover lettuce begin -
#3 Storing Lettuce in a Plastic Bag or Ziploc
This method takes the most steps. It also does not keep the food as fresh as the other storing methods do. However, it does not require any additional products or purchases. Typically you already have the items you need to do this.
Placing washed and then shredded lettuce into a plastic bag is not the best way to store it. Before putting your lettuce back into the refrigerator after it has been prepped, here is what I suggest. First off, make sure the lettuce is as dry as possible before storing any leftovers.
Layout enough paper towels (keep them attached) on your counter so that the shredded lettuce can be placed on it. You do not want tall mounds but more of an even layer no more than about ½- 1" in thickness. Be sure to not go all the way to the edges of the paper towels, leave the edges free of lettuce.
Once all the lettuce is on the paper towel, gently roll up the paper towel with the lettuce between the layered rolls. Do this not too tight so that it does not get crushed. Lettuce is fragile produce.
Once rolled, place that paper towel & lettuce tube-like shape into the plastic bag. Do NOT seal it tightly with a clip, twist-tie, or seal the ziplock bag. You want a bit of fresh air to circulate or the lettuce will mold. Simply fold the edges of the bag over itself. Now place it in the produce drawer of your refrigerator. See the section below for how long it will last in the refrigerator this way based on the type of lettuce.
#2 Storing in Green Boxes
Shredded lettuce is loose and messing so getting it into a container will help store it. That is where the special containers, green boxes, come in. They are economical, reduce waste, are reusable, and absolutely work great. I have loved these for years for berries but just started using them for shredded lettuce. Bonus they are made in the USA and BPA-Free.
This easy method to store shredded lettuce involves simply putting it into one of the green box containers. This works for lettuce you have cut, shredded, or torn with your hands. Seal with the lid and place in the refrigerator to keep it fresh for days.
What about store-bought prepared salad mixes? BONUS - these boxes work great for storing those leftovers too. Remove the salad mix from the original bag and add it to the green box containers. Place the lid on tight and store in the fridge. See the section below for how long it will last in the refrigerator this way based on the type of lettuce.
#1 Storing in Green Bags
Similar to the second-best way to store lettuce longer, the #1 best way using a green product. Instead of the green boxes, I prefer the green bags. These bags I cannot live without. I got them as a gift years ago and now I give them as gifts often. That is how much I love them.
The reason I prefer them over the containers above is two-fold. I find that they actually store produce for a bit longer than the containers do. Also, they take up less space in your kitchen cabinets for storage.
How to use green bags for storing shredded lettuce? It is a combination of the above two processes. Begin by placing the lettuce on rolled-out paper towels as described in #3 above. Next, place it in a green bag and fold over to close. The green bag with the paper towels and lettuce should be stored in the produce drawer of your refrigerator. See the section below for how long it will last in the refrigerator this way based on the type of lettuce.
Best Products to Keep Lettuce Fresh
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All of these kitchen gadgets and products are the best for helping keep cut lettuce as fresh as you can. For shredding lettuce, there really isn't anything better than the classic "salad shooter". I found this fascinating as a child and this product still is amazing. If you eat a lot of coleslaw or like lettuce for tacos, as we do, so this is a great time saver.
The green bags from Debbie Meyer are my absolute must-buy product. Based on everything I have done over the years, these are honestly one of my favorite kitchen products. They are inexpensive and you can wash/dry them for multiple uses. I buy a few packages a year and they last with regular usage. I find they are simply fantastic for storing lettuce, strawberries, mushrooms, and more for a long time in the refrigerator. They are a food saver like no other.
How Long Does Lettuce Last
There are numerous factors as to how long lettuce will last in the refrigerator. Full heads of unwashed lettuce will last the longest, some types up to 14 days. Those hearty heads of lettuce are the same types that will last longer once shredded. Keep this in mind when storing it.
How Long will Lettuce Last in a Plastic Bag or Ziploc
Here is a quick cheat sheet to figure out how long you can store shredded lettuce in your refrigerator. Once it has been cut or chopped, it will start to wilt and brown. If you wrapped it in paper towels and stored it in a plastic or Ziploc bag, the refrigerator will help keep it fresh.
How long will it stay fresh? It is based on the following common types of lettuce:
- Butterhead (Bibb/Boston) - 1-2 days
- Iceberg - 1 day
- Green Leaf Lettuce - 2 days
- Kale - 4-5 days
- Radicchio - 4-5 days
- Red Leaf Lettuce - 2-3 days
- Romaine - 1 day
- Spinach - 2-3 days
How Long will Lettuce Last Stored in a Green Box
Here is a quick cheat sheet to figure out how long you can store shredded lettuce in your refrigerator.
It is based on the following common types of lettuce:
- Butterhead (Bibb/Boston) - 3 days
- Iceberg - 2 days
- Green Leaf Lettuce - 3 days
- Kale - 5-7 days
- Radicchio - 5-7 days
- Red Leaf Lettuce - 3-4 days
- Romaine - 2 days
- Spinach - 3-4 days
How Long will Lettuce Last Stored in Green Bags
Here is a quick cheat sheet to figure out how long you can store shredded lettuce in your refrigerator.
It is based on the following common types of lettuce:
- Butterhead (Bibb/Boston) - 4 days
- Iceberg - 3 days
- Green Leaf Lettuce - 4 days
- Kale - 7-9 days
- Radicchio - 7-9 days
- Red Leaf Lettuce - 4-5 days
- Romaine - 3 days
- Spinach - 4-5 days
Check the lettuce daily for spoilage. Keep in mind the edges of the lettuce may brown slightly as the air hits it, oxidation. All of these storage tips help keep the lettuce as fresh as possible for as long as possible.
How to Tell if Lettuce Has Gone Bad
How to tell if lettuce has gone bad? If the lettuce has wilted, soft, wet, slimy, discolored or smells strong or odd. Make sure when you are prepping your lettuce to keep it separate from any other foods. You do not want to cross-contaminate it with other items like raw meats, dairy products, or even kitchen cleansers. Always practice kitchen safety. When in doubt, throw it out!
** NOTE - all of these days are estimates. It will be based on many factors including the temperature of the refrigerator, the quality of the lettuce when starting, the proper storing/equipment used, and the care taken with the lettuce at all stages of prepping and storing.
Lettuce Recipes
Whether you are using shredded, chopped, or whole leaves of lettuce, here are some of the best recipes. Enjoy a fresh salad and have a great meal or side dish. For chopped or shredded romaine, the Vegan Italian Chopped Salad is the best! Do not miss making the homemade dressing too - so amazing.
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