Now that the sun is out, many of us are craving lighter dinners like salads or sandwiches, but there is nothing worse than preparing a meal only to discover the lettuce has wilted. Lettuce tends to spoil quicker than many other vegetables as it has a high water content that can leak and attract more bacteria. 

One big mistake people make when storing any food, particularly lettuce, is storing it in plastic bags or containers, as it will create a humid environment. This will cause it to spoil and even become mouldy. Luckily, Susanne, a cook and founder of New South Charm has shared that you can “keep lettuce crisp and fresher longer” and even save time prepping salads if you store it with paper towels. 

Susanne said: “Gather the lettuce together and lay it on clean, dry paper towels. Then roll the lettuce in a bundle. Next, place the bundle of lettuce in a zip-top bag and keep crisper drawer of your refrigerator.”

Paper towels will absorb any of the excess moisture that leaks from lettuce or is in the environment, which helps keep the lettuce dry.

If lettuce becomes damp, it will spoil at a quicker rate, but will also ruin the texture, so paper towels will also stop salad leaves from becoming limp and soggy, so they will be much more enjoyable to eat. 

However, before you store lettuce, it is important to give it a wash beforehand to get rid of any dirt festering on the leaves.

Washing lettuce greatly reduces the risk of bacteria and germs, so it will also stay fresh for up to a week longer, rather than only last a day or two. 

All you need to do is fill up a bowl with cold water and then let the lettuce soak for five minutes. Some people like to add a drop of vinegar while washing lettuce as it is antibacterial, but this is entirely optional. 

Next, drain the lettuce and let the leaves sit on paper towels or a clean dish towel for a few minutes. 

It is incredibly important that lettuce is thoroughly dry before you store it. Let it air dry and then pat it down with some paper towels. Alternatively, use a salad spinner to dry it more quickly. 

Then all you need to do is roll up the lettuce in some fresh paper towels and then store it in a container or sandwich bag. 

It tends to be better to store lettuce in a glass container as it is likely to create a humid environment, but plastic will be fine as long as you store it with paper towels. 

Place in the crisper drawer of your fridge, and your sandwiches or salad will taste so much better as the lettuce will stay fresh for much longer.