Preserving Lettuce

Short-Term Refrigeration for Lettuce

General preservation or storage guidance

Preparation About 5 minutes to sort and pack

Lettuce is best eaten fresh, but a whole, dry head or freshly picked leaves can be chilled briefly to retain crispness.

Method

1. Choose a firm, crisp head or fresh leaves. Remove damaged outer leaves and discard any slimy or mouldy parts.
2. For a whole head, leave it unwashed and intact until use. For cut leaves, rinse away soil, drain well and dry thoroughly so water does not collect in the pack.
3. Wrap leaves loosely in a clean, dry paper towel and place them in a breathable bag or lidded container in the refrigerator salad drawer.
4. Check daily; replace a damp towel and remove leaves that turn slimy or deteriorate. Do not seal wet lettuce in a waterlogged container.
5. Wash whole-head leaves just before serving, or rinse cut leaves again if needed. Refrigeration preserves texture only briefly and is not long-term preservation.