There's a trick you need to know to preserve salad

• Wash the salad as soon as you buy it or just before storing it.
• Dry it thoroughly: use a salad spinner or just pat it dry with kitchen paper.
• Place the leaves in an airtight container.
• Insert 1–2 sheets of kitchen paper above and below the leaves to absorb moisture.
• Store in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator.

When storing, pay attention to just one important detail: if you see the paper getting damp, change it.

• After purchasing the lettuce, which is still raw, wash it thoroughly, rinsing the leaves under running water for about 3 minutes. You can also, if you prefer, soak it for about 10 minutes in a bowl of water and baking soda.
• Once the washing time is up, drain your salad, dry it (perhaps using a salad spinner), and then place it in a dry glass container lined with a sheet of paper towel. This absorbs any residual water that might cause it to rot. Then, close the container. your container, even with cling film, to prevent air from damaging the food.
• If you need to store a salad left over from lunch and that is therefore dressed, before storing it in the refrigerator, you should cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap or a suitable lid. However, it is always advisable not to store already-dressed salad, as it has a shorter shelf life than undressed salad. leaves, in fact, they wither after just a few hours.
• If you want to freeze the salad, blanch it for a couple of minutes and then place it in airtight plastic containers. Then, place the containers in the freezer. You can use the vegetables anytime, adding them to other dishes, even without thawing them.

The area of ​​the refrigerator where you put the salad

The salad should be stored in the coldest part of the fridge, that is, the vegetable drawer. When stored in the refrigerator, salad can last a few days. However, you must ensure that:

• it should not be crushed by other foods present, as this could quickly cause the leaves to rot;
• not be placed where there are tomatoes, pears o apples, because these foods release ethylene, a gaseous plant hormone that causes lettuce to rot.
• The container where it is stored does not produce condensation. If this happens, reduce the humidity level in the refrigerator by adjusting the settings.

Out of the fridge

If placed inside a sheet of kitchen paper or a napkin, which absorb moisture, salad can be left out of the refrigerator for a short time. However, it's absolutely forbidden to leave salad in plastic, as this will quickly turn rancid.

Lettuce should be washed shortly before eating. After cleaning, it shouldn't be immediately refrigerated, but dried, otherwise mold could form on the damp leaves. Washing lettuce is necessary because it removes soil, growing materials, and any insects, and also reduces the bacterial load on the leaves. It's also a good idea to wash bagged lettuce, even if it's already clean. Let's look at the best way to wash lettuce:

• First of all, remove the damaged leaves and, in some varieties, also the internal core.
• to wash it, it is good to use warm waterIf you soak them in a bowl, add two teaspoons of baking soda to the water, which is tasteless and doesn't alter the flavor of the vegetable, as vinegar would.
• Soaking should not last more than 20 minutes, after which the leaves should be dried.
• Don't use chlorine for washing, because it is not only expensive but also alters the flavor of the salad.
• dry it with one colander or with a juice extractor. You can also use a sheet of paper towels.

How long does it last?

Vacuum-packed salad

How to choose salad