Next, said DeLucia, always wash lettuce using a colander. Avoid washing straight in the sink as bacteria can breed along the edges. By using a colander, "none of the lettuce is touching your sink In addition, make sure to pull off and toss the outer leaves, which are more likely to contain harmful bacteria. This means washing before every use, of course.
And the truth is that many home cooks, us included, much prefer to get their washing done and have clean, crisp lettuce ready when they are. If you plan to eat up the lettuce within a week to so, you should be fine to separate the leaves and wash them all, though keep an eye on them as they spend time in the refrigerator. Properly stored loose leaves will still last around a week in the fridge. When you're ready to wash, you can simply rinse the lettuce leaves under gently running water by hand.
Or, you may also set several leaves in a strainer to rinse them all at once. Whether you're rinsing entirely by hand or using a strainer, be sure to flip the leaves over to ensure all sides are rinsed. Meanwhile, keep the water pressure gentle and the temperature cool.
Too much pressure or overly hot water could cause your lettuce leaves to wilt and make for a sad salad. If you have lettuce that has gone a little limp or you just want the leaves to be as crisp as possible, a great way to wash and revive it all at once is in a bowl of ice water. And for tough greens like kale, an ice bath can also help cut the bitter flavor contained in the leaves. Simply fill a bowl with cool water and add a layer of ice across the surface.
Dunk individual leaves in, being careful not to crowd them. Let them sit for about 5 minutes, then remove from the water and repeat this process with any remaining leaves. This is a bit time-consuming, to be sure, but this method will restore sad lettuce to crisp, salad-ready perfection.
For true ease and convenience all in one, especially if you eat lettuce on a regular basis, consider investing in a simple and affordable salad spinner.
Even the most expensive models serve as a place to wash lettuce, dry it, and even store unused lettuces in the fridge. Salad spinners are also handy for plenty of other uses , too. To use a salad spinner, add your lettuce to the center basket and wash it under cool, gentle running water. Then pop that center bowl back into the outer bowl and add the lid. Push the button or pull the string — however your model might work — to remove the water.
Discard the water and repeat until the lettuce is free of all excess water, but still slightly damp. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. All rights reserved. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
Cut off the lettuce root on leaf lettuce. Use a knife or your hands to break the root off of the lettuce and cut off any wilted spots. Separate the leaves of the lettuce with your hands.
Make sure your fingers are away from the blade when you cut. Remove the core from iceberg lettuce. If you are using iceberg lettuce, use a paring knife to remove the core then break apart the leaves with your hands. Keep in mind that some iceberg lettuce heads are very firm. Fill a large bowl with cool water. Soak your lettuce in a large amount of cold water. Move the water around by swirling the water vigorously. If you got the lettuce from a farmer's market, it will probably be more dirty than from the store.
Inspect whole heads. If you are washing whole heads of lettuce, make sure to thoroughly inspect them.
Gently open the heads and check between the leaves for dirt. Gently bend the leaves back and away from the core to allow water to get between the leaves.
Make sure to check the area where the leaves are attached to the stem. Let the dirt fall to the bottom of the bowl. Walk away from the leaves and let the dirt settle to the bottom of the bowl. After about 10 minutes, take the greens out of the water.
Make sure not to go near the dirt at the bottom of the bowl. Gently shake the excess water off of the leaves and lay them on a paper towel. Part 2. Spin the lettuce. The easiest way to dry lettuce is with a spinner. Once the leaves are washed, take the colander, with the lettuce inside, out of the bowl. Pour out any water from the bowl and put the colander back inside the bowl. Put the lid on top of the bowl and turn the handle to spin the lettuce to dry out the leaves.
Roll the lettuce in a towel. You can dry lettuce by rolling it in a towel. Shake extra water off of the leaves and lay them in a single layer on a towel. Start rolling the towel starting at the end near you. Lightly press against the green while you roll. If you push too hard, you might bruise the leaves. Unroll the towel and the lettuce should be dry. Shake the lettuce. Drain the lettuce in a colander. Cover the top of the colander with a towel wrap it around the edges to keep it in place.
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