Storing salad in the fridge...

[womanpraised]

Want to premake a salad for the coming week, but my folks say that if you cut it all up ahead of time and store it, the lettuce gets all wilty and goes bad. H ow does one prevent this from happening?

Kimberly

[JoSkids]

Re: Storing salad in the fridge...

If you wash and dry the lettuce real well, it should last for while. Don't add the salad dressing that is what will make it all wilty. I am more apt to eat salad if I pre-wash the lettuce and keep it handy to grab quickly.

[dodgegal]

Re: Storing salad in the fridge...

I cut up a head or two of romaine periodically during the week and keep it in a bowl with saran wrap over it. That way I usually have some made up to grab in the morning to pack with the rest of my lunch. I chop it when I'm getting the rest of the dinner things cooked, so it isnt a big hassle a couple times a week that I do it. Jo is right, dont put the dressing on until you are ready to eat it; nothing is more unappetizing as 1/2 cooked limp greens in a salad.

[Elizellen]

Re: Storing salad in the fridge...

I was told years ago that to stop cut lettuce from going brown at the cut edges you should not use a metal bladed knife. So I have a couple of disposable plastic knives to do that job.
One of those Tupperware salad keepers (with a little grid on the bottom to hold it above any water that accumulates from condensation) is good to keep whole lettuce fresh in the fridge.

[cmcole]

Re: Storing salad in the fridge...

When I take salads for work, I usually keep the "moist" and "dry" ingredients separate (I carry the lettuce separately) and then combine it when I'm ready to eat.

Should work the same for the fridge.

[Moochiecat]

Re: Storing salad in the fridge...

Bf will cut the lettuce and I will rip it, and in the long haul, his turns brown waaaay before mine does, so I recommend using your hands to rip it up.
Don't ever put the tomatos in and let them sit with the rest of the salad, everything goes soggy.

We just use a airtight plastic container to save ours in and that works fine.

A hint for heads of lettuce though...if you wrap them in damp paper towels and then put them in a plastic bag they'll stay crispy and fresh for ages! Works really well.

[FightingTheFight]

Re: Storing salad in the fridge...

What is funny is that I kept having this same problem. One day I noticed my mom took her lettuce and put it in with the wet napkin...and it bugged the heck out of me. Now I know why she does it. lol

[cruiser gal]

Re: Storing salad in the fridge...

I prewash my lettuce, and pat dry it totally. Put the lettuce in a plastic baggie, and press down so that it is air tight. My romaine will last a week like this without wilting or turning brown. Then I rip it with my hands only!

[Hinen]

Re: Storing salad in the fridge...

I thought the point of salad was to eat it fresh? Salad is lovely when fresh and freshly made and isn't when it isn't. Lettuce isn't a "keeping" vegetable, like carrots, onions, potatoes. I'm not sure I'd want to eat it stored a week in the fridge. I buy lettuce in small quantities and frequently....unless I've missed the point of this post, which is very possible.

[womanpraised]

Re: Storing salad in the fridge...

Fresh would be wonderful. I already wake up at 5 am to get the kids and I ready... I wasnt getting a salad in for lunch, because I wasnt able to cut it up, clean up after, and still get out the door on time. With it all cut up, I dont have to do any prep, just take things out of the baggies they are in, and toss them in a bowl.. no dishes to do. And I refuse to get up any earlier than i already do...

Just trying to keep things as easy and low prep as possible on the weekdays. When I was a kids, my friends mom kept all the salad stuff cut up in the fridge to put on the tables every night... so I knew it could be done. So far, it is working fine. Keeping the ingredients seperate, cutting the lettuce with a plastic knife that I talked the bakery dept into giving me that they use for cutting and serving cake, so it is nice and big, and keeping a napkin in with it.

[JoSkids]

Re: Storing salad in the fridge...

I find, the key to the success of this diet is always being prepared. If you don't have time to make salad in the morning (I certainly don't - because I refuse to get up any earlier as it is as well) you are not going to take it.

It doesn't make a huge difference in taste, if you prepare the salad for the week rather than making it each day, just quicker this way.

[womanpraised]

Re: Storing salad in the fridge...

Preppared was the problem I was having.. It was getting too easy to say, Oh, Ill go to subway or the grocery and get a salad there... and then of course, that is never quite the way it turned out..

[JoSkids]

Re: Storing salad in the fridge...

That is so true