How to store lettuce in the fridge for up to 2 weeks

If your lettuce heads keep wilting overnight, you need to check out these tips on how to preserve lettuce, so you never again have to suffer from waste and see your leaves going to waste.

Surely, at some time in your life, you have been angry with that head of lettuce you just bought, but which soon withered. Is not it?

After all, who never?

Lettuce is one of the most common greens on Brazilians’ tables, as in addition to being healthy, it is also versatile and cheap.

It is practically as important as rice and beans. In fact, many Brazilians have a combination of rice, beans, lettuce and tomato as their everyday staple (when the price is not sky high).

That’s why it’s so important to know how to preserve lettuce to enjoy it for much longer.

Furthermore, it’s a shame to see food wasted and going to waste.

Origin of lettuce

Lettuce emerged in Asia and in the middle of the 4,500 century BC it was already present in Egypt.

In Brazil, it appeared around the 16th century, brought by our Portuguese colonizers.

According to the Horti & Fruti Standard Program of the Department of Agriculture and Supply of the State of São Paulo, this vegetable can be classified as Crespa (the most consumed in Brazil), Plain, Purple, American and Mimosa.

At least these are the most sold here in Brazil.

Lettuce can be grown all year round and that is why it is so popular on Brazilian plates, as it is not a seasonal product and has frequent price variations or shortages on the market.

The only challenge we face in relation to this vegetable, definitely, is knowing how to preserve lettuce for longer.

Types of lettuce

In Brazil, there are five types of lettuce most found in restaurants, supermarkets and on people’s tables.

Find out what they are.

Curly lettuce

The most popular and known by the Brazilian people.

Whether on our table or on a restaurant’s plates, it is always common to find lettuce frizzy.

After all, who doesn’t love that lettuce salad, right?

And if, on the other hand, you can keep the lettuce for longer to enjoy later, even better. Right?

Its main features are:

• Long, wavy leaves;
• Green color;
• Slightly crunchy texture;
• Pairs well with all types of vegetables.

Plain lettuce

Smooth lettuce, like curly lettuce, is also one of the most consumed varieties in Brazil.

Its main features are:

• Looser and more fluid leaves;
• It does not have a ruffled shape;
• It has a soft texture;
• Its flavor is mild and harmonizes with the most diverse combinations of vegetables;
• Green color;

Purple lettuce

This type of lettuce is quite popular due to its different colored foliage, as we are more accustomed to green varieties.

Its main features are:

• Irregular and long leaves;
• Purple color mixed with dark green;
• It has a soft texture;
• Smooth flavor;
• It is a great lettuce to preserve for a while and use as a decorative item later;
• It is especially ideal for making green juices;
• Excellent for preparing pesto sauce;
• Widely used to decorate dishes due to its purple color.

Iceberg lettuce

Also very well known in Brazil, this type of lettuce gets its name because its first plantations took place on the American continent, specifically in the United States.

Thus, it is present in the most different dishes, from salads to sandwiches.

Its main features are:

• It has a rounded shape similar to a cabbage;
• Its leaves are quite crunchy;
• Smooth and discreet flavor;
• Light green color on some leaves and almost white on others;
• It pairs well with hot dishes, as it resists heat well;

As it is more resistant than others, you can store iceberg lettuce for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.

Mimosa lettuce

Also known as “baby lettuce”, because of its small and delicate leaves, mimosa lettuce is a little less known than the other species mentioned so far and, consequently, is not very present on Brazilian plates.

Mimosa is very similar to arugula leaves, so much so that it looks less like the lettuce we are used to having on our plate.

Therefore, because it has smaller leaves, it ends up being easier to preserve this lettuce.

This species is, above all, very popular with children who do not like to eat vegetables.

So here’s a tip, moms!

Its main features are:

• As previously mentioned, its small leaves
• Darker green color;
• Like the others, its flavor is mild;
• Pairs well with light foods with milder flavors.

So, which of these do you consume the most?

How to store lettuce in the fridge

Technique 1 – How to preserve whole lettuce

Only separate the new leaves and discard the old ones, as they can harm the conservation of the younger ones.

After separating, wrap the entire lettuce in a clean cloth or paper towel.

Then, place them in a sealed bag, preferably zip so that it is sealed and prevents air from entering.

Above all, always store lettuce in the refrigerator along with vegetables and never leave it close to fruits, as they spoil very quickly and, consequently, also accelerate the aging of the lettuce.

Don’t forget to separate old, browned leaves, always use preserved lettuce.

Technique 2 – How to store sliced ​​or whole lettuce

To slice lettuce and, consequently, keep it for longer, the golden tip is never to chop it with a knife.

Therefore, always chop with your hands. Since, the Contact with sharp objects causes the leaves to darken more quickly.

After that, choose a plastic bowl, line the bottom with paper towels or even a dish towel.

Then, place the leaves in the bowl and cover them all with another layer of cloth or paper.

Pay close attention to ensuring that the cloth or paper is very dry, as humidity also affects the conservation of the leaves.

Cover the container and place it in the refrigerator.

Technique 3 – How to preserve lettuce using ice

One of the biggest secrets to preserving lettuce is not doing what most people do: arriving from the supermarket and already storing the vegetable in the refrigerator.

To begin the conservation process, it must be washed immediately so that all impurities are removed and the leaves are hydrated.

Otherwise, the aging process that causes lettuce to wilt will happen faster.

And only after this action can you store the lettuce permanently in the refrigerator.

Separate the leaves and place them in a container with ice and water, covering everything completely.

This way, the ice helps preserve the crunchiness of the vegetable.

Then, dry the leaves with paper towel.

Take a bowl large enough to place all the leaves so that they are not squeezed together.

The more space they have to accommodate, the longer they will last in good condition.

Remember not to store the leaves near the freezer, as the colder it is, the more likely it is to burn the leaves.

With these techniques on how to preserve lettuce, you will have your beautiful and delicious vegetable to enjoy for about 2 weeks.

So, did you like it?

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