How Long Does Lettuce Last

Lettuce is one of the about consumed vegetables across the world. Unfortunately, lettuce and leafy greens do not final very long.

How To Keep Lettuce Fresh
- Storing Head Lettuce
- Storing Loose-foliage Lettuce
- Storing Bagged Lettuce
How To Tell If Lettuce Has Gone Bad
How Long Does Lettuce Concluding?
FAQs

Ownership an extra handbag of lettuce sometimes gives you lot a dilemmatic situation when the leaves first to get brown. Tin can y'all eat old lettuce? Is there whatever style to save the lettuce?

If you lot are curious nigh how to keep lettuce fresh, how long lettuce tin can be stored, or typical signs of lettuce going bad, we got you covered.

In this article, we share useful cognition about the shelf life of lettuce and its nitty-gritty! So, read on!

How To Go along Lettuce Fresh

Lettuce is a frail vegetable. When stored improperly, lettuce wilts and rots quickly. Check these tips below to go along lettuce fresh longer and safe to swallow.

1. Keep refrigerated – One bones rule to keep lettuce fresh is to always go on it refrigerated. It doesn't matter which variety⁠—iceberg, romaine, butterhead, or leafage lettuce. All types of lettuce belong in the refrigerator, preferably in the crisper drawer.

2. Keep lettuce away from any ethylene-producing fruit and vegetables, such as apple, pear, avocado, tomato, etc.

3. No excess wet – Before tossing lettuce into the fridge, brand sure to dry out and remove any excess moisture. When lettuce is wet, it spoils more than chop-chop.

iv. Throw abroad any rotting leaves before contaminating other leaves.

Storing Head Lettuce

Heads of lettuce last slightly longer. Don't cut it earlier you need to use information technology. Wrapping information technology with a paper towel likewise helps to absorb any excess moisture.

Storing Loose-foliage Lettuce

For loose-leaf lettuce, store it in a sealed container. Line upwardly some paper towels on the bottom of the box, place the leaves, and line more than paper towels on peak.

You may want to replace the paper towels once in a while if they're too damp or wet. Remove any wilted or mushy leaves, if any.

Storing Bagged Lettuce

The storage education is straightforward. Equally long as the package is unopened, simply keep information technology in the fridge. If yous have leftovers, transfer into a container and store it similarly with loose leaf lettuce.

How To Tell If Lettuce Has Gone Bad

Similar other leafy vegetables, lettuce doesn't stay fresh for long. Every bit lettuce ages, information technology starts to wilt. It loses its firm texture and becomes soft. Later on this, lettuce will turn brown. At this point, you can withal employ the lettuce before information technology starts rotting.

For caput lettuce, cut out the outer leaves that look wilted or brown. Check the inner leaves. If they look perfectly fine, feel complimentary to use them.

With loose-leaf lettuce, you can do the same if the mushy leaf is just one or two leaves. However, if the damaged parts are massive, better to get rid of it.

When the spoilage gets farther away, the leaves will smell off or rotten, or likewise watery. If that'south the case, don't e'er use the leaves.

For bagged lettuce, if information technology'south however unopened and the bag looks swollen, that's a sign that bacteria take taken over. Bacteria colony releases gas, which tin't escape when the plastic purse is all the same sealed, hence the bag gets puffed up.

How Long Does Lettuce Last?

Lettuce is a perishable and delicate item. Information technology needs proper refrigeration and handling. When information technology bruises, it besides goes bad very rapidly.

The quality when you buy lettuce determines how long it lasts in your refrigerator. Only buy lettuce that is firm, no brownish spot, or signs of wilting.

With proper refrigeration, iceberg lettuce lasts for at least one week to 2 or iii weeks. Loose-leaf lettuce (greenish and red leaf) has the shortest life for around 3 to 7 days.

Meanwhile, thicker lettuce, such as romaine and butterhead, can last upward to 10 days.

If you have cut lettuce, use it immediately before it starts wilting and rotting.

For pre-packed lettuce, choice one that'southward packed on the same solar day if possible. Bagged lettuce is sold with a "sell-by" or "utilize-by" date. It may withal exist suitable to consume for a few days passing this date, as long equally the pack is unopened. Once opened, use the remaining within 2 to 3 days. Cut vegetables lose their freshness at a faster charge per unit.

Lettuce Types	Refrigerator
Iceberg lettuce (or crisphead)	1 to iii weeks
Romaine (or cos), Butterhead	seven to 10 days
Loose-leaf lettuce (green leaf, red leaf)	3 to 7 days
Bagged lettuce (unopened)	Use by engagement + 3 to 5 days
Bagged lettuce (opened)	2 to 3 days

This tabular array is a full general estimate. The real shelf life tin can be shorter or longer than the periods above. Information technology's worth spending extra minutes to accept a closer look at your leafy greens and check for any spoilage signs.

FAQs

Can you freeze lettuce?

Freezing lettuce is not very mutual to do. Lettuce contains a high amount of h2o and does non freeze well.

If yous decide to freeze lettuce, at least pick thicker and sturdy varieties such equally butterhead or romaine, not iceberg lettuce. Go along in mind that the texture changes significantly after defrosting.

Consider using thawed lettuce for making smoothies or cooked dishes. Making salads with thawed lettuce won't be a neat idea.

How do you use old lettuce?

Onetime lettuce wilts and loses its freshness and texture. Only, as long as information technology is not rotten yet, feel free to use information technology. Trim any leaves that wait damaged and use the residue.

To revive slightly wilted lettuce, hither is a little hack. Soak lettuces in water ice water for a few minutes for rehydration. Rinse with running water and dry the excess water.

Tin can bad lettuce cause diarrhea?

Lettuce and other leafy vegetables are highly susceptible to bacterial contamination, particularly E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria. With improper treatment, lettuce can be a source of food poisoning (with diarrhea every bit the most common symptom), peculiarly when eaten raw.

To minimize the risk of foodborne disease, ever launder lettuces (and other vegetables) earlier eating. Next to that, avoid buying and eating lettuces that wait spoiled and mushy.

Concluding Thoughts

Refreshing and nutritious, lettuce is a become-to vegetable at any time. Like other fresh leafy vegetables, lettuce has a short life and goes bad very quickly.

Properly stored and refrigerated, loose-leaf lettuce (green or red) last upward to a calendar week. Meanwhile, thicker varieties such as romaine and butterhead last up to 10 days. Caput lettuce, such as iceberg lettuce, stays the longest, for upward to ane to 3 weeks.

Always wash lettuce thoroughly and avert eating bad or spoiled lettuce. Concluding but non least, adept hygiene and proper storage will keep lettuce fresh and minimize the risk of foodborne diseases.