Lettuce will stay fresh for four weeks when it is stored in one common kitchen item — aluminium foil, not kitchen roll, according to a TikTok video by chef @itscheffatty.
How the foil hack works
In the video, the chef is shown wrapping a head of lettuce in tin foil, carefully covering it before refrigerating it. The finished package is tightly wrapped, creating a protective layer around the lettuce.
The food creator said: “Aluminum foil makes lettuce last up to four weeks in the fridge. Now there’s a bit of science to this. You see, lettuce goes bad when it’s exposed to ethylene gas, which is the gas produced when other things in the fridge are going bad, such as when there’s too much moisture or too much light.
“The foil helps with all of it. It protects it from the gas quite a bit, protects it from moisture by allowing some gases to escape and blocks the light.”
Why lettuce spoils quickly
Lettuce contains a high amount of water, which is one reason it can lose its crisp texture quickly when exposed to the fridge. Keeping it protected can help both reduce moisture loss and physical damage, both of which contribute to the leaves turning bad.
To try this method, simply start with a fresh head of lettuce, making sure not to wash it. Then, simply wrap it well in the foil before storing it in the crisper drawer of the fridge.
Other foods that benefit from foil
Foil can also be used to keep other foods, such as celery, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, and cheese, fresh. Fresh herbs, baked potatoes, corn on the cob and bread rolls can also stay fresher for longer when wrapped tightly in foil.
Don’t wrap acidic or salty foods directly in foil, though, for prolonged periods. Foods such as tomatoes, citrus, pickles and heavily seasoned dishes can react with aluminium. For these, use a glass or food-safe plastic container.
