Lettuce can stay fresh for weeks if stored in a cup of water, a simple method that prevents wilting and browning.
Sustainability expert Wendy Graham shared her "tried and tested" plastic-free tips on her blog Moral Fibres, revealing three main ways to store lettuce so it "stays fresh for longer for as much as up to three weeks." However, only one method achieves the full three weeks.
Tea towel method
First, remove any slimy leaves and wash the remaining ones. Drying thoroughly is key, using a salad spinner or tea towel. Then, spread the leaves on a clean, dry tea towel, roll it up "like you would roll a Swiss roll," and place it in the fridge's bottom drawer. The towel absorbs excess moisture, keeping lettuce fresh for about a week.
Jar method
For this method, use a large, clean, dry lidded jar or glass container. Remove damaged leaves, rinse, and dry well. Chop or tear the leaves, place them in the jar, and seal. The sealed glass jar maintains stable humidity and prevents bruising, keeping leaves crisp for about a week.
Cup of water method
This method involves storing a whole head of lettuce in a cup or bowl of water. Trim the base, place the cut end down in water, and refrigerate or keep on the worktop. Change the water when cloudy. This maintains hydration through the stem, preventing wilting and browning.
Wendy said: "A lettuce head can last about one to three weeks stored in this way, depending on the variety and how fresh it was to begin with." She added: "I've found that romaine lettuce tends to do particularly well this way, staying crisp for the longest. Softer lettuces, like butterhead, tend to have a slightly shorter run."
