How to Wash Lettuce to Keep it Fresh

This easy lettuce washing method doesn’t require fancy solutions, sprays, or a salad spinner -although you can use one if you have it. It will help you keep lettuce fresh all week long with two simple ingredients from your kitchen.

Do You Really Need to Wash Lettuce?

Whether your head of lettuce is from the grocery store, farmer’s market, or garden, dirt and bacteria often get trapped between the leaves. Washing it will help eliminate foodborne illnesses and keep the leaves green and crisp longer.

What You’ll Need

To wash lettuce correctly, you’ll need a knife, salad spinner or large bowl, water, and white vinegar.

How to Wash Lettuce with a Salad Spinner

Here’s the step-by-step for washing lettuce in a salad spinner: 

1. Cut the head of lettuce in half. 
2. Separate the leaves into clusters and place them inside the salad spinner. 
3. Pour 1 cup of white vinegar into the bowl and add enough water to cover the lettuce leaves. 
4. Swish the lettuce around, and let it soak for a few minutes. 
5. Lift the basket containing the lettuce from the salad spinner, and drain the water from the bowl. Fill it up with water again to rinse and drain.
6. Place the lid on the salad spinner and push the lever to begin the spinning out process for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
7. Transfer the mostly dry lettuce to a clean kitchen towel and let it air dry. 
8. Store it in a paper towel-lined zip bag for up to a week. 

You can also watch this step-by-step process in the video below: 

Washing Lettuce Without a Salad Spinner

Don’t have a salad spinner? No problem. Here’s how to wash lettuce with a large bowl: 

1. Cut the head of lettuce in half. 
2. Separate the leaves from the base and place them in the large bowl. 
3. Pour 1 cup of white vinegar into the bowl and add enough water to cover the lettuce leaves. 
4. Swish the lettuce around and let it soak for a few minutes. 
5. Drain the water and rinse each lettuce leaf. 
6. Shake any excess water by hand, transfer the lettuce leaves to a clean kitchen towel, and let it air dry. 
7. Store it in a paper towel-lined container for up to a week.  

Why Do You Wash Lettuce with Vinegar

According to USDA.gov, using vinegar mixed with water to wash lettuce helps reduce bacterial contamination. 

And don’t worry about a vinegary aftertaste; there is none! Instead, the vinegar wash helps the lettuce stay nice and crisp for all your salads, lettuce cups, and wraps. 

How to Store Washed Lettuce to Keep it Fresh

Properly storing lettuce is another way to keep it fresh and crisp all week long. You’ll want to place the washed and dried lettuce in a paper-towel-lined zip bag (gallon or quart size) or a fresh-produce storage container. Squeeze out all the air, seal, and refrigerate. 

Ways to Use Freshly Washed Lettuce

Time to put your fresh lettuce to use with one of these mouthwatering recipes below. Whether you are in the mood for a salad you can hold or enjoy from a bowl, I’ve got what you need. 

• Honey Chicken Lettuce Cups
• BLT Lettuce Wraps
• Antipasto Salad
• Sausage & Peppers Salad
• Chicken Caprese Salad

How to Wash Lettuce to Keep it Fresh

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 15 minutes mins

Learn how to wash lettuce, so it stays fresh and crisp all week long!  

5 from 6 votes

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Watch how it’s made:

Ingredients

• 1 head lettuce
• 1 cup white vinegar
• Water

Instructions

• On a cutting board, cut the head of lettuce in half with a sharp knife. 
• Separate the leaves “or cups” and place them into the salad spinner bowl. 
• Pour 1 cup of white vinegar into the bowl and add enough water to cover the lettuce.  
• Use your hands to gently swish the lettuce around and let it soak for 3 minutes. 
• Drain the water and rinse the lettuce with cold water. 
• Place the lid on the salad spinner and give it a few whirls or until the excess water is drained out of the lettuce. 
• Transfer the lettuce to a clean kitchen towel and allow it to air dry. 
• Store it in a paper-towel-lined zip bag for up to a week. 

Equipment

Salad Spinner

Produce Storage Container

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 19kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 13mg | Potassium: 190mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 676IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg