Many people don’t give a second thought to storing bagged or wrapped produce straight into the fridge from the supermarket.
Bagged greens offer a convenient way to consume a variety of nutritious vegetables quickly, but anyone who regularly purchases them knows all too well the disappointment of wilted and slimy leaves after just a few days.
Luckily, food experts have shared the “general rule” everyone should follow to ensure leafy greens stay fresh and crunchy for an extended period.
The temperature of a fridge is ideal for preserving spinach, to curly kale and rocket, but according to a food specialist, the”optimal” strategy for prolonging the shelf life of bagged salad leaves starts at the supermarket.
Randy Worobo, a professor of food microbiology at Cornell University, advised that bags of salad leaves should be placed in an insulated cooler bag the moment they’re purchased.
He explained that it’s often the journey home when the salad leaves are exposed to room temperature conditions, which compromises their longevity.
Often, condensation and excess moisture trapped inside the bag are to blame.
At home, unopened salad should be stored at no less than 4C in the fridge and will stay fresh until the moment they’re opened. This approach is best for those instances where the salad will be used up in one go.
Once the bag is opened, however, it’s recommended to remove the salad leaves from the bag to maintain their texture and flavour. According to Randy, this helps to “continue minimising condensation”.
The so-called “hack” for long-lasting greens requires a clean paper towel. Simply place it into the bag and seal it with a clip; the paper towel will absorb any condensation that might form during storage, preventing the leaves from wilting.
If the bag has split anywhere, remove the salad and place it in a clean, airtight container lined with a paper towel.
For salad leaves sold in boxes, the optimal storage place is the crisper drawer of your fridge. This compartment maintains high humidity, helping the leafy greens stay fresh.
Properly storing salad bags can extend their taste beyond a few days, however, if you’re aiming for real longevity, it might be best to avoid them altogether. Ghaida Batarseh Havern, a food safety educator at Michigan State University, suggests that whole heads or bunches last much longer than packaged leaves.
Speaking to Martha Stewart, Ghaida revealed that cutting and chopping produce alters the leaf’s biochemistry, making them more susceptible to bacterial growth.
Randy added: “Specifically, the cells in the tissues release their contents, which serve as food for spoilage microorganisms.”
Pre-packaged salad will generally last three to five days in your fridge while whole heads could last up to two weeks beyond the date of purchase.
