Lettuce is hard to buy in bulk when following a healthy diet as it tends to wilt away in a matter of days.
When the bright green, crisp leaves wilt away, it’s hard to find a reason to incorporate it into a meal.
That said, lettuce can be stored in a way that keeps it fresh and crisp for up to 14 days, according to a foodie duo on TikTok.
Known on the social media platform as @simplydellicious, Tracy Simon and Jenny Dell often share recipes and cooking tips – including their hack for long-lasting lettuce.
In a video posted on their account, one-half of the duo explained: “I thought everyone knew this hack, but just in case you don’t, you get a big pack of salad and all you have to do is open it, place a sheet of paper towel right on top and store it upside down in your fridge.”
They claimed that just one paper towel would “take all the moisture and keep the lettuce fresh”.
Most salad leaves sold in America can be purchased in big plastic tubs which have tiny holes and a flip-top lid, but UK alternatives tend to come in bags instead.
The storage hack will still work if you place the paper towel into the salad bag, however, and has been proven effective by many TikTok users.
One person known as Alliealbee1 said: “‘It works great. Thank you for the tip!”
Another named Tara Adomelis commented on the video: “Omg the turning upside down! I had no idea.” The @simplydellicious account replied with: “Game changer!”
Other TikTok users shared their tips with fellow lettuce lovers. One account named Peniel13 explained that they use a similar storage method for whole heads of lettuce.
In the comments of the video, they wrote: “The best tip I ever had was to wrap the lettuce in a kitchen paper towel and put it into a plastic bag and clip it shut.”
The TikTok user continued: “Works like a miracle with the compacted heads of lettuce like Romaine etc, even iceberg! Just peel off the leaves as required and send them back to the fridge re-wrapped. Don’t know about standard garden lettuce, as I’m not fond of leathery leaves!”
According to the results of a study shared by Food Network, salad bags can stay fresh for as long as 10 days using these storage methods.
It’s possible to extend this duration by another couple of days too by replacing the paper towel every two or three days.
This ensures there is no excess moisture that could result in wilted or soggy-looking lettuce.
