Monday, May 30, 2011

Preserve Romaine Lettuce

Romaine lettuce can be preserved by following a few basic steps.








Romaine lettuce has a habit of getting soggy after only a couple days in the fridge. A few days later, it will form wet, brown blots. That's why it's important to keep your lettuce away from moisture, cool and in a sealed container. Leaving it in a hot and humid environment will decrease the lifespan of your lettuce. Another option is to cover it with water to decrease the oxygen intake. This will also slow the rotting process.


Instructions








1. Cut the lettuce in half length-wise. Cut off the triangular base. Cut two strips along each half of the lettuce, length-wise, and cut diagonally to create bite-sized pieces. You could, instead, peel the leaves off the lettuce. You may also want to cut off the ends of the lettuce and dispose of them if they are brown.


2. Put the lettuce in a zip-lock bag, a vacuum-sealed container or wrap the leaves in paper towel and then put them in a bag or container. Pour enough cold water over the lettuce to cover it if you are putting them in a vacuum-sealed container, without paper towel.


3. Store the lettuce in a fridge. Romaine lettuce won't last overnight if you have mixed it with Caesar dressing. Caesar salad should be consumed in its entirety during the night you make it.

Tags: Romaine lettuce, paper towel, vacuum-sealed container, your lettuce