topic Re: Iceberg lettuce in Kitchen

Iceberg lettuce

Patriot3 — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 13:52:16 GMT

Does anyone know how to keep iceberg lettuce from getting "rusty"? I've gone on the internet to find out, but nothing works.

I always use a new green bag to store. Have tried wrapping it in a paper towel first. Nothing seems to work. Suggestions anyone? TIA

Re: Iceberg lettuce

Oldfshndhomemaker — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 13:59:59 GMT

Always keep your greens cold and very dry. Careful of condensation when taking out of the refrigerator and how long it is sitting out. A salad spinner is excellent getting greens dry. It also helps not cut up the lettuce before ready to use, keep the leaf as intact as possible.

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Re: Iceberg lettuce

drizzellla — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 14:16:18 GMT

@Patriot3 Wish I knew.

I just threw out 3 heads of Romaine lettuce. A bag of broccoli and 3 English cucumbers were put on top of the lettuce in the vegetable drawer.

The only thing that seems to help from lettuce wilting is to use it everyday. I used to make a salad for my lunch everyday when I worked. And always had crisp lettuce. But being retired my husband would rather eat something different for lunch.

So not everyone in the household wants to eat salads on a daily basis.

Hope you find a solution.

Re: Iceberg lettuce

walker — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 14:32:09 GMT

I have had the same problem in the past. Then I decided to try putting the lettuce in a container with a tight fitting lid....like Lock 'n Lock or similar. I try to make sure lettuce is as dry as possible before putting in the container. I put a folded paper towel in bottom...lettuce..and another paper towel on top. It has helped my lettuce last much longer. Sometimes I have to change out the paper towels if they become damp. Good luck....common and frustrating problem.

Re: Iceberg lettuce

jackthebear — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 14:36:52 GMT

@drizzellla wrote:
@Patriot3 Wish I knew.

I just threw out 3 heads of Romaine lettuce. A bag of broccoli and 3 English cucumbers were put on top of the lettuce in the vegetable drawer.

The only thing that seems to help from lettuce wilting is to use it everyday. I used to make a salad for my lunch everyday when I worked. And always had crisp lettuce. But being retired my husband would rather eat something different for lunch.

So not everyone in the household wants to eat salads on a daily basis.

Hope you find a solution.

romaine doesn't last long, we have been buying greenhouse grown buttercrunch lasts a long time

Re: Iceberg lettuce

wagirl — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 14:45:58 GMT

@Patriot3 --I do enjoy a nice crisp iceberg wedge salad--and I also use the green bags and wrap the head up in paper towels. Usually it will last a good week for us---and it still gets "rusty"if I cut into it--very good description---- but I trim it off. I have noticed that if I take the lettuce leaves off and not cut into the whole head, it will not get so rusty ----and I change out the paper towel each time I use some.

Re: Iceberg lettuce

peacepoet — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 15:01:49 GMT

Thank you for asking this question. To all who answered, thank you for the excellent suggestions.

Re: Iceberg lettuce

msgb — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:03:05 GMT

My husband has some of the Green bags and he puts the head of lettuce in that with either a paper towel around or a dish towel. He also removes the core of the head. He has it in the crisper drawer. It does seem to last longer this way.

Re: Iceberg lettuce

cindyNC — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:09:34 GMT

I think, but am not sure, after you wash your lettuce you should store it with paper towels to reduce the moisture.

And I read somewhere that cutting it with a metal knife also may cause rust.

Re: Iceberg lettuce

SoCal Bred — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 17:21:50 GMT

@msgb

I remove the core head and keep the lettuce in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer as well, it does seem to keep the lettuce free from turning brown a bit longer.

Re: Iceberg lettuce

Laura14 — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 16:31:25 GMT

I find that iceberg goes bad quickly no matter what container I put it in.

I usually buy romaine and I can keep that for a week or more in the rectangle locknlock storage containers that have a slight drip tray in them. I wash each one and then put a stalk in each container.

It works fabulously!

Re: Iceberg lettuce

Melzie — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 17:17:49 GMT

I always buy heads of lettuce, never the bagged stuff. I take off a few of the outer leaves, wash the ones that are usable for immediate use, and discard the rest.

I put flour on the root end and cover it with a small piece of paper towel. The flour keeps the end dry, the paper towel keeps the flour attached to the root end, and the end doesn't get all brown and mushy because the flour absorbs the moisture. I repeat this as, or if, needed.

I then wrap the head tightly in heavy duty foil, sometimes with two pieces, and put it in the back of the fridge. It lasts around three weeks before the edges start to turn brown. No paper towels other than that small piece at the root end. In my opinion, wrapping in paper towels absorbs the moisture, the towels get wet, and are touching the lettuce. That defeats the purpose of keeping the letttuce dry.

I've experimented with what I've read about different methods such as using plastic bags, paper towels, special containers, etc. and I came up with this method and it seems to work the best for me.

Re: Iceberg lettuce

loriqvc — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 17:19:55 GMT

For iceberg lettuce, I have found that when I buy a head wrapped tightly in plastic, it usually lasts the longest when I keep it just like that in the crisper drawer until the first time I use it. The wrap protects the lettuce from taking on moisture and oxygen and helps it stay fresh (as long as it isn't left in the drawer for more than a few days).

That said, despite all the cautions over the years to not chop lettuce in advance, I'm far more likely to "be in the mood for a salad" if I know I don't have to spend time wrangling the lettuce along with the add-ins. So for the past year or so, I've started chopping/tearing my lettuce the day I buy it, patting it dry, putting it in a LocknLock bowl with a half paper towel on top to help absorb moisture, and placing it in the crisper drawer. I've been pleasantly surprised that my lettuce lasts twice as long and is ready to go when I need it. I do use romaine more often than iceberg, but I haven't noticed much of a difference based on lettuce type.

FWIW, I have tried the green bags and green bins over the years and felt they were exactly the same as a regular bag or bin. I don't think you have to use LocknLock, but the container really needs to be airtight for best results.

Good luck!

Re: Iceberg lettuce

Fressa — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 17:42:17 GMT

I have had decent luck with using those "green bags" and/or those paper produce strips (sold on HSN) to keep fresh produce.

Re: Iceberg lettuce

kitty60 — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 18:25:00 GMT

I keep my Romaine for a week or two with no problem. I wash and dry in the salad spinner. I then layout paper towels and put a layer of lettuce and roll. I then take the rolls and place them in a large zip lock and put in the veggie drawer. I just pull out unroll and take what I want to use. I have also done this with red leaf and green leaf lettuce. Seldom do I toss any lettuce.

Re: Iceberg lettuce

Group 5 minus 1 — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 18:30:25 GMT

Tupperware (remember them) made and Iceberg lettuce keeper. You had to take the core out and store it in the keeper. Some may still be available on E-Bay.

Re: Iceberg lettuce

SilleeMee — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 18:40:14 GMT

I buy these produce bags from amazon. I reuse them over and over again so they are economical.

Re: Iceberg lettuce

songbird — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 18:52:32 GMT

Use it everyday. One reason it doesn't stay fresh is that it absorbs a lot of water. That's also one reason is it is not very good as a source of vitamins. It's sweet, pale green. It holds not very many vitamins. Veggies that are dark green are good for you. Not so much the iceberg lettuce. So when you use it, mix it with the dark leafy lettuce. The sweetness of the iceberg will mask the more bitter taste of the dark greens.

Re: Iceberg lettuce

luvmyteddy4 — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 18:53:56 GMT

@walker wrote:
I have had the same problem in the past. Then I decided to try putting the lettuce in a container with a tight fitting lid....like Lock 'n Lock or similar. I try to make sure lettuce is as dry as possible before putting in the container. I put a folded paper towel in bottom...lettuce..and another paper towel on top. It has helped my lettuce last much longer. Sometimes I have to change out the paper towels if they become damp. Good luck....common and frustrating problem.

This is exactly what I do and it works. I have lettuce in the fridge for about a week now and ate some last night.

I have found those green bags were a waste of money and made all the food worse.

Re: Iceberg lettuce

Group 5 minus 1 — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 19:00:08 GMT

And I think we were told to never cut the core out w/metal.