Kitchen

[Patriot3]

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

[Oldfshndhomemaker]

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!

[drizzellla]

@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. 

[walker]

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. 

[jackthebear]

---

@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 

[wagirl]

@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. 

[peacepoet]

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

[msgb]

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.

[cindyNC]

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. 

[SoCal Bred]

@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.