Every expert we spoke to says you’re storing lettuce wrong — keep it crisp for longer with these tricks
Say goodbye to slime.
Thinking about how many bunches of parsley and clamshells of Boston lettuce I’ve lost to mold and slime is disheartening. I’m so sick of the spoilage that I reached out to experts to learn how they preserve leafy greens for weeks at a time. Professional chefs, recipe developers, and avid gardeners responded, each with different prep and storage tips to extend the lives of my kale, romaine, and more.
Their recommendations include washing techniques and the exact Pyrex food storage containers they rely on — all of which are available at Amazon.
Expert-Approved Leafy Green Prep and Storage Solutions
- OXO Good Grips Little Salad and Herb Spinner, $28
- Pyrex Storage Plus 7-Cup Round Glass Food Storage Dishes, Set of 2, $33
- Skroam Glass Meal Prep Containers, Set of 10, $32, originally $38
- Vejibag Organic Cotton Crisper Bag, $30
- Cottify Reusable Cotton Mesh Produce Bags, $25
OXO Good Grips Little Salad and Herb Spinner
According to Executive Chef Yarisis Jacobo of Radio Restaurant in Washington Heights, New York, longevity starts with how you prep your produce. After cutting and washing leafy greens, she always makes sure to “dry them thoroughly using a salad spinner.” Excess moisture is one of the main causes of wilting, which is why this step is absolutely crucial if you aren’t using them right away. OXO’s 3-quart salad spinner is Jacobo’s preferred model because it’s powerful, easy to store, and a cinch to operate. If you wash greens in batches, the brand also makes larger models in glass, steel, and plastic.
Kahuna Gear Saladzilla Collapsible Salad Spinner
Dominique Kline, on-staff farmer and former chef at The Hope Farm in Fairhope, Alabama, swears by Kahuna Gear’s Saladzilla salad spinner. Unlike OXO’s model, you swing the bag around to dry your salad leaves. It also folds down into nothing, making it the best solution if storage is an issue for you. After use, Kline recommends lining a food storage container with a dry towel to absorb moisture and swapping it out as needed. Alternatively, if you notice your greens drying out, she suggests switching to a slightly damp towel to balance the humidity in your container.
Pyrex Storage Plus 7-Cup Round Glass Food Storage Dishes, Set of 2
Caterer Meg Walker says to "ditch your plastic storageware and get quality glass storage containers” when preserving greens. Pyrex is her go-to for its durability and functionality. Feel free to pop these containers in the microwave or dishwasher when they’re not holding raw spinach or kale.
Skroam Glass Meal Prep Containers, Set of 10
Adam Gallagher, co-founder of Inspired Taste, treats his leafy greens “like VIPs.” He thoroughly washes and dries everything before transferring it to Skroam’s glass containers. Thanks to their airtight lids and sturdy bodies, he doesn’t have to worry about his greens getting squished by heavier produce. This method, he says, keeps his spinach, arugula, and kale crisp “for days instead of hours,” adding that these containers are “one of those small upgrades that pays off big time when meal prepping or trying to cut down on food waste.” Score the 10-pack while each container is less than $4 apiece.
Vejibag Organic Cotton Crisper Bag
Personal chef, cookbook author, and master gardener Cassie Johnston recommends Vejibag’s organic cotton crisper bag, explaining that it “keeps greens fresh and crisp for weeks!” She wets it slightly, slips her spinach leaves inside, and tucks the whole thing away in her refrigerator. “This breathable bag works by keeping the greens moist without having them sit in puddles of water, which is what makes greens get that slimy, gross texture over time,” she said. The bag is even safe to put in the washing machine between uses.
Cottify Reusable Cotton Mesh Produce Bags
Influencer Carmen in the Garden stores leafy greens in mesh produce bags in her refrigerator’s crisper drawer. “The mesh allows some airflow to prevent rot, and the crisper controls humidity to prevent them from drying out,” she explained. Thousands of Amazon shoppers also use Cottify bags to store produce in their refrigerators and to grocery shop. With multiple sizes in the set, it’s easy to accommodate garlic bulbs, large bunches of kale, and more.
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