There’s nothing more convenient than a bag of lettuce. Instead of bringing home a whole head of romaine or red leaf lettuce and preparing it to remove dirt and debris to maximize shelf life and keep it crisp, store bagged lettuce in the refrigerator until ready to use. You can leave it there. that.
That being said, what happens when you’re ready to use your bagged lettuce? Can you throw the veggies in a bowl, toss with the dressing, and start eating? Or do you need to rinse the contents of the bag before digging into it?
Do I need to wash bagged lettuce?
When it comes to bagged lettuce, the risk of cross-contamination is more likely to occur with your own hands, according to recommendations for washing fresh produce from the University of Minnesota Extension.
If it’s ready-to-eat, like pre-washed bagged lettuce, it’s unlikely that washing it before eating will be safe for you to enjoy. In fact, no matter how often the kitchen is cleaned and disinfected, it still falls short of the professional cleaning standards required of a facility that packages bagged lettuce. Kitchen contaminants can contaminate already-cleaned vegetables, which poses a greater risk than just eating a salad straight out of a bag labeled “pre-washed” or “triple-washed.”
When washing bagged lettuce
If the bag of lettuce isn’t clearly labeled as “washed,” “triple washed,” or “ready to eat,” you should rinse the lettuce before eating as an added safety measure. . But if you buy, for example, a bag of romaine hearts that are considered agricultural products, you should wash the leaves thoroughly before eating them.
But if your bagged lettuce, like kale, mixed greens, arugula, or spinach, has a label that says it’s already been washed, there’s no need to wash it extra before eating. In fact, the USDA warns against washing pre-cleaned bagged lettuce due to the risk of cross-contamination during the process. The USDA advises: [produce marked as ‘pre-washed’] Avoid touching unclean surfaces or equipment, especially those that have come in contact with raw meat, poultry, seafood or their juices. ”
Photographer: Isaac Nunn, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn
How to wash bagged lettuce
If you really want to wash your bagged lettuce, there are a few tips and steps to keep in mind.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for 20 seconds before handling bagged vegetables. Consider wearing clean disposable gloves when handling bagged lettuce to avoid cross-contamination. Make sure your sink, counter, colander, and salad spinner are completely clean and dry before you start rinsing (or spinning).
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