How to Clean & Package Leaf Lettuce for the Fresh Market

Improper cleaning and storage of leaf lettuce can promote bacteria growth.

Proper cleaning and storage of leaf lettuce is important to keep it fresh and crisp for the market. Washing the lettuce will keep it clean of dirt and debris that would make the leaves unappealing, and remove bacteria that can make you sick. To prepare your leaf lettuce for the fresh market, there are a few steps you can take to clean and store it so that it will be just as fresh at the market as the day it was harvested.

Things You'll Need

• Water
• Soap
• Paper towels
• Large Bowl (optional)
• Resealable plastic bags
• Salt (optional)

Instructions

1. Wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap. The first step in removing dirt and bacteria from your fresh vegetables is ensuring you have also removed them from your own hands. A clean pair of hands is essential to the preparation of your leaf lettuce.

2. Wash the lettuce leaves by rinsing them under running water. Gently rub them clean with your hands. If this does not get rid of the debris, place the lettuce in a large bowl of cold water and allow it to sit until the dirt sinks to the bottom of the bowl.

3. Dry the lettuce completely using paper towels. Make sure each piece is dry because excess water can cause bacteria to grow on the lettuce, which could make eating the lettuce just as dangerous as if you had never even washed it to begin with. Pat the leaf lettuce dry, but be gentle enough not to damage it.

4. Store the leaf lettuce. The best way to do this is by placing the clean, dry lettuce leaves into sealable bags. Make sure the bags are air airtight, otherwise air can get into the bags and cause the lettuce to wilt prematurely. The lettuce will now be ready to ship to the fresh market, but it can also stay fresh in the airtight bags for approximately four days.

Tips & Warnings

• If you clean the lettuce in a bowl of cold water, you can add two tablespoons of salt to the water to help remove bacteria.

• Do not use bleach or any other chemical to clean bacteria from the lettuce.

• Do not store lettuce near apples or bananas; they will release ethylene gas that will cause lettuce to wilt faster.  

References

• Gardening Know How; Cleaning lettuce: how to clean and store garden lettuce; Nikki Phipps
• Wisconsin Fresh Produce: Lettuce

Resources

• U. S. Food and Drug Administration: Produce safety