Lettuce will be fresh and green for 10 days longer by using simple storage hack

Nothing beats the crunch of fresh lettucein a salad or on top of a burger, yet this leafy vegetable has a notorious reputation for becoming brown, mushy and limp within mere days of purchase. Lettuce tends to deteriorate rapidly due to its exceptionally high moisture levels - making it a magnet for microorganisms like bacteria and mould that flourish when storage conditions aren't optimal.

The vegetable is also extremely temperature-sensitive and prone to faster spoilage during summer months, as higher temperatures cause lettuce to shed moisture and decompose more rapidly.

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Nevertheless, Laura Fuentes, a food preservation specialist from Momables, has revealed that lettuce can maintain its freshness significantly longer with just a brief preparation routine before refrigeration, reports the Express.

She explained: "By spending about 10 minutes prepping one head of lettuce ahead of time, it can now be conveniently available to you when you need it."

How to keep lettuce fresher for longer

Though it might sound peculiar, ordinary kitchen vinegar - the same stuff you drizzle on chips - possesses natural antimicrobial qualities thanks to its acetic acid content, enabling it to eliminate bacteria, fungi or mould present on lettuce surfaces.

Simply fill a bowl with three parts water to one part vinegar, set a timer for two minutes, and immerse your lettuce for precisely two minutes.

Ensure the lettuce doesn't soak beyond two minutes, as this risks leaving your salad greens with an unwanted vinegar flavour. Once you have washed the lettuce, leave it to dry before storing it in the fridge as any moisture remaining on the leaves for an extended period will eventually encourage bacterial growth.

You can use a salad spinner to dry the leaves more quickly, but you can also simply allow the leaves to air dry on some kitchen roll or a clean tea towel.

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Laura explained: "Lay the lettuce leaves out on a clean dish towel until completely dry then store in a zip bag with a paper towel in the fridge."

Pop the lettuce leaves in a ziplock or sandwich bag alongside a paper towel as it will absorb any excess moisture the lettuce may release to prevent it from becoming soggy and going off.

Keeping lettuce in a sandwich bag with a paper towel also creates a protective barrier and will lower the risk of bacterial contamination. Laura added: "Place the lettuce in a gallon plastic zip-top bag along with a paper towel. Squeeze all the air out of the bag and refrigerate."

Spending 10 minutes washing and storing lettuce will help it remain fresh for seven to 10 days longer than it normally would.