How to Wash Salad Greens

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Learn how to wash salad greens the fashion professional chefs recommend.

Ever take a large bite of a refreshing salad—just to feel grit between your teeth? Yuck. If not rinsed properly, salad greens can carry a lot of dirt, sand and other contaminants that y'all do not want to eat. Read on to observe out how to wash salad greens the right way. (Spoiler: If y'all're rinsing them under the faucet, you're doing information technology wrong.)

When to Wash Salad Greens

You can wash your greens as soon as y'all get dwelling from the store; or await to launder them until you're prepping for a meal. There's no wrong answer, so ultimately it comes down to personal preference. If you like to throw together quick salads for dejeuner, you might want to have your lettuce washed, shredded and prepare to grab from the refrigerator. Store them in these lettuce keepers so they stay fresh even longer.

Do I Have to Wash Pre-Washed Lettuce?

The quick respond is: yeah, you probably should launder pre-done lettuce. No matter what the bag claims, pre-done lettuce might not be as clean as you lot retrieve. The Food and Drug Assistants (FDA) encourages lettuce be done with a bleach solution to impale harmful leaner. The problem is, sometimes traces of bleach are left on the lettuce—and no one wants a bleach salad.

Furthermore, studies have plant that the bleach solution isn't e'er effective; meaning contaminates tin can yet make their manner to your kitchen even after the bleach treatment. So to be admittedly certain your pre-washed lettuce is free of both chemicals and bacteria, it's all-time to wash it again.

The Tools You Need

How to Wash Your Lettuce

Step i: Fill your sink

Make full your sink (or a large clean basin) with cold water. If you lot utilize your sink, be sure to wash information technology thoroughly beforehand.

Step 2: Douse the greens

Separate the greens and dunk them in the cold water. Swirl and arouse the water with the greens inside, so that the h2o gets into all the little nooks and crevices of the leaves.

Step 3: Let them soak

Leave the greens floating in the h2o for at least ten minutes or so. As they soak, dirt and sand will fall to the bottom of the sink or bowl.

Step 4: Dry the greens

Lift the greens out and give them a gentle shake to remove any backlog water. So, place your greens in a salad spinner (don't overload it) and spin to dry.

If y'all don't accept a salad spinner, try this hack: Wrap the wet greens in a couple of clean kitchen towels, then place the whole bundle in a plastic grocery purse. Tie the pocketbook, and while holding the handles tightly, spin the purse effectually vigorously using arm circles. The motion volition make the water slide off the leaves and soak into the towels. You'll be a homo salad spinner!

What Lasts Longer, Shredded Lettuce or Whole Heads?

Your shredded lettuce tin last upwardly to a week when properly stored, but whole heads concluding one to 3 weeks in the refrigerator. You should simply wash and prep as much lettuce as you plan to use. Find more tricks for keeping lettuce fresh.

Use Your Greens in These Main Dish Salads

Pork and Balsamic Strawberry Salad

Serving this entree salad gives me hope that warmer days aren't too far off. If strawberries aren't in flavor yet, use thawed frozen in place of fresh. —Laurie Lufkin, Essex, Massachusetts

Fajita in a Bowl

Pull out the skewers and have a stab at grilling peppers, onions and corn for an crawly steak salad that'southward all summertime and fume. —Sense of taste of Dwelling Exam Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Tarragon Tuna Salad

Information technology's surprising how a few herbs can brighten up tuna salad. Made with reduced-fat mayonnaise, this version gets its zilch from mustard. It makes a terrific light luncheon or Sun brunch dish. —Billie Moss, Walnut Creek, California

Turkey and Apple Arugula Salad

This satisfying salad proves that turkey can be enjoyed outside of the holidays. Peppery salad greens, sweet grapes and rich walnuts combine to create a flavor sensation. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

Asian Slaw with Steak

Chief-dish salads are so perfect for summer, especially this one with its Asian-inspired dressing—my favorite'south favorite flavor. The colorful slaw and juicy steak combo is super quick and wonderful for breezy weeknight dinners. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California

Yellow Squash Turkey Salad

With a wonderful mix of flavors, colors and textures, this impressive salad tin be made in minutes for luncheon with a friend or for a lite dinner with your sweetie. It'southward my favorite fast recipe! —Mildred Sherrer, Fort Worth, Texas

Grilled Asian Chicken Pasta Salad

This cool noodle salad makes a great casual ane-bowl dinner or a perfect dish for a potluck or buffet. —Sharon Tipton, Casselberry, Florida

BLT Turkey Salad

This variation of a BLT salad goes great with a side of garlic bread or garlic toast, and will satisfy even the pickiest eaters. —Sherry Conley, Noel Hants County, Nova Scotia

Greek Brown and Wild Rice Bowls

This fresh rice dish tastes like the Mediterranean in a bowl! It is short on ingredients but packs in so much flavor. For a mitt-held version, go out out the rice and tuck the rest of the ingredients in a pita pocket. —Darla Andrews, Boerne, Texas

Tasty Taco Chopped Salad

My friends and I honey Mexican food, only nosotros endeavour to consume healthy. My mom taught me how to brand this tasty taco salad for my friends. —Matthew Smith, Knippa, Texas

Herbed Tuna and White Bean Salad

This is a quick and delicious salad that tin can be made special for guests—or yourself—past grilling fresh tuna steaks instead of using canned. —Charlene Chambers, Ormond Beach, Florida

Shrimp Scampi Spinach Salad

My husband and I really enjoy both shrimp scampi and fresh spinach salad, so I put the two together. My oldest son loves it, too, and he's only three! —Jamie Porter, Garnett, Kansas

Chicken Pasta Caesar Salad

My colleagues and I made a pact to swallow healthier, and nosotros took turns sharing dishes. I'chiliad happy to report that, thanks to recipes like this crisp and tangy salad, we all trimmed down. —Teresa Hashemite kingdom of jordan, Springville, Utah

Jambalaya Rice Salad

My cold rice salad has a niggling hint of spice for a classic jambalaya-fashion kick. Shrimp, tomatoes, ham and peppers give the dish bright colors and a delightful texture. —Karen Rahn, Hixon, Tennessee

Almond-Apricot Chicken Salad

Here's a one-of-a-kind pasta salad that combines tender chicken, sweet apricots and crunchy vegetables. Plus, the lemony dressing can't be beat. —Susan Voigt, Plymouth, Minnesota

Chicken Fajita Salad

This recipe came from Texas, which is famous for its Mexican food. I love to cook, even though it'southward merely for me and my married man now. I invite our grown kids over a lot, and they just dearest this craven fajita salad. I'grand happy to share it! —Lois Proudfit, Eugene, Oregon

Basis Beef Taco Salad

In leap we look for something low-cal and refreshing on the menu after the heavier comfort nutrient of winter; this salad is a bang-up solution. —Muriel Bertrand, Shoreview, Minnesota

Spinach Salad with Tortellini & Roasted Onions

Spinach and tortellini go so well together, and this salad makes an easy meal with leftover cooked craven. What actually makes it special is the roasted onion that adds oomph to bottled salad dressing. —Robin Haas, Hyde Park, Massachusetts

Chicken Tostada Salad

If I don't take whatsoever tostada shells on hand for this speedy salad, I but oestrus taco shells, intermission them in half and lay them flat on the plates. It works only also. Cracking Southwest flavor! —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah

Grilled Jerk Shrimp Orzo Salad

The heat, seasonings and appearance of this colorful master-dish salad are perfect for summer—or any time of year that you want to summon memories of sunshine. —Eileen Budnyk, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Ho-hum-Cooker Craven Taco Salad

We use this super-duper chicken beyond several meals, including it in tacos, sandwiches, omelets and enchiladas. My lilliputian guys honey helping to measure the seasonings. —Karie Houghton, Lynnwood, Washington

Veggie Nicoise Salad

More and more people in my workplace are becoming vegetarians. When we cook or eat together, the focus is on fresh produce. This salad combines some of our favorite ingredients in i dish...and with the hard-boiled eggs and kidney beans, information technology delivers enough poly peptide to satisfy those who are skeptical of vegetarian fare. —Elizabeth Kelley, Chicago, Illinois

Craven and Spinach Pasta Salad

My family unit loves pasta salads, but usually they accept likewise much mayonnaise or oily dressing. Using hummus gives this dish a cracking taste and texture, while also increasing its nutritional profile. Calculation chicken (store-bought rotisserie chicken works well), makes this pasta salad a complete meal. —Jenny Lynch, Rock Island, Illinois

Shrimp & Nectarine Salad

For a cool salad on a hot summer mean solar day, I combine shrimp, corn, tomatoes and nectarines with a drizzle of tarragon dressing. We love it chilled, but it's delectable served right abroad, also. —Mary Ann Lee, Clifton Park, New York

Grilled Chicken Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette

When it comes to grilled craven recipes, we love this refreshing salad in the summertime. The real star hither is the vinaigrette fabricated with blueberry preserves and maple syrup. It goes great with a fresh baguette and a frosty glass of minted lemonade. —Susan Gauthier, Falmouth, Maine

Easy Asian-Fashion Chicken Slaw

From the first time I made this craven dish, I knew it was a winner—the bowl came back to the kitchen scraped make clean. This one-dish wonder works every fourth dimension in my house! —Bess Blanco, Vail, Arizona

Mimi'due south Lentil Medley

I made this one summertime evening by putting together what I had on hand. My husband gave it his superlative rating. —Mary Ann Hazen, Rochester Hills, Michigan

Garden Quinoa Salad

This recipe is special to me because information technology'south delicious as well as healthful. Serve it hot or cold, and relish the leftovers while they're fresh! —Patricia Nieh, Portola Valley, California

Whole Wheat Orzo Salad

In less than 30 minutes, I tin put together this hearty salad of pasta, white beans and veggies – and it's good for a crowd. — Mya Zeronis, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Balsamic Steak Salad

My husband loves blue cheese and I similar a hearty salad that eats like a meal, and then I put the two things together to make this steak salad recipe. The sweet-tartness of dried cranberries pairs deliciously with the cheese, creamy avocado and balsamic vinegar. It's irresistible! —Marla Clark, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Orzo-Tuna Salad with Tomatoes

Stuffed tomatoes provide countless options when you add meat, cheese, rice, veggies – or in this case, orzo. — Jenni Dise, Phoenix, Arizona

Ginger-Cashew Chicken Salad

I revamped an Asian-style chicken salad recipe to create this gingery, crunchy salad. Now it's a huge success when I serve it at ladies luncheons. —Shelly Gramer, Long Beach, California

Chicken Quinoa Salad

Nosotros pile our favorite gyro fixin's into nutritious quinoa bowls. Our local gyro guy has a cool but spicy sauce that transforms his sandwiches. It's a must here, too. —Leah Lyon, Ada, Oklahoma

Thai Spinach Beef Salad

Here's a main-dish salad that'south but obviously fun to eat. It's crunchy, bulky and has a niggling kick. Best of all, it's salubrious. —Janet Dingler, Cedartown, Georgia

Classic Cobb Salad

Making this salad is a lot like putting in a garden. I "constitute" everything in nice, nifty sections, just as I do with seedlings. —Patricia Kile, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania

Apple Sausage Salad with Cinnamon Vinaigrette

Making croutons with cinnamon-raisin bread is sweet genius. Toss together the rest of the salad while they toast. —Kim Van Dunk, Caldwell, New Jersey

Mediterranean Spinach & Beans

If you desire to brand this dish vegetarian, use soy sauce instead of Worcestershire. I similar this skillet meal served warm or cold. —Becky Cuba, Spotsylvania, Virginia

Gingered Spaghetti Salad

Nosotros dearest this chilled chicken salad brimming with colorful veggies. Brand it meatless by omitting the craven and tossing in more edamame. —Cindy Heinbaugh, Aurora, Colorado

Veggie Steak Salad

This salad just explodes with flavors. It'southward easy and quick to prepare, tastes delicious, and is a salubrious dinner all on one plate. —Tiffany Martinez, Aliso Viejo, California

Bow Tie & Spinach Salad

With pasta salad, information technology's like shooting fish in a barrel to modify upwardly ingredients. We like to add together grilled chicken and pino nuts, and sometimes we substitute black beans for the garbanzo beans. —Julie Kirkpatrick, Billings, Montana

Quick Nicoise Salad

Like the French, I pack my classic Nicoise salad with veggies, potatoes, tuna and eggs. Cooking the potatoes and beans together helps the dish come together fast. —Valerie Belley, St. Louis, Missouri

Cashew-Curry Chicken Salad

My married man and I barbarous difficult for the curried chicken salad from our grocery store deli, and I knew I could observe a manner to make something similar. This greek yogurt chicken salad has get i of our favorites to take on trips to the embankment. —Janine Cooper-Moren, Portland, Oregon

Pear Chicken Salad with Maple Vinaigrette

Classic pear salad gets an innovative makeover with chicken and maple vinaigrette. We like to serve information technology over crisp romaine for a refreshing experience. —Chrysa Duran, Cambridge, Minnesota

Absurd & Crunchy Chicken Salad

When the weather sizzles, get your chill on with a absurd chicken salad. Mine uses grapes, pecans and celery for that signature crisis. —Sarah Smiley, Bangor, Maine

Thai-Style Cobb Salad

This veggie salad is like a mix of Cobb salad and my favorite summer rolls. If you take leftover chicken, toss it in. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

Arugula & Brownish Rice Salad

When nosotros accept visitor, arugula with brown rice is always on the menu. Information technology's my go-to pick for the potluck and party excursion, and I'thou e'er sharing the recipe. —Mindy Oswalt, Winnetka, California

Southwest Shredded Pork Salad

This knockout shredded pork makes a good for you, delicious and hearty salad with blackness beans, corn, cotija cheese and enough of fresh greens. —Mary Shivers, Ada, Oklahoma

Sesame Beef & Asparagus Salad

Cooking is one of my favorite hobbies—especially when information technology comes to experimenting with fresh ingredients like these. This meaty salad is wonderful at the start of asparagus flavour. —Tamara Steeb, Issaquah, Washington

California Burger Bowls

Burgers are a weekly staple at our house year-circular. Skip the chips, chips and bun—y'all won't need them with these loaded veggie & fruit burgers. To spice up the mayo, add together 1/2 tsp. of chipotle powder. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas

Salmon and Murphy Salad

I headed straight for the kitchen when I decided to choice up a healthier lifestyle. This salmon with veggies proves that smart choices can be uncomplicated and satisfying. —Matthew Teixeira, Milton, Ontario

Warm Rice & Pintos Salad

During my undergrad years, my roommate taught me how to cook vegetarian dishes like brown rice with pintos. It's and then versatile; you can plough it into a wrap or casserole. —Natalie Van Apeldoorn, Vancouver, British Columbia

Edamame Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing

This bright baby kale salad is packed with a little bit of everything: hearty greens, a nutty crisis, a zip of citrusy goodness and a big protein punch. Information technology's pure bliss in a bowl. —Darla Andrews, Schertz, Texas

Sesame Chicken Slaw Salad

I tasted many types of Asian chicken salad in California. When I moved dorsum to Georgia, I wanted more. Hither's a gingery-sweet recipe using wonton strips. —Michelle Mulrain, Evans, Georgia

Twisted Eggs Bridegroom Salad

Salad for breakfast? Absolutely. Y'all can prep everything except the dressing and chill information technology overnight. In the morning, apparel the salad and poach the eggs. —Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, Northward Dakota

Shrimp Avocado Salad

This salad can be served as a cool and satisfying dinner or luncheon. The succulent taste and smooth texture of avocados mixed with the crisp shrimp salad is heavenly. —Teri Rasey, Cadillac, Michigan

Mediterranean Bulgur Bowl

Yous tin can as well transform this tasty bowl into an Italian version with mozzarella, pesto, tomatoes, spinach and basil. —Renata Smith, Brookline, Massachusetts

Grilled Southwestern Steak Salad

Pasta salad loaded with steak, peppers and onions makes both my boyfriend and me happy. Plus, it's versatile! We serve it hot, room temperature or cold. —Yvonne Starlin, Westmoreland, Tennessee

Ham & Mandarin Salad

I created this salad at the asking of all the men in our house. They asked for something tangy, sweet, spicy and manly. This fit the bill. —Patricia Swart, Galloway, New Jersey

Orange-Wild Rice Salad with Smoked Turkey

For picnics and potlucks, nosotros make a salad of smoked turkey, wild rice and stale cherries. The citrus dressing is refreshing and light. —Sharon Tipton, Casselberry, FL

Strawberry-Blue Cheese Steak Salad

At lunch one 24-hour interval, a friend told me about a steak salad she'd had at a political party. It sounded and so fantastic I had to try it for myself. My family would consume it nonstop if we could. Can't seem to get enough of that tangy dressing! —Alma Winberry, Keen Falls, Montana

Drupe Chicken Salad

Brilliant berries and creamy goat cheese make this one a winner! —Wendy Ball, Boxing Creek, Michigan

Avocado & Garbanzo Bean Quinoa Salad

This succulent quinoa avocado salad is high in protein and holds well in the refrigerator for a few days. If yous brand information technology alee, add avocados and tomatoes right before serving. —Elizabeth Bennett, Seattle, Washington

Salmon & Spinach Salad with Avocado

We eat a power salad packed with salmon and spinach at least once a calendar week. It's a cinch to brand, even after a hard day's piece of work. —Jenny Dawson, Addicted du Lac, Wisconsin

Turkey Salad with Pear Dressing

This salad is perfect for using up leftover turkey, chicken or cafeteria meat. Anjou pears are such a great wintertime fruit. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

Chicken and Asian Slaw

This meal is always a hit, and information technology goes together so quickly. Sesame ginger salad dressing adds refreshing flavor to this pairing of broiled chicken and an exotic bootleg coleslaw. —Melissa Jelinek, Apple Valley, Minnesota

Strawberry-Quinoa Spinach Salad

Nosotros make quinoa with spinach and strawberries year-circular, merely it's most fun when we get to the farmers market to get the flavour's kickoff berries. —Sarah Johnson, Indianapolis, Indiana

Skinny Cobb Salad

This "skinny" version of Cobb salad has all the taste and creaminess with half the fatty and calories. You lot can skip the coleslaw mix and do all lettuce, but I similar the crunch you get with cabbage. —Taylor Kiser, Brandon, Florida

Salmon Salad with Glazed Walnuts

This master-dish salad was inspired past something I ate while on a trip. The glazed walnuts give it something special. I've also topped it with grilled chicken or portobello mushrooms with amazing results. —Joanna Kobernik, Berkley, Michigan

Asparagus Nicoise Salad

I've used my Nicoise as an appetizer or a main-dish salad, and information technology'due south a winner every time I put information technology on the tabular array. Hither's to a colorful, make-ahead salad! —Jan Meyer, St. Paul, Minnesota

Craven Nicoise Salad

This salad makes it piece of cake to consume what's adept for you. It'southward versatile, and then you can use asparagus in place of light-green beans and salmon instead of tuna, or add garden tomatoes. And if you follow the keto diet, you lot'll be happy to know this is a keto chicken salad. —Nick Monfre, Oak Ridge, New Jersey

Orangish Chicken Spinach Salad

For a salad with refreshing colour and crisis, we toss chicken and spinach with mandarin oranges and red onion, and so splash everything with a tangy vinaigrette. —Jean Murawski, Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan

Grilled Pork Noodle Salad

The only complex thing nigh this like shooting fish in a barrel salad is the flavor! With smoky barbecued pork and a variety of fresh herbs and vegetables, this is a comforting and tasty dwelling-cooked meal. —Rosalyn Nguyen, Astoria, New York

Summertime Splash Chicken Salad

When it's as well hot to swallow inside, I head out to the patio. Shred some rotisserie craven and toss with mango, watermelon and grapes for an ooh-ahh healthy chicken salad. —Barbara Spitzer, Lodi, California

Strawberry-Turkey Spinach Salad

This calorie-free, refreshing salad is a true showstopper, visually and nutritionally, with fresh strawberries and xanthous pepper strips tossed with fresh babe spinach. Serve with warm whole wheat rolls or flax or bran muffins. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Tropical Fusion Salad with Spicy Tortilla Ribbons

Fresh fruits and veggies pair up for a fantastic summertime salad that'south savory, sugariness and spicy all at once. Make the tortilla strips with your pizza cutter—so piece of cake! —Jennifer Fisher, Austin, Texas

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Source: https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/how-to-wash-salad-greens/

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