Key Points
- The key to protecting leafy greens recent is slowing water loss—retailer them in cool, humid spots just like the crisper drawer to forestall wilting.
- Sturdy greens like kale, collards, and Swiss chard keep recent as much as 10 days, whereas delicate varieties like child spinach wilt inside 3 to 4 days.
- Keep greens in sealed packaging or plastic baggage with a moist paper towel, and wash them solely proper earlier than consuming to keep away from untimely spoilage.
Leafy greens are among the quickest meals to lose their freshness as soon as they’re house from the shop. Spinach, lettuce, and kale all begin out crisp, but when they’re not saved correctly, they’ll wilt in just some days. To learn the way to make them final, we spoke with Jeffrey Ok. Brecht, whose analysis on the University of Florida focuses on harvest, retailer, transport, and deal with vegatables and fruits in ways in which protect high quality, scale back spoilage, and lengthen shelf life.
“Leafy greens feel crisp because their cells are full of water, almost like tiny balloons,” Brecht explains. “When they lose water, those balloons deflate and the leaves go limp.” The key to protecting greens recent is slowing down that water loss, and the way in which you retailer, wrap, and wash them makes an enormous distinction.
- Jeffrey Ok. BrechtPh.D., emeritus professor of postharvest physiology within the horticultural sciences division on the University of Florida.
Delicate vs. Sturdy Greens
Not all greens are alike in how lengthy they maintain up, factors out Brecht.
Delicate greens: These embody lettuces, child spinach, and spring combine. They are harvested younger, with skinny cell partitions. They wilt rapidly. Baby spinach, as an example, is way much less sturdy than totally mature spinach.
Sturdy greens: Think kale, collards, and Swiss chard. These are more durable as a result of their leaves are totally developed. That construction helps them last more within the fridge.
Where to Store Greens
The crisper drawer is one of the best place, says Brecht—it’s cooler and extra humid than the remainder of the fridge, which slows wilting. If house is tight, the again of a shelf works too. Avoid storing leafy greens within the fridge door, the place temperatures fluctuate extra.
| Which Greens Last Longest? | |
|---|---|
| Collard greens | Thick, sturdy leaves can final 7–10 days. |
| Kale | Resilient cell partitions maintain it crisp for a few week. |
| Swiss chard | Stems assist help the leaves; good for five–7 days. |
| Romaine lettuce | Holds up higher than softer lettuces; about 5 days. |
| Traditional spinach | Mature spinach retains longer than child spinach; 4–5 days. |
| Butter lettuce, child spinach, spring combine | Tender leaves typically final solely 3–4 days. |
How to Wrap Greens
The purpose is to forestall moisture loss, says Brecht. With that in thoughts:
- Prepackaged greens: Keep them of their baggage or clamshells. Many are bought in Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP), which is designed to sluggish spoilage. Once opened, reseal or transfer to a different plastic bag or hermetic container.
- Loose bunches: Wrap in plastic or a container with a barely damp paper towel to spice up humidity.
- Skip breathable fabric baggage: They permit an excessive amount of air circulation, which accelerates wilting.
- Remove tight bands: Rubber bands and twist ties round kale or chard can harm stems and shorten shelf life.
When to Wash
Wash greens simply earlier than consuming, not earlier than storing. If you do rinse them forward of time, don’t dry them fully—Brecht notes that a bit of floor moisture might be useful, because it evaporates earlier than the leaves lose their very own water.
Tricks to Help Greens Last Longer
- Slip a damp paper towel in with the leaves.
- Keep fridge temps chilly however not freezing—round 35 to 38°F.
- Buy smaller baggage for those who don’t end a big one rapidly, since opened MAP packaging loses its profit.
