[Wayne02]

Ok, I know this is basic stuff here, but I'm just starting out with cooking and such. My salads suck. They are way to wet with water. No doubt because I wash the lettuce then squeeze it before putting it into the bowl. This of course makes for soggy lettuce. What is the proper way to "wash" lettuce without making it soggy?

Also, anybody use the pre-packaged, "triple washed" lettuce? Do you use it straight out of the bag, or do you wash it first?

Thanks
Wayne

[mhambi]

I use mostly romaine, green or red leaf lettuce and here's what I do. I wash it in really cold water and a dilute vinegar solution. After rinsing I shake it really good to get rid of most of the water and roll it in paper towels. The towels soak up some of the moisture and it seems to last a lot longer in the icebox.

[noway]

{Also, anybody use the pre-packaged, "triple washed" lettuce? Do you use it straight out of the bag, or do you wash it first?}

yes I rinse it off under tap water.

as far as the lettuce being soggy, rinse and shake the lettuce to get most of the water out. My mom also let her sit in the drain rack for about 30mins or more to dry.

[allanc]

To keep your lettuce from being soggy, throw it in the clothes dryer for about 10 minutes. This is the first step in making a tossed salad. ;e

[lethal tupperwa]

there are salad spinners that dry lettuce with out making a mess.

One tv cook puts it in a towel holds it tightly closed and spins it around his head.

[nickg]

i always wash my lettuce, spinach, greens, etc., even if it is the so-called "pre-washed" kind in a bag. then i just dab it with a paper towel. i never seem to have a problem with soggy lettuce.

besides, what's the big deal if you do have soggy lettuce since most people just drown it with dressing anyway. water/dressing...what's the difference? ;Q

[MrsKitty]

Originally posted by Wayne02
...I wash the lettuce then squeeze it before putting it into the bowl.

Don't ever, ever, ever SQUEEZE your lettuce!

It bruises easy! Really easy. Look at it--it is really delicate stuff.

This may be why you have soggy lettuce instead of the water left on it

Next time you make a salad, don't SQUEEZE and see what happens, then let us know.

[rdsharp]

A salad spinner is the way to go. Soak the lettuce in the bowl of cold watter for several minutes. GENTLY lift the lettuce out of the water, and place into the strainer insert. DO NOT pour the water and lettuce into the insert. That just puts the dirt back unto the lettuce. Put the insert into the bowl and spin the water out of the lettuce. Remove the insert, dump the water out of the bowl and repeat. Now you've got dry lettuce your dressing will stick too, and it's not crushed.

[allanc]

Originally posted by rdsharp
A salad spinner is the way to go. Soak the lettuce in the bowl of cold watter for several minutes. GENTLY lift the lettuce out of the water, and place into the strainer insert. DO NOT pour the water and lettuce into the insert. That just puts the dirt back unto the lettuce. Put the insert into the bowl and spin the water out of the lettuce. Remove the insert, dump the water out of the bowl and repeat. Now you've got dry lettuce your dressing will stick too, and it's not crushed.

NO, NO, NO. Don't ever spin lettuce. Spinning lettuce makes it dizzy.

[mhambi]

It's all about turgor pressure...















you have to keep your lettuce turgid. (cold water works best for lettuce, unlike other things.)

[Wayne02]

Thanks for all the input folks. How about this spinner?
https://www.oxo.com/about/spinner.html

I can't get their little demo video to work. I take it this perforated basket sets into a bowl, and the water is captured by the bowl as it is spun out of the lettuce?

Wayne

[rdsharp]

America's Test Kitchen TV show (Cook's Illustrated magazine) rated the Oxo spinner as a top choice. It works well, and the pump on top, locks down for storage. I have Zyliss which uses a cord to create the spin (like a top). I wish I had the Oxo.