Blog: Every Bite Counts

Leafy greens add beautiful colour, vibrancy and nutrients to our meals. No wonder they’re a staple on our shopping lists. Unfortunately, their delicate nature and short shelf life means many of those lovely greens never make it to our plate. Did you know that in Canada, we toss about 130,000 heads of lettuce every day?

With this summer’s fresh leafy greens sprouting up in markets across the country, here are some tips to maximize your enjoyment of these seasonal delights and prevent food waste.

Ever wonder which style of packaging leads to the longest lasting leafy greens? Here’s a breakdown (assuming proper storage):

• Living Lettuce (Root Attached): Requires the most care and is pricier but can last up to two weeks and can be replanted.
• Unwrapped Head of Lettuce: The outer leaves act as a shield, protecting the inner ones.
• Loose Leaf Containers/Bags: Convenient, but condensation and limited air circulation shorten shelf life.
• Ready-to-Go Salad Kits: Super handy, but pre-cut and washed greens have the shortest lifespan of all.

The shelf life of different types of leafy greens depends on several factors including when it was harvested, how it was stored, temperature and the sturdiness, respiration rate and moisture content of the leaves. Here’s a ranking based on these factors, assuming proper storage:

• Romaine lettuce
• Iceberg lettuce
• Leaf Lettuce heads (e.g. bibb, butter, red leaf)
• Kale
• Spinach
• Arugula
• Spring Mix (depending on mix)

Generally, whole heads of lettuce last a week or two, while loose leaves hold on for 5-7 days.

How to Best Store Leafy Greens

As a rule, store all leafy greens in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator and control for moisture with a cotton or paper towel. If the greens look like they’re drying out use a slightly damp towel, if the greens are wet or the container has condensation, use a dry towel to absorb extra moisture.

Before you place them in your fridge, remove any wilted or bruised leaves but wait to wash your greens until ready to use.

Bonus Tips and Recipes

Dress on the Side: Serve salad dressing on the side so leftover salad or greens can be stored in an airtight container for another meal.

Revive Wilted Greens: Refresh wilted lettuce by soaking individual leaves in a bowl of cold water for 10-15 minutes.

Recipes for Less than Perky Greens:

• Lettuce Soup
• Pickled Lettuce
• Lettuce and Potato Soup
• Lettuce Tzatziki – use thinly sliced lettuce instead of cucumber or zucchini
• Pesto – add lettuce with herbs

Most importantly, remember to Choose What You’ll Use. Plan your meals and buy only what you need, not just with leafy greens, but across your entire grocery haul.

For more helpful tips and ideas visit us on Instagram @lovefoodhatewasteca.