ShelfLife
How long does lettuce last?
Whole heads of iceberg or romaine keep 1 to 2 weeks in the fridge. Leaf lettuce and spinach keep 3 to 7 days. A bag of salad keeps only about 2 days once opened.
| Food | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Iceberg or romaine lettuce | 1–2 weeksfrom purchase | Not recommended |
| Leaf lettuce and spinach | 3–7 daysfrom purchase | Not recommended |
| Bagged salad greensUSDA: unopened, 3 to 5 days after the date on the bag; 2 days once opened. | 3–5 daysOpened: 2 days | Not recommended |
Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.
How to tell if lettuce has gone bad
- Slimy, dark or translucent leaves. Remove them straight away: they make the rest spoil faster.
- A sour or rotten smell, often first noticed when you open a bag of salad.
- Brown or black mushy patches, or liquid in the bottom of the bag.
- Wilted but not slimy leaves are just limp: soak them in ice water for 10 minutes to crisp them up.
How to store lettuce
- Keep lettuce in the crisper drawer, away from apples, pears and bananas, whose ethylene gas makes it go brown faster.
- Wash and dry it well before storing, or just before eating; leftover moisture is what makes leaves slimy.
- Wrap washed leaves loosely in a paper towel inside a container or bag, to soak up extra moisture.
- Keep whole heads whole until you need them: cut leaves spoil sooner.
- Once a bag of salad is open, press out the air, add a paper towel, and use it within 2 days.
Can you freeze lettuce?
No, the USDA doesn't recommend it: lettuce is mostly water, and freezing turns the leaves limp and slimy. Spinach is the exception if you'll cook it: blanch it, squeeze out the water and freeze it for soups, sauces and smoothies.
Questions
Do you need to wash bagged salad labeled "pre-washed"?
No. Salad labeled washed or ready to eat doesn't need washing again; rinsing it at home is more likely to add bacteria from the sink than remove any.
Can you eat lettuce with brown edges?
Yes, if the leaves aren't slimy or smelly. Brown edges are oxidation or bruising: tear them off and use the rest.
Why does bagged salad go bad so fast?
Cut leaves release moisture and spoil faster than a whole head. Once the bag is opened, air and moisture get in, which is why it keeps only about 2 days.
Add salad to ShelfLife when you buy it, and get a reminder before it turns to slime.
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Storage times: USDA FoodKeeper (Food Safety and Inspection Service), public domain. Text by ShelfLife.