Now before you get ahead of yourself, just remember you won't be able to freeze lettuce and then thaw it back into its crisp refreshing salad-ready version. But, you can freeze it and use it for your tasty homemade stews, soups, or casseroles. It's a great way to stretch your winter budget and enjoy the benefits of your wonderful garden for at least an extra six months.
Can You Freeze Lettuce? The Real Deal
Using the proper freezing technique is crucial when trying to maximizing the life of your lettuce. While some vegetables, such as peas or corn, consist of a lot of starch (which makes them easier to freeze), lettuce consists mainly of water. And that's why it is so difficult to freeze. Ice crystals form very easily in lettuce and can turn it into a mushy mess.
When you freeze vegetables slowly, larger ice crystals form and cause much more damage to the cell walls. That's why the temperature of your fridge is so important. Just a little too cold and your lettuce will freeze right there in the crisper bin! That's why you'll want to make sure you won't have to open and close your freezer for at least two hours after properly preparing and storing your lettuce.
What You'll Need…
- Plenty of fresh, crisp lettuce
- Salad spinner (maybe)
- Paper towel or a dish towel
- Freezer bags
It's as easy as one, two, three…four!
After removing all of the tough stalk, carefully separate the leaves of lettuce from the head. Peeling off the leaves one at a time is usually the best method.
Once the leaves have been separated, wash them thoroughly in cool water and use paper towel or a dish towel to dry them thoroughly. Be sure to get them as dry as possible because any moisture left on the leaves could potentially destroy them once in the freezer. Sometimes, using a salad spinner can be more effective than a paper towel. You should use whatever you feel most comfortable with.
Question: How long can lettuce last in the freezer?
Answer: You really shouldn't leave the lettuce in the freezer for more than six months.
Do not cut up the leaves! If you do, the cut marks will turn brown in the freezer and degrade the wall of the lettuce leaf. Place the whole leaves in a large freezer bag. Don't worry about putting too many leaves in the bag.
You'll want to remove all the air from the freezer bag to avoid freezer burn, and this will have the same effect as overfilling the bag. The best way to remove air from the freezer bag is to seal the bag, stick a small sipping straw in the seam, and suck out all the air. Then quickly remove the straw and seal the bag.
Next, gently place the bags with the lettuce leaves on top of something flat. Don't put them near or under items that have already been frozen. Crushing the leaves, during the freezing process or after they are frozen, will make them brown and mushy. Try not to open the freezer for at least two hours to allow the leaves enough time to thoroughly freeze.
Question: Is it okay to mix a bunch of different lettuce types in my freezer bag?
Answer: No. You should only use one type of lettuce per bag. Mixing varieties can affect the way the lettuce freezes, which will have a negative impact on the quality of your lettuce.
Make It Last
Not sold on the idea of freezing lettuce? Here are some helpful tips to make your lettuce last longer in the fridge:
Divide your lettuce into the serving sizes you want, then place those servings into plastic storage bags. Wrap up a single saltine cracker in paper towel and place one in each bag. The cracker will absorb any extra moisture in the bags and make your lettuce last at least two weeks.
To make Romaine lettuce last longer, remove the core and wash it thoroughly. Use a colander to drain it or use a salad spinner to remove excess moisture. Then find a large plastic container and line it with paper towel. Next, layer the lettuce leaves and the paper towel, one on top of another, until the container if full. Seal it tightly and enjoy fresh lettuce for up to four weeks!
Once you've already used some of your Iceberg lettuce, here's how to make what's left last a little longer. Cut it with a knife and store it in a PVC-free container. The chemical-free container means the rest of your lettuce won't turn brown for at least a day or two.
The Comeback Kid
What's the best way to revive your tired, old droopy lettuce? Try soaking it in ice cold water with just a splash of lemon juice or vinegar – depending on your choice of salad dressing. Then dry off the leaves and put them in the fridge for about an hour. That should be enough to restore your lettuce to the crisp and crunchy consistency you want in your salad.
Did you know?
The darker the leaf, the better the nutrition…
Vitamins in 1 leaf (5g) of Green
Leaf Lettuce
| Nutrient | Quantity | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A | 352 IU | 7% |
| Vitamin C | 0.9mg | 1% |
| Vitamin D | - | - |
| Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol) | 0.0mg | 0% |
| Vitamin K | 8.2 mcg | 10% |
| Thiamin | 0.0 mg | 0% |
| Riboflavin | 0.0 mg | 0% |
| Niacin | 0.0 mg | 0% |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.0 mg | 0% |
| Folate | 1.8 mcg | 0% |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.0 mcg | 0% |
| Pantothenic Acid | 0.0 mg | 0% |
| Choline | 0.6 mg | 0% |
| Betaine | 0.0 mg | 0% |
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