How long can you keep salad in the fridge? (5 tips)
In this article, we will answer the question “How long can you keep salad in the fridge?”, and how to keep your salad fresh as long as possible?
How long can you keep salad in the fridge?
You can keep your salad in the fridge for 3-5 days on average. The shelf-life of salad in the fridge depends largely on the ingredients and the type of salad. If the salad is dressed, it will not last longer if stored incorrectly. Similarly you need to consider whether or not the salad contains meat, green leafy vegetables or fruits.
This article will show you how to keep your salad fresh and crispy along with the delicious salad ideas.
The shelf-life of different types of salad
The following table shows the approximate shelf life of different types of salad if they are stored properly.
| Type of the salad | Shelf-life in the refrigerator |
| Caesar salad(undressed) | 3-5 days |
| Egg salad | 3-5 days |
| Tuna salad | 3-5 days |
| Fresh fruit salad | 3-5 days |
| Green salad(dressed) | 1-5 days |
| Macaroni salad | 3-5 days |
| Packaged lettuce | 3-5 days |
| Chicken salad | 3-5 days |
How to keep bagged salad fresh for longer?
Use paper towel
Place a dry paper towel inside your bagged salad and seal the bag. If the bag is not resealable, use clips to make it air-tight. The paper towels will absorb the water of condensation and preven the greens from getting soggy.
Store the lettuce separately
The bag in which the salad comes in is not suitable for storage. The bag provides little protection against weight and bumps. It is recommended to transfer the salad leaves from the bag to a thick plastic container. Place the container in the crisper drawer. Place a paper towel at top and bottom of the container to absorb moisture. This will keep the leaves crispy.
Buy the greens in a clamshell
Prefer buying your green leafy vegetables in a clamshell. This container is better adapted to protect the delicate leaves from pressure or mechanical damage during transport and in your crisper drawer.
Make the right choice while buying
Bibb and boston lettuce lives shorter than baby kale, baby spinach, watercress and arugula. Buy the latter type of greens. These will keep around longer and are as delicious as bibd and boston.
Buy fresh
If you will be using the salad within 3-5 days, buy the salad bags from the front rows. If you plan on keeping it for a week, prefer buying the salad backs from the back of the shelves. It is because the stores practice stock rotation and the ones that are placed in front of you are the ones with the earliest expiry.
Other FAQs about Salad which you may be interested in.
How long does tuna salad last?
Tips to keep your meal-prepped salad as fresh as possible
Do not mix the dressing
Do not mix the dressing with the toppings and the greens. It is recommended to store the dressing in a separate air-tight container and the greens and toppings in another.
Another great way to keep your recessed salad fresh is storing them in a mason jar. For this technique, pour the dressing at the bottom of the jar followed by toppings and lastly put the greens on the top.
Dry your leafy greens
Pat dry your greens using a dry paper towel. You can also use a salad spinner to remove excesswater. This will only take 15-20 seconds and your salad will be fresh for up to 5 days. The moisture present on the leaves provides a favorable environment for bacterial and fungal growth. This also speeds up the enzymatic breakdown resulting in soggy and wilted leaves.
Store the lettuce in a resealable bag
No one likes a soggy lettuce leaves. They are known for their crunchiness. In order to keep that crispiness alive, store the lettuce leave sin a resealable bag after rolling them in a dry apper towel. Squeeze out al the air from the bag before refrigerating.
Cut fresh toppings
Fruit toppings like apples, bananas, avocado etc, need to be cut before adding in the salad bowl. It is recommended to cut or alice them fresh. Cut fruits will turn brown in storage and lose their crispiness. Berries, however, can be added whole before storing.
Similarly, vegetables like onions, tomatos, cucumber, carrots, quinoa, radish will retain their freshness in the storage after cutting.
Glass is better than plastic
Glass provides a better vacuum-like environment than plastic. It is recommended to opt for a glass container to store lettuce and other greens.
Conclusion
In this article, we answered the question “How long can you keep salad in the fridge?”, and how to keep your salad fresh as long as possible?
References
https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/food/keeping-bagged-salad-fresh
