Why You Need a Salad Spinner for Fresh Garden Lettuce
I’m pretty sure that lettuce season in our backyard is the happiest for me, because we harvest it from late April to late June. Two months of heavenly salads. There’s nothing like fresh lettuce. Period.
Part of the joy is giving the lettuce away … usually in a bag or a box.
I’ve had a few friends ask me what the best way to wash and dry the lettuce is, when I cut off a head from the garden and share with them. And I always say, Salad Spinner!
I’ve had a few over the years, but the one I’m using now is XOX brand and under $20. Best investment ever!
The process for me goes like this:
Pull off the leaves from the outside and use the lettuce as you need it.
OR
Cut the entire head for harvesting.
How to spin fresh garden lettuce:
1. Wash the entire head of lettuce, pulling off the leaves.
2. Place about 8-12 leaves in the spinner, depending on their size.
3. Spin the lettuce.
4. Place in Ziploc bags, squeezing out all of the air, and seal.
5. Store in fridge up to 1 week!
It’s amazing how fresh the lettuce stays when you take care of it right away. The sooner it’s cut from the ground and spun, the fresher and longer it will keep.
Another option is to spin and then place on a towel and totally dry the lettuce.
I also use the basket of the spinner for a colander, all the time! Comes in handy!
A bag of store-bought lettuce costs twice as much as a fresh head, so it’s cost-worthy to grow your own if you can!
Our favorite salads have been made with shrimp, beets, fresh dill and goat cheese. It’s a fantastic combo for a light summer salad!
Do you ever spin your own lettuce?
Hello and welcome to my home and table!
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
… and spinning lettuce is a great job for kids in the kitchen. My boys LOVE it!
I’ve been using my SAME Oxo spinner for 10 years! I can’t believe it actually. It has been one of my favorite kitchen gadgets and makes salads so much better, I hate soggy lettuce! I love your salad garden Sandy. Your lettuce is gorgeous! Send me a box ;)
Okay, this is embarrassing, but I never knew the purpose of a salad spinner until I read this! (EEK). I need to get one!
That lettuce looks absolutely amazing, I would love to have some in our garden next year. Good information.
Michigander Sister gifted me with an Oxo salad spinner for Christmas. Love me some sister. :-) I use it for lettuce/spinach/swiss chard… It makes putting a delicious salad together so much easier. Thanks for the “squeeze out the air and seal” tip.
Yes, absolutely! I actually have a post about this coming up later this week on how to preserve and store your lettuce. We have so many lettuce heads from the garden right now and our spinner makes it so easy! :)
It took me years – literally – to finally go in and buy a spinner, and once I did I was totally kicking myself for not doing it sooner! It makes all the difference in the world when making salads!