Wondering whether you can freeze lettuce? Here’s whether this leafy green can hold up for long term storage.

Butter Lettuce

Got a lot of extra lettuce and not sure what to do with it? Stored in the refrigerator, this leafy green stays fresh for about 1 week. If you’ve got leftovers, you might consider throwing this leafy green into the deep freeze. Is this a good idea? Here’s what to know.

Can you freeze lettuce?

Lettuce does not freeze well. Freezing causes ice crystals to form and destroy the cell walls. Lettuce is made 95% of water, so this destroy

Freezing lettuce destroys its crisp texture and once defrosted, the texture becomes wilted and slimy. This is because the water in the lettuce expands while freezing and changes its structure. While you can easily freeze other vegetables like carrots, celery and onions, the texture change with lettuce is so extreme that freezing it is not recommended.

How long does lettuce last refrigerated?

On average, lettuce lasts about 1 week in the refrigerator. However, this varies based on whether it’s a head or bag of lettuce, the variety, and how fresh it was when you bought it. Want to make lettuce last longer in the refrigerator? Here are a few tricks:

  • Wrap heads of lettuce in aluminum foil, then place them in the produce drawer. Stored this way, romaine hearts can last 3 to 4 weeks. Other types of head lettuce varies.
  • Place a paper towel into a plastic box or bag of lettuce, then refrigerate. The paper towel absorbs the moisture, extending the life of the greens. (Change the paper towel every few days as it becomes wet.)

Lettuce recipes

The best way to use up lettuce before it goes bad? Eat it in recipes! Here are a few tasty lettuce recipes to try:

About the authors

Sonja & Alex

Meet Sonja and Alex Overhiser: Husband and wife. Expert home cooks. Authors of recipes you’ll want to make again and again.

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