Avoid Getting Bad Salad Mix At The Store By Checking This Easy-To-Miss Spot On The Bag

Salad bags that combine a mixture of leaves are a convenient way to get a variety of fresh greens into your diet. Simply open a bag, decant into a bowl, and pour over your dressing of choice. Perfect for stuffing into sandwiches to boost their fiber content, salad mixes also lend wraps some much-needed crunch, vibrant color, and satisfying texture. However, accidentally select a bad bag and you might find a soggy mess of greens at the bottom that has an off-putting vegetal smell. This can be a total bummer, especially if the few spoiled leaves have coated the remaining greens in a slimy substance, rendering them all inedible. One easy way to stop this from happening again is to lift your salad bag and inspect the bottom of the packet before purchase.

It's incredibly easy to grab a bag of salad from the chiller cabinet at the supermarket without examining its contents when you're in a rush. However, miss this crucial step and you'll only end up with a sad bag of wilting baby spinach that has such a sour taste that it has no hope of rescue. Simply peer through the transparent packaging and give the entire bag a shake to reveal any leaves that have started to wilt or turn slimy at the bottom. The same rule goes for packaged salad kits that contain separate sachets of dressing and crispy toppings.

Bear in mind that even one mushy leaf will quickly cause the other greens to spoil, so find a salad bag that has a selection of leaves that are all in immaculate condition to maximize its shelf life. As pre-washed and prepared salad bags are more expensive than full heads of butterhead or Romaine lettuce, it makes sense to guarantee that every leaf is crisp and at its best before purchase to avoid wasting your money. In fact, some people even say you should think twice before buying bagged lettuce as it spoils faster than a whole head because it's been pre-cut.

If you open the bag to find a sneaky, slimy stowaway, fish it out and empty the remaining leaves from the package. Inspect the greens for any signs of spoilage, such as a funky smell, mushy texture, or unusually wet surface. Any leaves that are wilted slightly can be perked up with a quick plunge in a bowl of ice cold water. To keep your bagged salad fresh, empty it from the bag and place it in a container that's been lined with a paper towel (alternatively, place a paper towel inside the bag itself and cinch it closed with a food clip). The towel will absorb any moisture emanating from the leaves, helping them to stay crisp and fresh for as long as possible.