
Sometimes, we just want our food prep to be quick and easy, and nothing is quicker or easier than bagged salad. Toss it all together in a bowl, and you’ve got the perfect lunch or first dinner course. The trouble is, this handy pre-packaged solution can go bad before you get the chance to eat it.
Luckily, there’s a way you can store bagged salad that will extend its life. While it might be tempting to just throw your bag of mixed greens in the crisper drawer, you really shouldn’t if you’re looking to get the most longevity from it.
Instead, empty the contents into an airtight container and remove any smaller bags or containers of toppings and salad dressing. Then, put a folded paper towel inside, seal it, and put it in the fridge. Your salad should now live an extra day or two.
Why does this work, though? Well, it’s the same theory behind storing greens you purchased whole instead of pre-packaged. The paper towel absorbs any excess moisture in the pack, without which those greens won’t get soggy, slimy, and spoil.
The only caveat of this hack, however, is you’ll need to check the paper towel every day or so. If it becomes too saturated, that defeats the purpose of this hack, and your salad will likely go bad faster.
If you never buy pre-packaged salads because they go bad too quickly, it might be time to give it one more shot! As long as you have paper towels and an airtight container, you should be able to extend their life for an entire week.