Guide

How to Keep Salad Fresh All Week

Fresh, crisp greens are the foundation of every good salad — and most people store them completely wrong. With the right washing, drying, and storage method, a head of lettuce or a box of leaves can stay crisp for well over a week. This guide covers exactly how to keep your salad greens and assembled salads fresh from the moment you get home.

Wash and dry greens thoroughly

Rinse greens in cold water, then dry them completely in a salad spinner. Water is the enemy of crisp leaves and clinging dressing — bone-dry greens last far longer and taste better in bowls like our simple garden salad.

The paper towel trick

Store clean, dry greens in a container or bag with a dry paper towel tucked inside. The towel absorbs excess moisture and keeps leaves crisp for well over a week. Swap it out if it gets damp.

Store components separately

Keep dressing off the greens until serving, and store cut fruit, avocado, and crunchy toppings apart. Assembled, dressed salads only stay fresh for a day — undressed components last much longer, which is the whole basis of our meal prep guide.

Choose the right container

Use a large, rigid container rather than cramming greens into a bag. Airflow and space stop leaves from bruising and going slimy, so your salads stay crisp right up to serving.

Keep exploringPut these ideas to work with our full collection of salad recipes, or browse the other MakeSalads guides.