Longer lasting salad ingredients

luvchocolate · 19 July 2019 at 5:55PM

Spendless wrote: »

I do a wad of kitchen roll as a layer at the bottom of my salad drawer and my salad/veg lasts ages. Wipe any moisture off of veg before placing in salad drawer. Check the kitchen roll lining after 4 days and if showing signs of being wet, replace.

I agree bagged salad leaves go off really quickly. You are better sticking to a whole lettuce in whatever variety you prefer.

I also line the salad drawer with kitchen roll, remember not to cut the lettuce with a knife just tear of what you need

Fen1 · 19 July 2019 at 6:08PM

Last night's veggies are often thrown into today's salad. Cooked frozen peas and broad beans, steamed green beans, grilled courgettes, grilled mushrooms, all work well cold. Cooked cold carrot, not so much.

Americans have a thing for salads. Their cookbooks often have interesting ideas.

greenbee · 19 July 2019 at 6:23PM

Slinky wrote: »

The rating of your fridge may also have something to do with it. We found that salad stuff lasts much longer in our new fridge than the old one.

I agree with this... check your fridge temperature.

caronc · 19 July 2019 at 8:08PM

Are you topping your sundried toms/peppers back up with oil after removing some? The remaining veg need to be submerged or can go mouldy quite quickly especially if your fridge isn't as efficient as it could be. Any type of veg oil is fine. If they are in brine rather than oil just top up with water.

Firm lettuce like iceberg, romaine etc. keep really well if you peel the leaves off rather than chopping into it. Spring onions and celery benefit from being stood in a glass with some water to keep them crisp. Mine are not in the fridge just on the counter and my kitchen does get warm but they're quite happy.

suki1964 · 19 July 2019 at 8:08PM

Im really surprised that your jars got mould within a week as I often have jars of peppers, olives and walnuts etc in my fridge for months ( some years ) and as long as the veg is covered by the preserving liquid then all stays well

I also buy in brine or vinegar, not oil, healthier

I personally hate the "traditional" style of salad, I prefer to root about the fridge and larder for bits that will make a salad - tinned beans such as chickpeas or kidney, sweetcorn, roasted peppers, olives, walnuts, dried fruit, grapes, gherkins, eggs, grated raw veg such as carrots and courgette and cabbage

right now Im eating "salads" with a couscous base, adding chopped up small whatever I have, adding pomegranate seeds and blueberries , chilli, - well seriously whatever comes to hand. Every day its different but always tasty

ampersand · 19 July 2019 at 10:05PM

Steer clear of bagged salads, even if rtc prices tempt you.

These are 'glissed' with modified gases, after high-strength chlorine washing.

sillyvixen · 19 July 2019 at 11:26PM

I bought a 'living salad' from sainsburys for £1.00 2 weeks ago, it did nearly 2 weeks with a daily watering, cost the same as a bagged salad but as it was fresh and growing it lasted longer! I have replaced it today but plan on getting seeds and growing my own on the window sill in the future.

Poppy1984 · 20 July 2019 at 12:31AM

Oh wow!!! I knew I could rely on you lovely lot. Some amazing ideas!!! Thank you so much. I'm going to go through this thread and write down some of them.
I didn't realise to top the oils up I will remember that next time I buy them. Thank you so much for all your replies that's really really helpful

Primrose · 20 July 2019 at 9:08AM

I find the solid balls of white and red (coleslaw type) cabbage last for ages in a salad tray in the fridge. You need only cut off a small chunk at a time and shred it up. Celeriac (the ball type version of celery). also lasts well. Just slice off a chunk, cut it into small pieces and the rest goes back Into the salad tray.

The inner heart of Hispi cabbage (the small pointed one) also stays fresh for quite a while in the fridge. Daikon (the 'long as a cucumber' white radish, also known as mouli keeps for ages. Even raw swedes and turnips can be grated and easily used in salads in the same way as carrots, and these mixed with a few sultanas and a squeeze of lemon juice make a different side salad.

And don't forget that slices of apple can be chopped and mixed in salads with the remainder of the fruit stored in the salad tray.

Raw peanuts and cashews can be sprinkled over salads for extra texture and pumpkin and other seeds also add extra chewiness and interest.

And as for your growing lettuce (presume they're the ones with roots in a punnet?) If you have a garden, plant some of them out in odd spaces. They will droop for a few days but once they recover they will go on to grow into lovely healthy lettuces which will keep you stocked with salad leaves for ages.

Well_Preserved · 22 July 2019 at 10:30AM

I second that about growing lettuce. L1dl often have them in multiple packs as cut & come again. The only thing is I find some varieties bolt quickly.

PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING

Longer lasting salad ingredients

Comments

Categories

Get our FREE Weekly email full of deals & guides - and it’s spam-free