Does your lamb's lettuce wilt in two days? Here are some storage mistakes to avoid

It all starts at the market or the supermarket! Choose lamb’s lettuce with bright green, firm leaves, free of yellowed or damaged parts.

If you’re buying a bag, also check to see if it has a lot of condensation inside. Leaves that are already soaked in moisture are likely to spoil quickly.

And in your shopping bag? Place the lamb’s lettuce on top of heavier items. It would be a shame to crush it under a bag of potatoes ;-)

Once you get home, don’t leave your lamb’s lettuce on the counter. Put it away right away in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.

If it’s sold in packaging designed for storage, you can keep it by following the manufacturer’s instructions. For lamb’s lettuce bought in bulk, use a clean container that’s large enough so the small leaves aren’t squished.

The little extra tip? A piece of clean paper towel can help absorb excess moisture. Be careful, however, not to seal the leaves in a bag filled with water: they could end up getting all soggy.

Do you like to wash all your salad as soon as you get home from grocery shopping so you don't have to worry about it later? We get it! But when it comes to lamb’s lettuce, it’s generally best to wait until mealtime if it hasn’t already been washed.

Its small rosettes easily retain water. Prolonged exposure to moisture can cause it to spoil more quickly.

When you’re ready to prepare your salad, rinse it gently to remove any grains of sand, then pat it dry very gently. If your package says “ready to eat,” simply follow the instructions on the packaging.

We’d love to tell you that it stays perfect all week long… But lamb’s lettuce is a delicate salad! It generally lasts two to three days in the refrigerator, depending on how fresh it was when you bought it and how it’s packaged.

Did you buy a bag with an expiration date? Stick to it, even if you planned to eat the salad later.

And if the leaves become slimy, moldy, or give off a strange odor, throw them away. Unfortunately, a good dressing isn’t enough to bring them back to life.

Are your leaves a little less crisp, but still perfectly healthy? You can still use them in a cooked dish.

Add them to a sauté with a little garlic, just like spinach, or toss a handful into a creamy potato soup. Their very mild flavor works great in these dishes!

Note: This tip applies only to slightly wilted lamb’s lettuce. If it’s damaged, moldy, or slimy, don’t cook it.

Are you making a lamb's lettuce salad to serve to friends? Keep the dressing in a small separate bowl!

Once mixed with the dressing, the leaves quickly lose their nice shape. So add the dressing just before serving, along with a few walnuts, pear wedges, or diced beets.

See? You don’t need any fancy equipment to enjoy your lamb’s lettuce! A little freshness, not too much water, and a few gentle touches are all it takes to make a difference.

And you, what ingredients do you like to pair with lamb’s lettuce? Tell us all about it in the comments ;-)