How to Keep Bagged Salad Mix Fresh

Last Updated: January 16, 2020 References

Bagged salad mix is a convenient way to add healthy vegetables to your daily diet. Unfortunately, even if you don't open it, bagged salad goes bad within just a few days. You can keep salad fresh with a few easy storage tricks. Whether or not you used the salad yet, always remove it from its original bag and dry the salad to prevent moisture from spoiling it. Then, store the salad in a sealable plastic container to prevent damage. Buy particularly durable types of salad vegetables for the longest storage life. With proper storage, bagged salad mix can last 7-10 days after opening.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Minimizing the Moisture Content

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1
Pour the salad out and dispose of the bag. Salad bags don’t offer much protection for the salad, so remove the salad from the bag it came in. Pour all the salad into a large bowl and get rid of the bag. ^{[1]
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- Re-sealing an old bag with a rubber band or clip isn’t an efficient way of storing salad, and it won’t last more than a few days like that.
- Even if you haven’t opened the salad bag yet, taking it out of the package it came in and rewrapping it properly will make it last longer than leaving it in the bag.
2
Dry the salad with a spinner or paper towels. Moisture speeds the rotting process on vegetables, so make sure the salad is completely dry before storing it. A quick way to dry it is pouring the salad into a spinner and whipping it dry. If you don’t have a spinner, then pour the salad onto paper towels and pat it dry. ^{[2]
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- Do this even if you haven’t washed the salad. The plastic bags the salad comes in trap moisture inside, so the vegetables will always be a little wet.
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3
Line a sealable plastic container with paper towels. Take any plastic container that has a sealable lid. Place paper towels on the bottom and sides of the container. These soak up excess moisture and keep the salad fresh for longer. ^{[3]
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- Make sure the inside of the container is completely dry before putting the salad in.
- You can also use a sealable plastic bag instead of a container. Line the bag with paper towels and pour the salad in. Remember that the bag won’t protect the salad from bruising, so it may not last as long as it will in a container.
4
Seal the salad inside the plastic container. Pour the salad into the container and seal the top. Run your finger along the lid to make sure it’s sealed tightly. ^{[4]
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- Make sure the salad isn’t squished inside the box. Pressing it down could damage the leaves. Use another container if you have a lot of salad.