When is romaine lettuce bad

You are most likely familiar with the inoffensive, watery taste of fresh lettuce. Spoiled lettuce will taste the same way rotten lettuce smells.

It will have a very strong, rancid, sour taste that will make you want to spit it out. Avoid eating the lettuce if it is sour.

Throw it away immediately. Method 2. Store full heads of lettuce without cutting them. Full heads of lettuce tend to last longer than individual leaves. Leave them intact and place them in a cool, dry spot in your refrigerator. Heads of lettuce last around 10 days when stored this way. You can also wrap the lettuce in paper towels to absorb damaging moisture. Keep lettuce away from ethylene-producing fruit such as bananas and tomatoes.

Place loose leaves in a paper-lined plastic storage container. Place 2 or 3 layers of paper towels in a resealable plastic container. Set the leaves on top of the paper towels, then cover them with more paper towels. The paper towels absorb moisture, keeping the lettuce crisper for longer. This will help keep out harmful moisture and gas.

However, unsealed lettuce will still survive well in a crisper. You may want to do this for pre-cut lettuce in a bag as well. Store the lettuce in a cool, dry spot in your refrigerator.

Keep the area well-ventilated so that moisture drains from the lettuce. A vegetable crisper drawer is the best spot. Lettuce leaves usually last up to 5 days but may last longer if stored properly. Not only does this make forgetting about the lettuce easier, but the cold from the freezer can damage the lettuce. You can also move the container of lettuce to the freezer. Replace the paper towels daily if you use them to store lettuce.

The paper towels will get damp as they collect moisture from the lettuce. You can replace them when you notice them getting damp, but to be safe, replace them every day. You may be able to keep your lettuce fresher for longer this way.

Wash lettuce right before using it. Rinse lettuce off by filling your sink with cold water, then swishing the lettuce around in it by hand for a few minutes.

Proper handling is important too because food poisoning from lettuce is a possibility, especially since it's very rarely cooked. There are lots of different types of lettuce, but they can be divvied up broadly into two main categories: head lettuce and loose-leaf lettuce. The former includes varieties that grow in a layered head, like iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce and Boston and bibb butterhead lettuce.

The latter includes varieties that grow on a stalk, like green, red and oak-leaf lettuce. Whichever type you're buying, and whether it's a whole head, bagged lettuce, a container of salad mix or some other package, choose fresh-looking, nonwilted, vibrantly colored leaves that aren't slimy, browning or dried out by the stem. Also, pay attention to the sell-by, use-by or best-by date on the packaging.

Lettuce wilts as it begins to go bad, becoming increasingly limp and shriveled. It also turns brown and dries out, starting at the edges and the base of the leaves by the stem. If this is only just starting to occur, you're jonesing for a salad and it's the only lettuce you have, it's still safe to eat.

The sacrifice is in quality, as the lettuce will have less flavor and less of a crisp texture. Do you need to wash a head of romaine lettuce before eating it?

Yes, romaine lettuce should be thoroughly washed in running water before eating. Can you freeze romaine lettuce? Romaine lettuce does not freeze well and freezing is not recommended: romaine lettuce is high in moisture, which turns to ice when frozen, causing a mushy, wilted texture when thawed. But here's the thing: Experts say this underrated veggie is actually loaded with important vitamins and minerals.

In fact, romaine ranked even higher than kale, collard greens, and arugula thanks to its impressive nutritional profile.

So if you love to eat romaine lettuce on the regular, than you're in luck. Plus, it's a low-calorie food that naturally contains high levels of fiber , varying vitamins and minerals, carotenoids, and phenolic compounds that are important for overall health. In fact, according to Ivanir, romaine has one important advantage. Unlike spinach and kale, it's much lower in a compound called oxalate, which can be problematic for those with compromised gut health and also prevent the absorption of certain minerals like calcium.

Plus, Brad Dieter , a NASM-certified nutrition coach and research scientist, adds that romaine can be easier on your GI tract since it's slightly less fibrous and higher in water. Whether you love tossing the hearts into a Caesar salad , using the leaves as lettuce wraps, or charring up a whole head on the grill, here are some things you should know about what happens to your body when you eat romaine lettuce.

You're highly unlikely to deal with constipation after you eat romaine lettuce. Fun fact: Alicia Galvin, an RD and resident dietitian to Sovereign Laboratories , notes that the fiber in romaine also has heart-healthy effects.

Romaine lettuce is basically a dieter's dream: A 1-cup serving only has 15 calories and 2.