How to Harvest & Dry Fresh, Washed Lettuce Without a Salad Spinner
June 6th, 2009I was able to harvest a good amount of organic gourmet lettuce today and as I was on my way into the house to wash it I commented to Sammy that we needed a salad spinner. As I entered the house I began brainstorming a way to dry the lettuce quicker and more efficiently than my hand-patted small harvests had been over the last couple of weeks.
Here is how I was able to dry my organic lettuce quickly, from start to finish.
We grew heirloom Rocky Top Lettuce Mix from www.rareseeds.com. This is the type of lettuce that does not grow back so when I harvest it I pull it up by the roots and gently shake off the excess dirt so it stays in the garden. Before I place it in our bowl I cut the roots off and keep them in a pile to add to the compost later.
Next, I fill a clean sink with cold water and place all the lettuce in the water. Swish, swish and then I take the leaves of lettuce out and lay them on a towel that is layed flat on the counter. When I’ve gotten all of the lettuce out of the sink I 
place a folded up kitchen towel in the bottom of a large bowl and I place all of the lettuce in the bowl with the cut ends down.
Leave the bowl of lettuce sitting out at room temperature for 5-10 minutes and when you return it will be as dry as a salad spinner would get it. Now you can put your bounty in the fridge to keep for your next meal. I like to keep mine in a reusable produce bag.
Placing all of the lettuce in the bowl with cut ends down may seem like a big organizing task
but it isn’t. And not every piece has to be lined up perfectly, just getting them vertical for the most part will drain the water down into the kitchen towel.
Do you have any tips on cleaning garden produce that tends to yield more soil than is desired? Share them here in the comments.
