Can you freeze lettuce? The short answer is yes. But if your sole purpose for the use the lettuce is to eat it in a fresh dish such as a lettuce salad, you’re going to be disappointed. And we don’t recommend that.
Frozen lettuce is not recommended for lettuce salad, but for uses in cooking and smoothies. We like to think of it more as a substitute for dishes that you’d use frozen spinach.
Types of Lettuce You Can Freeze
The best kinds of lettuce you can freeze are thicker lettuce leaves such as:
Romaine lettuce
Cos lettuce
Boston lettuce
Bib lettuce
Heirloom varieties of lettuce
Lettuce grown from seeds yourself in your garden or purchased from the local farm market are fresher, have thicker leaves, and are better than the average grocery store lettuce as far as freezing is concerned.
How to Freeze Lettuce: Make Lettuce Last Longer
Find yourself with extra lettuce on hand? Here are our step-by-step instructions for how to freeze lettuce.
Step 1: Separate and Wash
Begin by separating the lettuce leaves if they grew in a bunch and remove any leaf bases. Then wash the lettuce using cold water and 1 cup of vinegar. The vinegar will help to lettuce to stay fresh as long as possible.
Step 2: Dry Thoroughly
Shake any excess water from the lettuce leaves and place them on a single layer on a paper towel to dry. You want to remove all the water if possible, for the best results.
Step 3: Store in Freezer Bags
Once the lettuce is dry, transfer it to a sealed freezer bag and remove any excess air. If you have access to a machine to vacuum seal the lettuce, that will provide the best results. Be sure to not put too much lettuce each bag. Date and label each package.
How Long Does Frozen Lettuce Keep?
Frozen lettuce can last in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Uses for Frozen Lettuce
When using frozen lettuce, you’ll not want to use it for fresh dishes such as salads because the texture changes when lettuce freezes and thaws. It’s better if you think of using it like you would in the purposes of using frozen spinach. It works well for the following purposes:
Smoothies
Rice dishes
Soups
Stock
Casseroles
Egg bakes
Stir fries
…or any recipe that calls for spinach
Freezing in Ice Cube Trays
Another method for freezing lettuce is to do the work up front in preparing it. Then, you can simply pull the desired quantity from the freezer and drop it into whatever dish you’re making. Here’s how to freeze lettuce in ice cube trays.
Puree lettuce with a little water using a blender or food processor.
Freeze pureed lettuce in ice cube trays.
Once the cubes have frozen, transfer them to a zipped freezer bag and store until used.
To use a frozen lettuce ice cube, remove the desired quantity of cubes from the freezer and drop them into your favorite dishes.
How to Tell if Your Frozen Lettuce is Bad
To tell if your frozen lettuce is bad, you’ll want to look for these signs.
rotten smell
extreme wilting
discoloration
soggy texture
If you notice any of these signs, you’ll want to discard the lettuce instead of consuming it.
Factors to Consider When Freezing Lettuce
When freezing lettuce, the two most important factors to remember are that homegrown leaf lettuce and farmers market leaf lettuce varieties are the best kinds of lettuce to use.
And, how frozen lettuce is used is the other important factor. You’ll want to use it in cooked dishes or smoothies rather than eating it fresh.
Other Ways of Storing Lettuce
Other than freezing lettuce, the best way to keep it and use is fresh is to store it in the refrigerator.
Loose leaf lettuce will last in the refrigerator for about 1 week, and a head of lettuce can last for up to 3 weeks in the refrigerator.
After washing your lettuce, you’ll want to wrap it in a damp paper towel and put in a bag or airtight container in the refrigerator.
How To Keep Lettuce Fresh Longer
If you want to know how to store lettuce so it lasts longer, the best way to keep lettuce fresh longer is to wash it with 1 cup of vinegar, diluted in some water. This not only helps to get rid of any germs, but helps to maintain its freshness.
After your lettuce has been washed, you’ll want to let it drip dry and then place it in an airtight container or zipped storage bag in the refrigerator.
Freezing Lettuce Works If You Follow This One Simple Rule
In our opinion, lettuce for salads and fresh dishes is best when eaten fresh. But if you need to freeze it to use in cooking dishes or in smoothies, the best way to do so is to puree it, with a bit of water, into liquid then freeze it in ice cube trays. We like to think of its use as similar to freezing spinach.
How to Defrost Lettuce
Now that you’ve frozen your lettuce, how do you defrost your lettuce? To defrost lettuce, remove it from freezer, take out of any packaging, and lay it on a paper towel to allow any excess water to seep. Let frozen lettuce defrost for 1 hour at room temperature.
How to Shred Lettuce
The best way to shred lettuce is by using a knife and a cutting board. Typically, shredded lettuce is made using iceberg lettuce. For how to shred lettuce, here are our step-by-step instructions.
1. Remove any outer leaves that are wilted or browned.
2. Cut the head of lettuce into quarters.
3. Wash the lettuce chunks in cold water and vinegar.
4. Shake the lettuce gently to remove any excess water and place the lettuce on a paper towel to drip dry.
5. Begin cutting the lettuce into shreds by placing one quarter, flat side down on your cutting board.
6. Beginning at the tip end, cut thin slices of lettuce all the way down the full length of the chunk.
Shredded lettuce is great for salads, tacos, burritos, subs, sandwiches, pizzas, and much more.
How To Keep Salad Lettuce Fresh Until Lunch
There are three main things that we’ve learned over the years for keeping salad lettuce fresh until lunch.
Cut lettuce last. If you’re planning to cut your lettuce, we recommend waiting and cutting it the same day as you intend to eat it. Otherwise, the lettuce might be brown by the time you’re ready to eat it.
Pack with an ice pack. If you’re packing salad in a lunch bag or cooler to take to work or school to eat later in the day, it will stay fresh better if you pack it with an ice pack to keep it cool.
Add dressing right before eating. Don’t add your dressing in advance of eating your salad. Rather, wait and add it right as you are ready to eat it. This will keep your salad from getting soggy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Following are frequently asked questions for how to freeze lettuce. If you have a question that’s not answered here, feel free to drop it to us in the comments box below and we’ll be happy to answer it.
How long can you freeze lettuce?
If stored properly, lettuce can be frozen up to 6 months.
Can you freeze iceberg lettuce?
We don’t recommend freezing iceberg lettuce as it changes the texture too much and becomes mushy when defrosted. Iceberg lettuce is too delicate for freezing.
Can you freeze lettuce for smoothies?
Yes, using frozen lettuce for smoothies is a good solution for its use. You can use it in smoothies just like you would use frozen spinach.
Can you freeze bagged lettuce?
Yes, you can freeze bagged lettuce. Just follow our step-by-step instructions above for how to freeze lettuce.
How do you wash lettuce?
One of the best ways to wash lettuce is with vinegar. This is true especially if you’re buying lettuce from the supermarket, farm market, or a place where the lettuce has been handled by others. Once the lettuce has been washed, lay it on a paper towel to let it dry and absorb the water.
How long does lettuce last if it is unrefrigerated?
Freshly picked lettuce that’s not refrigerated will last up to 2 hours before it wilts.
Can you vacuum-seal lettuce?
Can you vacuum pack lettuce? Yes, vacuum sealing lettuce is a great way to lengthen its shelf life for the refrigerator. It will store better without air enclosed.
Can frozen lettuce make you sick?
If frozen lettuce is handled appropriately, then it’s likely okay. It’s not likely to make you sick.
How do you revive accidentally frozen lettuce?
There really is no way to revive frozen lettuce. You can’t bring the texture of what’s gone back to life. The only thing that frozen lettuce is really good for is smoothies and cooked dishes.
Can you keep salad in the freezer?
Unfortunately, no, lettuce salad that’s been frozen is really no good as a salad anymore. After it’s been frozen, the texture changes to mush. You’ll probably want to throw it away.
Resource:
How to Cut a Head of Lettuce for Salad
Best Lettuce Salad Recipes
Copycat Pollo Loco Tostada Salad
Best Pittsburgh Salad Recipe
Fried Cobb Salad Zaxby’s Copycat
Cracker Barrel Grilled Chicken Salad Copycat
Chick-fil-A Side Salad Copycat
Tequilaberry Salad Addicting Copycat Recipe
Wendy’s Southwest Avocado Salad Copycat
Strawberry Fields Salad Culver’s Copycat
Pioneer Woman Big Steak Salad Recipe
Chicken and Watermelon Balsamic Salad
How to Freeze Lettuce
Equipment
- zipped freezer bag
- ice cube trays
- vacuum sealer optional
- food processor (or blender) optional
Ingredients
- lettuce
Instructions
Step 1: Separate and Wash
- Begin by separating the lettuce leaves if they grew in a bunch and remove any leaf bases. Then wash the lettuce using cold water and 1 cup of vinegar. The vinegar will help to lettuce to stay fresh as long as possible.
Step 2: Dry Thoroughly
- Shake any excess water from the lettuce leaves and place them on a single layer on a paper towel to dry. You want to remove all the water if possible, for the best results.
Step 3: Store in Freezer Bags
- Once the lettuce is dry, transfer it to a sealed freezer bag and remove any excess air. If you have access to a machine to vacuum seal the lettuce, that will provide the best results. Be sure to not put too much lettuce each bag. Date and label each package.
Notes
Frozen lettuce can last in the freezer for up to 6 months.
For more posts like this one, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
