Cooking Tips - Handling Salad Greens

Salads not only provide essential nutrients, but also addwater and drain well. Transfer the washed and drained
texture, color, and flavor interest to meals. To begreens to a large plastic bag. Place a clean damp cloth
accepted by older adults, they must be presented inover them, then tie the bag loosely. Refrigerate until
attractive and manageable forms.ready to use in a salad.
HANDLING SALAD GREENSTear greens for salads instead of cutting them. If it is
Salad greens should be handled gently, as they arenecessary to slice them, use a stainless steel knife or
fragile and wilt easily. Get them into the refrigeratorscissors.
quickly. Do not wash or trim until ready to use.Shredding head lettuce increases the yield and makes
To clean salad greens, separate the leaves andan attractive and manageable base for salads.
discard those that are damaged. Remove the coreServe greens clean, crisp and chilled. Add dressing to
from head lettuce. Wash thoroughly in a large amountgreens just before serving on chilled plates.
of cold water, changing the water several times ifFor salads involving greens, such as tossed salad,
necessary. Do not soak the greens. Lift them from thehead lettuce and leaf lettuce are the most common.