In UK households, salad is among the top five wasted foods, with 170,000 tonnes going to waste annually. To address this, food policy expert Gavin Wren conducted a ‘salad race’ to determine the optimal storage method for bagged salad. Wren purchased three identical salad bags with the same expiry date and batch number and divided their contents into three glass jars. One jar was left with the lid on, another with the lid off, and the third was rinsed and had kitchen roll layered at the bottom and top to absorb moisture.
After nine days, the salad with kitchen roll maintained its structure and freshness, while the other two had wilted and become unappealing. Wren concluded that the salad with kitchen roll was the clear winner, staying fresh for the longest duration. Netizens shared their salad storage tips in the comments, such as folding the bag over itself and placing it in the fridge, adding kitchen roll to the bag, and placing the salad in a box filled with water.
Proper storage methods can significantly reduce food waste and ensure that salad remains fresh and appetizing. Using airtight containers, leaving lids off, and incorporating kitchen roll to absorb moisture are effective techniques for maintaining salad quality and preventing spoilage.
