Do yo wash lettuce/salad greens?

Supafly · Guru

Do yo wash lettuce/salad greens?

CoffeeQueen · Guru

Supafly wrote:

Just curious. I read or heard somewhere that you should NOT wash bagged salad greens because they are pre-washed, and while they may not be completely devoid of stuff, washing them will actually introduce more bacteria than would otherwise be on it. I found that interesting, and I was glad too because I never wash my bagged salad!!!

Why would rewashing add more bacteria?

On NPR it said this

f your lettuce is bagged and marked "ready-to-eat," the FDA says it's safe to eat without rewashing it. But other experts disagree and advise washing everything that comes out of ready-to-eat bags.

If you're saving your lettuce or cabbage for later, he recommends drying off the leaves before placing them in the refrigerator. Removing the moisture will prevent the growth of bacteria.

Supafly · Guru

Oh, and lmao,I meant yoU, not yo in the title. I am having computer issues here with my keyboard.

Supafly · Guru

CoffeeQueen wrote:

Supafly wrote:

Just curious. I read or heard somewhere that you should NOT wash bagged salad greens because they are pre-washed, and while they may not be completely devoid of stuff, washing them will actually introduce more bacteria than would otherwise be on it. I found that interesting, and I was glad too because I never wash my bagged salad!!!

Why would rewashing add more bacteria?

On NPR it said this

f your lettuce is bagged and marked "ready-to-eat," the FDA says it's safe to eat without rewashing it. But other experts disagree and advise washing everything that comes out of ready-to-eat bags.
If you're saving your lettuce or cabbage for later, he recommends drying off the leaves before placing them in the refrigerator. Removing the moisture will prevent the growth of bacteria.

What I read said that pre-washed bagged salads are pretty clean and free of contaminants, but your house, your hands, your sink, etc, are not. And that washing those pre-washed salads is more likely to introduce MORE bacteria since people's homes do not meet the same food safety standards that are met in the industry. It was tested by whoever was wrote this article-measuring the bacteria in pre-washed bagged salad right out of the bag, and after being washed by home cooks. The straight out of the bag won everytime, having less bacteria that the lettuce that was washed at home.

Basically, no matter how clean you try to make your home and your kitchen, it is never going to be devoid of bacteria, so it makes sense you could easily introduce more to an already clean product.

The same is NOT true of bulk greens or whole head lettuces. Only of the pre-washed bagged kind.

CoffeeQueen · Guru

Supafly wrote:

CoffeeQueen wrote:

Supafly wrote:

Just curious. I read or heard somewhere that you should NOT wash bagged salad greens because they are pre-washed, and while they may not be completely devoid of stuff, washing them will actually introduce more bacteria than would otherwise be on it. I found that interesting, and I was glad too because I never wash my bagged salad!!!

Why would rewashing add more bacteria?

On NPR it said this

f your lettuce is bagged and marked "ready-to-eat," the FDA says it's safe to eat without rewashing it. But other experts disagree and advise washing everything that comes out of ready-to-eat bags.
If you're saving your lettuce or cabbage for later, he recommends drying off the leaves before placing them in the refrigerator. Removing the moisture will prevent the growth of bacteria.

What I read said that pre-washed bagged salads are pretty clean and free of contaminants, but your house, your hands, your sink, etc, are not. And that washing those pre-washed salads is more likely to introduce MORE bacteria since people's homes do not meet the same food safety standards that are met in the industry. It was tested by whoever was wrote this article-measuring the bacteria in pre-washed bagged salad right out of the bag, and after being washed by home cooks. The straight out of the bag won everytime, having less bacteria that the lettuce that was washed at home.

Basically, no matter how clean you try to make your home and your kitchen, it is never going to be devoid of bacteria, so it makes sense you could easily introduce more to an already clean product.

The same is NOT true of bulk greens or whole head lettuces. Only of the pre-washed bagged kind.

Hmm. I guess I can understand that, but honestly I would think if I had some nasty bacteria in my home we would have all been sick by now. I trust my germs, bacteria anyday over factory assembly of my lettuce. Just my opinion. I rather wash and be sure myself then trust in a company.

apies · Guru

i wrote sometimes.

if there was a "rarely" option, i would have chosen that.

i will rinse off stuff that looks like it needs it - cucumbers, etc.

i only buy bagged baby lettuce and i never wash that.

stuff like fresh herbs (which are sort of greens) i always wash.

Supafly · Guru

CoffeeQueen wrote:

Supafly wrote:

CoffeeQueen wrote:

Supafly wrote:

Just curious. I read or heard somewhere that you should NOT wash bagged salad greens because they are pre-washed, and while they may not be completely devoid of stuff, washing them will actually introduce more bacteria than would otherwise be on it. I found that interesting, and I was glad too because I never wash my bagged salad!!!

Why would rewashing add more bacteria?

On NPR it said this

f your lettuce is bagged and marked "ready-to-eat," the FDA says it's safe to eat without rewashing it. But other experts disagree and advise washing everything that comes out of ready-to-eat bags.
If you're saving your lettuce or cabbage for later, he recommends drying off the leaves before placing them in the refrigerator. Removing the moisture will prevent the growth of bacteria.

What I read said that pre-washed bagged salads are pretty clean and free of contaminants, but your house, your hands, your sink, etc, are not. And that washing those pre-washed salads is more likely to introduce MORE bacteria since people's homes do not meet the same food safety standards that are met in the industry. It was tested by whoever was wrote this article-measuring the bacteria in pre-washed bagged salad right out of the bag, and after being washed by home cooks. The straight out of the bag won everytime, having less bacteria that the lettuce that was washed at home.

Basically, no matter how clean you try to make your home and your kitchen, it is never going to be devoid of bacteria, so it makes sense you could easily introduce more to an already clean product.

The same is NOT true of bulk greens or whole head lettuces. Only of the pre-washed bagged kind.

Hmm. I guess I can understand that, but honestly I would think if I had some nasty bacteria in my home we would have all been sick by now. I trust my germs, bacteria anyday over factory assembly of my lettuce. Just my opinion. I rather wash and be sure myself then trust in a company.

Yeah, but to play devil's advocate here, where do most people wash their lettuce and greens? In the sink, in a colander. Likely, as you rinse off the greens, water hits the sides of the sink and splashes back up into the colander. So, this begs the question...do you prepare food in your sink? Probably not-but you rinse and wash dishes in that sink. Rinse off cutting boards after using them for raw meat in your sink. Some people may scrub their sinks everyday, but not everyone does for sure. I would not classify the sink as a clean place, tbh. I think if anything in my kitchen is going to be harboring germs, it is going to be my sink.

Of course, some people probably use those salad spinners too, in which case, this may not be an issue (IHNI-I don't use one), but I think that the potential for cross contamination is pretty large from your sink.

Juanita · Guru

Supafly wrote:

CoffeeQueen wrote:

Supafly wrote:

CoffeeQueen wrote:

Supafly wrote:

Just curious. I read or heard somewhere that you should NOT wash bagged salad greens because they are pre-washed, and while they may not be completely devoid of stuff, washing them will actually introduce more bacteria than would otherwise be on it. I found that interesting, and I was glad too because I never wash my bagged salad!!!

Why would rewashing add more bacteria?

On NPR it said this

f your lettuce is bagged and marked "ready-to-eat," the FDA says it's safe to eat without rewashing it. But other experts disagree and advise washing everything that comes out of ready-to-eat bags.
If you're saving your lettuce or cabbage for later, he recommends drying off the leaves before placing them in the refrigerator. Removing the moisture will prevent the growth of bacteria.

What I read said that pre-washed bagged salads are pretty clean and free of contaminants, but your house, your hands, your sink, etc, are not. And that washing those pre-washed salads is more likely to introduce MORE bacteria since people's homes do not meet the same food safety standards that are met in the industry. It was tested by whoever was wrote this article-measuring the bacteria in pre-washed bagged salad right out of the bag, and after being washed by home cooks. The straight out of the bag won everytime, having less bacteria that the lettuce that was washed at home.

Basically, no matter how clean you try to make your home and your kitchen, it is never going to be devoid of bacteria, so it makes sense you could easily introduce more to an already clean product.

The same is NOT true of bulk greens or whole head lettuces. Only of the pre-washed bagged kind.

Hmm. I guess I can understand that, but honestly I would think if I had some nasty bacteria in my home we would have all been sick by now. I trust my germs, bacteria anyday over factory assembly of my lettuce. Just my opinion. I rather wash and be sure myself then trust in a company.

Yeah, but to play devil's advocate here, where do most people wash their lettuce and greens? In the sink, in a colander. Likely, as you rinse off the greens, water hits the sides of the sink and splashes back up into the colander. So, this begs the question...do you prepare food in your sink? Probably not-but you rinse and wash dishes in that sink. Rinse off cutting boards after using them for raw meat in your sink. Some people may scrub their sinks everyday, but not everyone does for sure. I would not classify the sink as a clean place, tbh. I think if anything in my kitchen is going to be harboring germs, it is going to be my sink.

Of course, some people probably use those salad spinners too, in which case, this may not be an issue (IHNI-I don't use one), but I think that the potential for cross contamination is pretty large from your sink.

See, I knew I was different biggrin

I wash my lettuce, then lay it out on a paper towel to dry.

And your post reminded me of a show one time on germs. It said that in most households, their kitchen sink was dirtier than the toilets in their house. GROSS!

daisy · Guru

i wash heads, not bagged.
just out of laziness though. i dont worry too much about it - i mean if it says prewashed, that seems OK to me.
i f-ing hate washing lettuce, so for me it's all about convenience.

Lucy · Senior Member

yes we wash salad greens, we actually wash all fruit, veggies and cartons of milk and juice in water and a cup of white vinegar before we put them in our fridge. They way I see everyone rooting round finding what they want round the f & v area of shops - yes we wash them, even the bagged greens that say 'washed and ready to eat' on them.

Jayna · Member

I don't wash the bagged stuff, though I should. I def. wash everything else, especially since it's so dirty.

Corey · Guru

i don't wash bagged salad b/c i detest soggy lettuce.

i wouldn't be too worried about a germy sink though, if i did. after watching that oprah on household germs i started lysoling my sink after every use. i'm probably more likely to get lysol poisoning than food poisoning from my sink. smile