Ugh, Greens always wilting on Me...

[Davylp25]

Argh you would think after 3 years 100% raw, I would have this down, But I dont.

Okay so I purchased these beautiful bunches of Dino Kale, crisp, and green. As soon as I was picking them up the sprinkler system was turned on so my greens got wet. So, anyway. As soon as I got home I took the Kale out of the bag, wrapped a paper towel, and put them back in the paper bag put in the fridge. So hours later (purchase was in early morning) in the evening i go to juice some kale, and its soggy and wilted. Was I literally supposed to seperate each Kale strip and dry them manually one by one in order to help them last? I was hoping all these bunches would have lasted at least 3 days? Arghh. I dont use those green bags, they never fit as many greens as I purchase. So whats the deal? Should I have done each strip one by one, drying them with a paper towel? Then let sit for awhile? ( which I tried before and they still wilted) Ugh! I have not mastered these greens in the storage department.

Also, what about like Carrots with tops, beets with tops, radishes? Doesnt cutting the tops off to store cause them to lose its freshness? Hellp!

[walnutty]

I purchased a salad spinner at Bed, Bath & Beyond that keeps my greens fresh for a long time. It was about $15.00 and was well worth it!

[GlimR]

You could also put them in a clean pillow case and go outside...whirl them around and around, the water will shoot out all over the place and leave the greens pretty dry...I roll out paper towels (maybe 3) and lay the leaves along it then roll them up, jelly roll fashion, do this till the greens are all wrapped and put in fridge...or you could lay them in a tupperware box if you use those, with paper towels between the layers. I sometimes use the big box my spinach comes in. They stay crisp all week.

[GlimR]

btw...you can recrisp greens by plunging them into a sink or bowl of ice water...let them sit for a few minutes then redry.:)

[Crazy Healer Lady]

When you get home with your greens, fill the sink halfway with water and add 1/2c vinegar and 1/4c baking soda. Let the greens soak in this for a few minutes, and rinse in cold water. This works to clean and hydrate them, and is also good if they have wilted, but they'll have to soak at least a half hour.

Although I don't endorse plastic, greens wilt because the water is being sucked out of them. When you store them, make sure it's in something that will retain moisure. A paper towel will only suck water out, unless it's soaked.

[Veganforlife]

Oh yeah. Fill the sink w/cold water. Let the greens soak for a few hours and they'll crisp back up.

Or blend them and have them blended for green smoothies. They can be frozen (the blended mixture).

[MiahTay]

I will leave my kale in the plastic bag I purchase it in with the end tied shut and it will last several days, my kale last week lasted a full week. Also, for lettuce I cut and wash and put it in my salad spinner ($1.97 @ Wally World) and then store it in a rubbermaid tub and it lasts for about 3-4 days no problem). Good luck.

Heather

[carolg]

What's purpose of salad spinner? Never had one so not sure I need one either.

I love, love, love my "red" kale as best for me. The green seems to thick, the dino is good, but seem to not use fast, but "red" really holds up well at least for me.

carolg

[walnutty]

After washing/rinsing your greens you put them in the salad spinner and "spin" the excess water off. The drier your greens the longer they will last. The $15.00 I spent on the salad spinner has been saved many times over by helping my greens last much longer. I don't throw greens out anymore because they wilt or go bad.

[Zella Juice]

I put mine in a cloth bag in the drawer in the bottom of the fridge. Any place else and they get wilted. I don't have much time to rinse and do all that..I just put them in the cloth bag after I bring them home from the store.

I also purchased one of those little disc looking things that sucks out the gases that the veggies give off that causes them to wilt quicker. It has made my produce last much longer.

[MelissaO]

My greens last about a week if I dry them off, put them in green bags, I remove any excess moisture from the bag daily. I also have those green disk.

[Davylp25]

Zella Juice... Where do you get cloth bags from?
You dont do anything else? Wrap anything around them?

Melissa O whats your definition of drying? You just wipe them down? Leave them out? I need a new style lol!

Thanks all for the rest!

[goobygirl]

I use the green disk and the green bags (evert bags at evert.com, I think).

They also have similar bags at Walgreen's called Debbie Meyer's green bags.

I rarely have wilting, but last week air got to some chard, so I plunged it in cold water and sea salt and it sprang back to life.

[spicyfull]

I Never have the problem. I just put them in the "Crisper Drawer", hope things work out for you.

[rawstrength]

Does anyone have tips for storing greens outside of a fridge? I've been eating less fresh greens (and relying more on powdered greens and sea vegetables) because I only have a tiny little cube fridge with no crisper drawer. When I buy fresh greens, I eat them that same day.

[Crazy Healer Lady]

Rawstrength, what about getting a little cooler specifically for greens and high-perishable veggies? Just put a cup of ice in there and it should last a while, at least a few days, maybe a week, but I am unsure of how long exactly.

You can pick coolers up at most big stores for quite cheap :D

[souldanzer]

Rawstrength,

try storing your greens like you would a bouquet of flowers - in a tall glass full of water. They might not keep as long as in the fridge but it will definitely extend their life a bit. We do this at our farm stand, giving the bunches a little "foot bath" when they are going to be out for sale for a few hours.
If you can get hydroponically grown lettuce with the roots still attached and store it with the roots in water, most likely it will continue to grow for a while. I have a basil plant from my garden in my house like that (ran out of pots) for several weeks now.

Souldanzer:)

[TaupeRawMan]

[QUOTE=Davylp25;473068]I dont use those green bags, they never fit as many greens as I purchase. QUOTE]

Have you tried the green bags? They come in different sizes and the large can fit a few bunches. Also, the packs usually come in 10 or 20...

[TaupeRawMan]

[QUOTE=Davylp25;473068]I dont use those green bags, they never fit as many greens as I purchase.

Have you tried the green bags? They come in different sizes and the large can fit a few bunches. Also, the packs usually come in 10 or 20...

[MelissaO]

Melissa O whats your definition of drying? You just wipe them down? Leave them out? I need a new style lol!

Thanks all for the rest![/QUOTE]



I take a bounty paper towel and blot them off, put them in the green bags.

[goobygirl]

I place mine on a towel and turn the ceiling fan on high to dry them out as much as possible. Salad spinner would do wonders. Check your local thrift store for a good price on one or start asking around. You would be suprised how many gadgets people have that they never use, including juicers, vitamix, etc. This week hubby picked up a breville juicer for $35 off craigslist. The people had only used it once. I can't get him to stop juicing! (it's loud, but efficient).

[Davylp25]

Thanks all.

So what about carrots with tops, radishes, beets, celery, especially celery. They always go limp on me?

what if you run out of room in your crisper? I dont want certain gases gasing up other produce.

[Davylp25]

Hmm I got the green fresh bags from the store, But they are filling up with moisture everytime I look at them? Is this normal? Ugh They aint staying dry.

[Crazy Healer Lady]

davylp25, you don't want them completely dry. A little moisture is fine. As long as it's not a lot that will make the greens rot, you're good. Remember that it takes a few days for the greens to start to rot, so a little more moisture is better than less. Hold the greens in the bag upside-down over the sink to let any excess water run out.

Too little moisture = wilting

Too much moisture = rotting

[RawKnitster]

If the greens are limp I cut the ends off and stand the leaves up in a bowl of water for an hour or so. It makes a lovely bouquet. Then rinse it, spin or shake it semi dry, put it in a plastic bag with a paper towel. The towel will suck up excess water and keep the greens moist. Seal the bag air tight. The secret: Before you seal it, fill the bag with air.

I wash the plastic bags and use them over and over.

[Crazy Healer Lady]

That's a great secret, RawKnitster!!! I've got to try the air thing :)