Lift Lettuce Out of Water and Dry

Molly Watson

Lift the lettuce or greens up and out of the water, leaving the dirt and debris behind, and put in a colander or on a clean kitchen towel or layers of paper towels. If you used a salad spinner, just lift out the strainer insert. Otherwise lift the lettuce out by hand as pictured, putting it on clean paper towels or into a clean colander.

Note: Do not pour the water and lettuce out into a colander together; the dirt that has sunk to the bottom of the water will end up back on the greens all over again.

Spin the lettuce dry in a salad spinner or pat it with towels or roll it up in paper towels to dry the leaves as thoroughly as possible. Use the clean lettuce in a salad, cook, or see the next step for storing washed lettuce.