Disinfecting and washing salad greens and herbs

Ever since we started our garden, I’ve been struggling to find a better way to wash all the salad greens I harvest. Sometimes I harvest way too much, or what I do harvest is really dirty – like after a rain. I’ve used cardboard boxes, collapsible baskets etc, but inevitably it seems like I’m using an obscene amount of water (disinfecting the sink to soak) and no good resusable container.

Sometimes you just need to take a step back and try a few things, and voila a new process reveals itself! I decided to change up a few things, feel free to use some of these same tips for the greens you get from the store (yes, even wash the pre-washed stuff!)

Reusable Mesh Produce Mags

I came across some mesh reusable produce bags (buy*) I bought many years ago. You know, in an effort to use less plastic bags at the grocery store when buying fruit, herbs etc.. They were really for Dave to use, and shortly after I bought them we decided to move, and into the moving box they went, and out they came to be buried in current pantry.

The bags hold the perfect amount of salad greens we eat for about two meals (plus sandwich toppings). I can carry the little bag around with me in the garden and pluck whatever salad or beet greens I like, and pull the top shut when I’m done. Light and easy enough to rinse, hang, reuse.

These bags would be perfect for harvesting herbs, since most of the time the leaves are really tiny. A good rinse with water would be perfect!

Big Pot/Bowl for Washing Greens

The reusable bags fit nicely in my largest post, maybe a stockpot for you.

  1. Fill the pot with cold water, and add a few splashes of white vinegar to disinfect.
  2. Add the produce bag/s and submerge the greens.
  3. With the greens in the bag give everything a nice swirl. Think of it as handwashing cycle for your greens. Let sit about 10-15 minutes (at most), which also gives the greens some time to perk back up.
  4. Remove greens from bag into basket of salad spinner. Give the basket a good rinse, and dry in the spinner
  5. Place greens in a container and put a piece of paper towel on the top or bottom to wick away any extra moisture.

After you’ve done all that you’re free to eat your greens or herbs however you choose. I totally dig mine in a salad or flash sauteed!

Washing Salad Greens with reusable produce bagshttps://i0.wp.com/www.thesugarpixie.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wpid-20140713_105609-e1405271668486.jpg?fit=750%2C1000&ssl=1https://i0.wp.com/www.thesugarpixie.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/wpid-20140713_105609-e1405271668486.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1thesugarpixieGardeningsaladEver since we started our garden, I've been struggling to find a better way to wash all the salad greens I harvest. Sometimes I harvest way too much, or what I do harvest is really dirty - like after a rain. I've used cardboard boxes, collapsible baskets etc, but...Misadventures and fun in the kitchen and beyond