Of course, all foods last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly. But, like a lot of other vegetables, lettuce usually has a best by date or no date at all to tell the expiration date. Because of this distinction, you may safely use it to compliment your favorite meals even after the the best by date has lapsed.

How to tell if Lettuce is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Although not a perfect test, your senses are usually the most reliable instruments to tell if your lettuce has gone bad. Some common traits of bad lettuce are discoloration, a moist texture and a rotten smell. Lettuce will first become limp and then the green color turns to brown or black.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Lettuce to extend its shelf life?

You can help lettuce keep fresh longer by storing it in your refrigerator immediately after use. A great way to keep it crisp and fresh for longer is to rinse and dry your lettuce before storing it. An easy way to dry lettuce is with a salad spinner. A container made for lettuce, like the Tupperware container, or any airtight plastic (such as a vegetable bag sealed tightly) work great to keep out moisture and other contaminants.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

Interesting facts about Lettuce:

How long is Lettuce good for when prepared in a dish?

How long does lettuce last? That depends. How long do hard boiled eggs last? In general, all foods last only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the dish that it is prepared in.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Lettuce lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Lettuce.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Lettuce shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!