The Best Reason Not to Buy Prewashed Salad in a Bag
Pre-washed, pre-chopped, ready-to-go salad greens in sealed bags can be found in the produce department of just about every grocery store and supermarket. Those bags are certainly a tempting option because what’s not to like about having someone else do all the work of chopping and then double- or even triple-washing? Even so, I don’t buy bagged salad but not be for the reasons you might assume.
Not for fear of bacteria
It’s not because I’m overly concerned that bacteria might make it through all that pre-washing in a chlorinated bath (although tests conducted by Consumer Reports did find bacteria that are common indicators of poor sanitation). I seriously doubt that any grocery store’s produce department is 100% bacteria-free. Watching customers touch and test fresh produce is one such indicator.
Not creepy contamination
It’s not the rumors of fecal contamination when samples of all kinds of packaged greens from baby greens to spinach, traditional, and organic were tested. As creepy as that is to think about, even Consumer Reports assures that the contamination falls within the FDA’s acceptable levels.
Not degradation
It’s not even my concern about just how long ago these greens were cut and washed. Granted, I am not a fan of limp, brown-ish, tired-appearing romaine, iceberg lettuce, or cabbage. And even though I am a believer that once you wash, cut, and prepare any kind of fresh produce—be it fruit or vegetables—the flavor and quality begin to degrade, that’s not it either.
It’s not any of those things that cause me to just walk on by that prepackaged section in my supermarket’s produce department.
It’s the price
The reason I don’t buy salad in a bag is the cost. Paying at least four times the cost of the bulk option to get my salad greens cut up, pre-washed, and then sealed in a plastic bag or box is just too hard to swallow.
As I write, Dole Hearts of Romaine prewashed and chopped in a 9-ounce bag is $3.49 at my supermarket. A fresh head of romaine lettuce is $1.49, or about $.83 for a 9-ounce equivalent. That’s a 420% markup! Granted, I get that there are prep, labor, and packaging costs required for the bagged option. But just seeing the difference in price makes me more than willing to handle all of that myself.
Bag vs. bulk
As I’ve queried readers and friends on the bag versus bulk question, the overarching reason so many people go for the prepackaged, triple-washed, salad greens in a bag, comes down to one thing: time. Bagged salads are convenient and so easy to grab and go.
(Ironically, nearly everyone I’ve chatted with admits to rewashing those bagged salad greens, just to be on the safe side. So where’s all the convenience and time-saving in that?)
The test
I did my own time test. I washed and shredded an entire head of green cabbage using a sharp knife. I chose cabbage over Romaine lettuce for my test because, well, I love cabbage.
I was done— washed-to-finish in 7 minutes. I ended up with a great big bowl of beautiful, bright green, crunchy, fresh cabbage for our favorite coleslaw. It took another 5 minutes to make the yummy dressing. Total cost about $2, complete. Yum.
Prewashed tips
If you still prefer to purchase prewashed salad greens, follow these tips:
- Buy packages as far from their use-by date as you can find.
- Even if the bag says “prewashed” or “triple-washed,” wash the greens yourself. Rinsing won’t remove all bacteria but may remove residual soil.
- Prevent cross-contamination by keeping greens away from raw meat.
Updated Republished: 10-17-22
Question: Do you buy pre-packaged greens that come in a bag or box? If so, do you rewash?
Sweet Restaurant-Style Coleslaw
Ingredients
- 1 pound green cabbage, shredded
- 2 tablespoons diced sweet onion
- ¼ cup grated carrot
- â…” cup mayonnaise, or Miracle Whip is a fine substitute if you prefer
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, or white vinegar
- 3 tbsp vegetable oil
- ½ cup white granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon poppy seeds
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine cabbage, onion, and carrot.
- In a smaller bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, oil, sugar, vinegar, salt, pepper and poppy seeds.
- Pour dressing over cabbage mixture and toss to coat.
- Chill for 2 hours before serving.
chlorinated prewash? why on earth would I buy something to eat that has highly toxic chlorine on it?
My grandsons LOVE being the spinner! Thanks for bringing back that memory!
My husband is not a big salad fan. I am. That being said – I like mixed lettuces. Buying heads of romaine, red cabbage, spinach, kale, red lettuce, butter lettuce, etc costs a lot and I cannot possibly use all of it before it spoils. So dollar to dollar bagged lettuce is more economical. For me.
However I have also started growing my own. So I should be good. I also grow tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, watermelon, herbs, seminole pumpkin and more
While I agree the price is high, I am old and very mobility challenged. It’s difficult for me to stand at a sink or counter long enough to cut up veggies for a salad. Plus, I have a hard time using a knife due to arthritis in my hands. And I don’t eat salad very often. So if while shopping online (I don’t go into grocery stores any longer due to Covid and being immunocompromised), if I see a packaged salad that I like, I’ll buy one.
I don’t buy package salad because it taste funny. When I eat salad I want to taste the greens that means not a lot of dressing. A lot of dressing kills the off putting taste of package salad that why most people do not fine the salads funny taste.
Hi, I have a question about the Sterilite plastic container that you recommend for storing lettuce in. It has a small pop-up hole for venting the contents. Should I keep that vent open or closed while storing lettuce! Thanks, love all of your tips and articles.
I leave it crackd open.
The price does not bother me it is the taste. I am one of those people that does not like a lot of dressing I want to taste the greens and pre-washed salad taste awful.