Why should you soak your lettuce?

There are two major reasons why it’s worth going through the process of soaking your lettuce leaves. I explain what they are and how it works!

A worthwhile step

A quick rinse does the trick, surely? Lettuce seems like a crazy thing to spend too much time on, surely.

SLAP! NO! Try again.

I am all for low maintenance and quick meals - but this relatively lazy extra step is totally worth it. Add in those few minutes more, and get a much better result (and family members who are much more likely to go for the lettuce leaves again).

Whether you are just chucking in some lettuce leaves in a main salad (or a small side salad for something like a bolognese), or the lettuce is playing a bigger part, like in some lettuce wraps, soaking them is always worth doing. There are two main reasons you want to do this:

It makes them crispier

Lettuce leaves (and other salad leaves) will quite quickly go limp in the fridge. That is because they lose moisture and become dehydrated (I’m pushing 40 so I know the feeling, lettuce). When you pop the leaves in a bowl of water and give them a chance to soak it up (ideally 30 mins if you have the time), they will rehydrate and that gives them back that nice, crispy feel. Like they’ve been revived!

It makes them less bitter

You don’t have time to send your iceberg to therapy to work on forgiveness towards themselves and others. But again, that nice, cold plunge and soak will help it become less bitter! How? Why? Apparently, the milky sap in lettuce that makes them taste bitter is water soluble, so soaking them helps draw that sap out.

Also - if you are growing your own lettuce, a lot of gardening forums online seem to believe that watering them generously while growing them makes a big difference to the taste as well!

So how do I do it?

Simple! A big bowl, ice cold water - pop in some ice cubes if you have them handy - and separate the leaves (you can chop them up too if you intend on using them in salads). Plunge them in the cold water and let them soak for as long as you can, as I say 30 minutes is good but even longer if you have it. You want to dry them well afterwards of course, so a salad spinner is a great way - or just pat them well with kitchen roll if you don’t have one handy.

I really hope this helps you! Let me know in a comment below. If you have any other tips for lettuce, please do share!