Experts reveal the EIGHT steps to properly wash your lettuce – and why you need to do it

Food safety experts have warned that everyone who eats leafy greens could be exposed to harmful bacteria, revealing that you need to follow an eight-step process when washing your lettuce to remove any potential germs.

A salad may sound like the perfect healthy meal, but if you choose not to wash your lettuce with these eight steps, you may be setting yourself up for a harmful lunch, according to food safety experts.

According to Katie Sabatini, manager of quality control and food safety at Little Leaf Farms, and Jay Weinstein, chef and instructor of plant-based culinary arts at the Culinary Education Institute, you should always clean your lettuce before taking a bite.

Experts have revealed the eight steps you need to take to properly wash your leafy greens, and why it’s so important to never skip the cleaning process.

It’s essential that you wash field-grown leafy greens, such as romaine and iceberg lettuce, before consuming them because they can be full of harmful bacteria.

Lettuce can become contaminated with germs from agricultural runoff, contaminated water supplies, and when it is around livestock or any other animal.

Whether an animal is wild or domestic, any nearby feeding or grazing can lead to the spread of bacteria.

speaking to yahooKatie said: “Harmful bacteria can live on lettuce as it’s being harvested and going through the packing process, so it’s best to wash it just before eating to help rinse any dirt off the surface.”

Jay notes that washing vegetables before eating is crucial because “contaminants range from pesticides to sand and mud.”

And while lettuce from the farmer’s market tends to contain more bacteria, factory-grown leafy greens also contain plenty of chemicals.

Agricultural chemicals can be more difficult to detect, however they are very dangerous.

Jay said: “Invisible, odorless and tasteless by design, I wouldn’t risk swallowing them just to save a few minutes in the kitchen.”

For the first step of properly cleaning your leafy greens, experts recommend that you start by washing your hands for at least ‘twenty seconds’ with soap and water.

Katie points out that washing lettuce without washing your hands first doesn’t make sense because it will only spread other germs.

When you start to wash your lettuce, you should always tear or cut the leaves rather than rinse the entire head.

This is because washing just the head can ignore any hidden dirt, especially where the blades meet the center.

Jay Weinstein, chef and plant-based culinary arts instructor at the Institute for Culinary Education, said you should always clean your lettuce before you take a bite.

After cutting your leafy greens, set up your station to degerm your lettuce.

You need to fill “two large containers with cold tap water,” according to Jay.

Katie explained that temperature plays a big role in proper rinsing of lettuce.

“Young lettuce leaves are more susceptible to adverse quality effects from wash water that is too hot, which can include wilting, scalding, limpness and further loss of freshness, among others,” Katie said.

Then, you’ll grab the lettuce and ‘fully submerge’ it in the water.

Jay explained that wet lettuce goes bad faster, so you want to make sure it’s dry before putting it back in the fridge (stock image)

While the green leaves are soaking, “shake vigorously, using loose fingers to avoid bruising the leaves.”

Although the next step is a “little process,” according to Jay, it gets easier as you get used to it.

You’ll lift the lettuce out of the water and let it drip-drain before moving it to the second bowl and repeating the process.

After doing this, feel the bottom of the container for any dirt. If you feel any, repeat the process again until there are no more.

Finally, spin the leaves to dry with a lettuce spinner or a clean towel or pillowcase.

Jay explained that wet lettuce spoils faster, so you want to make sure it’s dry before you put it back in the fridge.

And while a lettuce spinner will work best, the chef explained that even putting the lettuce on a clean towel or pillowcase and tossing it “over your head like you’re rolling a slingshot” will do the trick.