Paper Towels vs. Vacuum-Sealing: What Keeps Cut Lettuce Fresh Longer?
Sneak Preview: What keeps cut lettuce fresh longer? This is the result of my paper towels vs. vacuum sealing experiment.
Both jars look equally fresh at the start. Left: paper towel. Right: vacuum-sealed.
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People often tell me they keep lettuce fresh in a bag with a paper towel. But that’s usually uncut lettuce—not ready to eat. What happens when you chop the lettuce first and try storing it with a paper towel in the jar?
One reader claimed the paper towel worked just as well as vacuum sealing. I tested it myself—and after 11 days, the results weren’t even close.
How I Set Up the Lettuce Storage Test
To keep the test fair, I chopped romaine into bite-size pieces from the same heads and packed them into identical jars. One jar had a folded paper towel on top; the other was vacuum-sealed. Both jars were stored on the same shelf in the same refrigerator.
Paper towel jar (left) is beginning to show browning on the edges. The vacuum-sealed jar (right) still looks crisp.
What I Learned From the Test
- Vacuum-sealed lettuce held up better overall. The paper towel helped delay browning, but not by much after Day 5.
- Day 11 was pushing it. Even the vacuum-sealed lettuce started to show its age, though it was still usable with a quick rinse.
- Vacuum-sealing doesn’t require expensive equipment. I use a budget-friendly handheld sealer and a jar adapter.
- Once you get the hang of it, prep is fast. My first time took about an hour. Now I can prep five or six jars in under 30 minutes.
- Convenience matters. Having chopped lettuce ready makes it easier to choose salad over less healthy options.
By Day 11, the difference is clear. Only the vacuum-sealed lettuce (right) still looks fresh enough to eat.
Final Thoughts
Vacuum-sealing chopped lettuce takes a little more effort than tossing in a paper towel—but the results speak for themselves. After 11 days, only the vacuum-sealed jar still held crisp, usable lettuce. If you’re serious about eating more salad and cutting waste, vacuum-packing makes it easier to stick with the habit.
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Questions? Email me: Paula at saladinajar.com. Hope to see you again soon!
ever tried a paper towel in the lettuce vacumn sealed jar?
Hi Julie,
I don’t remember ever doing that. I will try it with my next batch. Have you done it?
I love my vac sealer. In fact I’m on my 3rd one, been using them since they came out. But I never considered using for lettuce. Don’t know why! I’m looking forward to following you. Thanks!
Hi Nancy,
WELCOME! Can’t wait to hear what you think after you try it.
I wrap my romaine heads tightly in aluminum wrap, they stay fresh for over a week. Also do this with celery and cabbage. Head lettuce stays fresh for week or more uncut but core out in a glass bowl with damp paper towel over and shrink wrap covering the bowl.
Hi Carole,
Great suggestion if you don’t need salad that is ready to eat when you open the refrigerator door. The difference with my method is that the lettuce is “cut” into bite size pieces, but it still does not turn brown on the edges for 8-10 days. Thank you for joining the conversation.
Never thought to spread the word.
Nice you are doing so.
Been doing this since 2004 with a Foodsaver 1050 and Pump n Seal manual pump.
Parents were chemists and physicists and taught us a lot so it seemed obvious to try it on just about everything including lettuce.
A good vacuum sealer will pay for itself in a year for a family of 4 so think of it as an investment.
I retired the 1050 last year and bought a Nesco VS-12 after some research when Keepa told me it was on sale at Amazon Mexico.
Love your yogurt articles. Everything I need in one place.
Never thought of coffee filters since I’ve only drunk French press cold brew.
Am using 200 mesh 30 X 46 cm nut milk bags but I only make 2-3 liters at a time.
Just bought Bunn 12 cup filters https://www.amazon.com.mx/gp/product/B071JVHZKP/and have a stainless colander and bowl they will fit perfectly.
After yogurt, filters will be used for the inside of door, under sink, bokashi bin. https://www.amazon.com/Tiyafuro-Kitchen-Cupboard-Bathroom-Mountable/dp/B089WGNML5/ along with the parchment paper.
Perfect for layering between the daily food scraps.
Thanks for the complete, easy to understand information.
Thanks for your interesting comments, Rich.
Hello,
Regarding the lettuce being vacuumed packed in a jar; are you rinsing the lettuce before packing?
Thanks,
Deb
I presently wrap my Romaine in 1/2 sheet of paper towel and heavy duty foil with no prerinse…
Yes, I wash the lettuce thoroughly, chop it and spin it dry before packing it. Your method works well, too, if you don’t mind prepping it before you make your salad. Since I eat a huge salad daily, it is more convenient for me to vacuum-pack enough chopped and clean lettuce for 10 days. When I walk into the kitchen to eat lunch, I can put together a salad in less than two minutes. This is a big deal to me becaus–if a salad not quick and easy, I will end up eating something else that is quick and easy–and not nearly as healthy.
I love your comparisons!! I have to tell you that I have been saving my precut veggies like cucumbers, onions, mushrooms and bell peppers and in ziplock bags with an absorbent paper towel (viva) in the bottom and they last forever. The type paper towel makes a huge difference. I just took out diced onions last night that are 11 days old and they were still perfectly crisp. Mushrooms will last up to 3 1/2 weeks if you remember to change out the paper towels.
Hi JoAnna,
Good to hear from you. This is interesting, but I have a couple of questions. 1. What other brands of paper towels have you tried to compare to Viva? And question #2: How often do you change the paper towel inside the bag? Or do you ever change the towels? Just curious. Can’t wait to hear from you.
I got a great food saver vacuum sealer from Kohl’s. We don’t have space in our current kitchen to keep it out – so I don’t use it as much as I should. Love it! I hadn’t tried it for lettuce that’s a great instruction tip.
Kohls does great housewares sales I plus there was an extra discount when I checked out so it was more than 50% off and I feel like the way it helps me preserve food that would otherwise get thrown away is worth the investment. We bulk buy meat and vacuum seal it for the freezer – definitely worth the investment.
Good to know, Jan. Thanks for sharing. I have the same issue with space and vacuum sealers. That’s why the handheld sealers are my best friend.
Wow, the food I like to eat… thank you!
You’re welcome!!
I always used a moist paper towel, but it still would look similar to teh dry.
Vacuum sealing is CHEAP if you buy these things…under $20, which we’d spend easily on that ROMAINE (not sure how other lettuces last vacuum sealed) we all throw out because it’s gone bad… just put the handi-vac nozzle on top of the foodsaver lid and press button to count of 5 (do not overdo or you will not be able to get the lid off!) Sometimes you can find the Reynolds Handi-Vac at Ollie’s Outlets:
$10.25+ Reynolds Handi-Vac (https://www.amazon.com/Reynolds-00590-Handi-Vac-Vacuum-Sealing-Starter/dp/B000XY8PDW/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1504278104&sr=1-1&keywords=Reynolds+Handi-Vac)
$8.94 – FoodSaver Mason Jar Sealing Lid (make your you purchase wide mouthed or regular mouthed depending on what you use). ($8.94 https://www.amazon.com/FoodSaver-T03-0023-01-Wide-Mouth-Jar-Sealer/dp/B00005TN7H/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1504278059&sr=8-1&keywords=foodsaver+mason+jar+lid)
Ido, THANK-YOU SO MUCH for providing the links. I just did not take the time to put them in my post but I’m going to go back and add something to my post to let people know you added them.
I have never not been able to get the lid off of my jar. An old-fashioned opener helps but I can usually get it off with my fingers after years of practice. Thanks so much for writing.
Very cool experiment! I need to save this idea for future science fairs!
My random thought: I like the weird looks I get when I pull out a jar of lettuce from my lunch at work. It always brings about questions. 🙂
Yes, good idea on the science fair project. Not difficult and easy-to-see results!