Are you really supposed to refrigerate salad veg?

[sonik]

At least I know where it is, but it tends to only last the day you bought it plus the next day if you're lucky.

How long would say a lettuce (proper one not a horrible iceberg) or tomatoes etc actually last if you did put them in the fridge?

I've never tested it as I've found that if I put them in the salad drawer I forgot all about them and next time I looked a few weeks later they turned into squelch.

Is it wise to artificially prolong the life of salad by refrigerating it?

Won't it just have the appearance of being fresh while still loosing nutritional value? (like supermarket salad leaves in plastic bags)

I just wondered because the bit where the main beer stash goes is officially called the 'salad crisper', apparently.

As you know those bags of supermarket lettuces are washed in chlorine to supposedly prolong life and kill off any nastiness, which is a load of old crap if you ask me and probably very bad for you. But sometimes that's all you can get.

Anyway this is a a good tip that my mum has done forever. Get your lettuce whatever type it may be or weather it's from a bag, allotment, farmers market etc etc, wash it in cold water and leave it to drain for a bit, or better still use one of those lettuce spinning things, then in a large freezer bag ad a few tablespoons of ice cold water or two ice cubes, stick your lettuce in the bag, seal and viola!!! The lettuces will last at least four days and stay fresh and tasty.

Apparently Nigel Slater uses this method too and if it's good enough for him........

Tomato's definitely lose flavor if they are left in the fridge to long.