Spring mix is a blend of different types of salad greens that can be used in many different dishes. It’s easy to make your own salad mixes at home, but if you don’t have time for that, you have the option of buying pre-made spring mix from the grocery store. If you want to save some money and make sure your greens stay fresh over time, consider freezing them instead! Freezing salad greens can be a great way to save money and keep your greens fresh. You can use them later on in the year when you’re looking for a quick, healthy side dish or even as an ingredient in soups and salads. Here’s how to freeze spring mix!
What is a spring mix? This blend of lettuces contains four different types of greens, each with its own taste, texture and color.
If you’re a fan of salad mix, you’ll be thrilled to know that there are many ways to enjoy it. There are several different types of lettuce and mixed greens that can be used in a spring mix.
Lettuce is one of the most popular salad greens, and there are various types available to meet your needs. Romaine lettuce has long leaves with a crisp texture; butterhead lettuce has soft leaves with delicate flavor; Boston lettuce is known for its sweet flavor and buttery texture; iceberg lettuce has crisp leaves and mild flavor; leaf lettuces have delicate leaves and tender hearts with varying flavors (e.g., red leaf, green leaf).
Spring mixes are sold in different forms. Some are pre-washed and ready to eat, while others are pre-cut but un-washed.
Spring mixes are sold in different forms. Some spring mixes are pre-washed, but not all of them are. If you’re looking for a salad mix that’s pre-washed and ready to eat, look for the product being sold in plastic bags. These products will be labeled as “washed” or “ready to eat.”
If you want to buy your own spring mix and wash it yourself, then you’ll have to look for a product that is labeled as “unwashed” or “untreated.” Unwashed spring mixes can often be purchased at farmers markets or grocery stores in bulk bins where they’re sold by weight instead of individual packages.
Salad mixes usually include many varieties of green leaf lettuces, baby lettuces and spinach leaves.
A spring mix is a blend of lettuces, baby lettuces and spinach leaves. Spring mixes are typically made from a combination of the following greens:
- Arugula
- Lettuce (Boston, Bibb)
- Radicchio
- Mizuna
- Frisée lettuce
How do you store lettuce and salad mixes? They should be kept in the refrigerator, though not always in a plastic bag.
Lettuce should be kept in the refrigerator, though not always in a plastic bag. If you do decide to store lettuce in plastic bags, make sure they are properly sealed and designed for food storage (such as Reusable Produce Bags). Lettuce should never be stored at room temperature; rather than leaving it out on your kitchen counter or table, refrigerate it immediately after purchasing or picking up from the home garden.
Lettuce is sensitive to extreme temperatures as well as moisture loss and high humidity levels. It should be stored at 34°-36° F (1°-2° C) at a relative humidity of 90 percent or lower. To prevent wilting and browning of leaves, place lettuce in an airtight container with holes poked into the lid for ventilation to allow excess moisture to escape. You can also soak torn lettuce leaves in cold water for 30 minutes prior to use; this will help restore their crispness!
Spring mix should be kept at low humidity in an airtight container that has room to circulate air, but it does not need to breathe.
You can keep lettuce in an airtight container that has room to circulate air, but it does not need to breathe. For example, a plastic container with a lid or plastic wrap laid over the top will work just fine. Just make sure you don’t use anything with holes or gaps that could allow moisture and air to escape from your salad mix.
If your crisper drawer is full of other fruits and vegetables that give off ethylene gas (like apples), try putting them on the bottom of the refrigerator where there are fewer items for them to affect. Also keep in mind that ethylene-producing foods should be stored separately from foods you want to prevent from ripening—like tomatoes!
It’s possible to freeze salad mix for up to 2 months if you follow these steps.
Freezing your salad mix will not affect the taste or texture of your salad in any way. You’ll be able to enjoy the same great-tasting, fresh-out-of-the-garden salad that you would have enjoyed if you ate it fresh from the garden.
Additionally, freezing it won’t change its nutritional value as long as you freeze it soon after buying (and after washing). The water content of most fruits and vegetables decreases during cooking or dehydration, so by removing some water before storing them in the freezer, we can preserve more vitamins.
Finally, don’t worry about your salad going bad sooner than it would have if left out at room temperature! Vegetables can actually last longer when they are frozen because they are protected from air and light exposure that cause cells to deteriorate faster.
First, wash your loose salad greens thoroughly in a bowl of cool water as soon as you get home from the grocer’s.
- Wash your loose salad greens thoroughly in a bowl of cool water as soon as you get home from the grocer’s. Do not use soap or detergent!
- Do not rinse them with hot water, as this will ruin their flavor and texture by removing essential oils that keep them fresh and crisp when they’re stored in the refrigerator or freezer!
- After washing, drain the greens well but do not spin-dry; then, pat dry with paper towels (or air-dry if you have enough time).
Remove any large leaves from the stems, then place them on paper towels and blot until completely dry.
Remove any large leaves from the stems, and place them on paper towels and blot until completely dry. Do not over-dry the leaves; they should be just damp when frozen. If you want to make a vinaigrette dressing, mix it up now and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Place salad mix in the freezer for about 20 minutes before placing them into freezer bags or vacuum sealer bags (Make sure to get out as much air as possible).
- Place salad mix in the freezer for about 20 minutes before placing them into freezer bags or vacuum sealer bags (Make sure to get out as much air as possible).
- Vacuum sealing will keep your greens fresh longer than storing them in a regular freezer bag or container.
- Vacuum sealing your greens is also easier and more convenient to store than other methods because there is no need for any type of preservation or special wrap.
- If you vacuum seal your greens they can be stored almost indefinitely without loss of quality!
You can freeze salad mix and keep it from spoiling by following these steps
To freeze salad mix, you’ll want to follow these steps:
- Wash your vegetables and herbs. If you’re going to store any of the vegetables or herbs from your garden that aren’t eaten fresh, it’s important to wash them well before freezing. You can scrub or rinse with a vegetable brush in cold water until the leaves are clean; then pat dry with paper towels or dry cloths. For leafy greens like spinach or kale, run them through a salad spinner after washing them (don’t throw away the water!). This will make sure that they’re as dry as possible when they go into storage bags so they aren’t sitting in any moisture which could cause mold growth while in storage.
- Prepare your vegetables and herbs for freezing appropriately by slicing them into smaller pieces (if necessary) and cutting out any stems if applicable. The more surface area exposed to air means quicker spoilage—so try not to leave too many large chunks of anything after preparing for freezing!
Conclusion
All in all, it’s easy to freeze your salad and keep it from spoiling. By following these steps, you can save yourself some time and money.
