My sister-in-law makes the most phenomenal salads. It’s her “thing,” what people always ask her to bring or assume she will make. I’ve always been known for my desserts, but one day my sister-in-law generously told me all her salad making secrets. I now can hold my own with lettuce, and proudly sit at the right-hand side of her salad bowl.
(I’m aware my pictures are painfully small. That will change w/ the new blog. For now, please click the image to enlarge.)
Last night I made a salad for dinner. Grilled, marinated chicken, lots of fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, and a simple, homemade dressing (I have yet to find a bottled dressing I like). I stood there for a minute debating whether to rinse of the leaves from my salad mix before I tossed them in the bowl. I’ve learned from various sources, including the CDC, that you can rinse to refresh but not clean. No amount of dunking and diving in your sink is going to remove the vestiges of cow patty run-off water.
So that got me thinking: how many of you rinse your bagged lettuce before eating it?
I want to hear whether you do or you don’t, and because this topic is so very scintillating, feel free to post anonymously. ;)
I am a rinser. I also use veggie wash, though I heard on NPR that a squirt bottle of vinegar and water works just as well. I also buy as much organic as I can afford and is available.
And – I don’t like bottled dressing either. How do you make yours? We just use balsamic and olive oil and dijon mustard, fresh herbs if we have them….
Scintillated Salad Girl :)
I don’t rinse my salad. But I’m lazy. I don’t wash my fruit either. Lately I’ve been getting this organic salad in a container that reads “rinsed three times” or something to that affect. Good enough for me!
I don’t rinse my bagged salad, bagged greens, or bagged spinach because I buy it for the convenience of using it out of the bag. I do however wash all other fruits and veggies. Never had a problem.
Well, I didn’t rinse my bag salad BEFORE I read this post, but i do now!
I don’t rinse anything in a bag but I do rinse all other fruits and veggies.
Now you’re making me rethink my ‘strategy’… Darn.
Wait, why rethink it?! The CDC says no amount of washing is going to get anything off that can make you sick…
I don’t rinse bagged stuff either. I never really thought about it� I guess I just figured the stuff was “clean enough”! I do rinse loose produce at least.
No, we dont rinse bagged salads…I assume since its bagged it has already been cleaned and rinsed…but maybe not??!!
I don’t rinse my bagged salad. I used to feel guilty, but once I read that the only way you can get rid of germs and bacteria is by boiling it, my new philosophy is out of bag, into bowl. I do rinse it if people are coming over, just because the lettuce freshens up with a quick dunk. Looks prettier.
I used to use veggie wash for fruits and veggies (for the kids) but now I don’t. Although, I am looking into making some vinegar rinse. Super cheap and easy.
I don’t rinse my bagged salad.. but I really only buy the baby spinach to add to the head of romaine that I do rinse.
If I tell you how smart and pretty you are will you give up you salad dressing recipe?
I use good seasons Italian w/balsamic.
Becky, flattery will get you everywhere with me. Actually, a few people have asked for the salad recipe I stole from my sister-in-law, so I’ll do that, too.
I’m half and half… depends on how it looks and how rushed and/or lazy I am at the time of serving :) I need a good salad recipe and dressing too please xo
Oiisch! I never rinse my salad.. or veggies, or fruit! Maybe I’m plain lazy or I *trust* everything is clean :P
BTW that salad looks YUMIIII…
“…pictures are painfully small. That will change w/ the new blog”.
What?
I’m with Kara – new blog?
I’m lazy too. I dont wash the bagged lettuce but we try not to buy that too often.
Hope you’re doing well Jules!
I rarely rinse the bagged salad mixes. But all other veggies and fruits, I sure do! I started doing it even more when I found out that fruits like apples can be picked before they are ripe and store in a cooled storage facilities for months – MONTHS! Yikes!
As for salad dressing? My mom makes this really simple one that involves vinegar, sliced white onions, a dash of water, a splash of olive oil, a pinch of pepper and a pinch of salt. Voila! When I am in a bind, that is what I whip up and it works! Lettuce really just needs a very slight covering of this stuff or else they start to wilt.
Rinsing your bagged lettuce is CARAZY!! That’sthe point, Jules. You already have enough to do. Make life easier for yourself and throw caution to the wind! I use those salads all the time at work and I’m confident they’ve have been rinsed a LOT already. No poop will befall you.
I don’t rinse my bagged salad. I love something sweet in my salads even if it’s dried fruit. This restaurant down the street has an amazing salad that consists of grilled chicken, spinach leaves, fresh strawberries, pieces of hard boiled eggs and caramalized walnuts. It’s so tasty!
I don’t rinse. I figure I can’t rinse off the actual bad stuff so why bother!
That’s my philosophy, Toi. :)
Thanks for the condolences. We’re all pretty heart sick around here. I guess time will make it a little easier to get by, but I’m not so sure.