Do You Need to Rinse Bagged Lettuce? It Depends

The first step of enjoying any piece of produce is typically washing it off. Or at least, rinsing it. Berries, stone fruit, leafy greens, and most anything else from your crisper drawer all need a trip to the sink to remove any dirt or potential bacteria, pesticides, pests, or anything else inedible lurking in the fresh food. Washing produce helps reduce the risk of foodborne illness, but can sometimes feel redundant when you’re opening a bag of lettuce or package of salad mix that’s labeled as “pre-washed” or “pre-rinsed.” Should you take the time to rinse off your bagged lettuce? We looped in a registered dietitian to find out. 

Should You Rinse Bagged Lettuce? 

“When it comes to deciding whether to rinse your bagged lettuce or not, the answer is like most things, it depends,” says Bridget Wood, RD, LD, CDCES. The decision, Wood notes, can come down to the packaging. 

“If your lettuce doesn’t clearly state that it has been rinsed and washed on the packaging, washing the greens before you prepare your salad can help to remove dirt, debris, and other bacteria or pathogens that might be present,” Wood explains.

“However, if it already states that [the lettuce] is rinsed and you rinse it again, you could be increasing the chances of obtaining food-borne illness. “The pre-washed versions are prepared in controlled environments that don’t have opportunities for cross-contamination, such as raw animal products, which can often be present in our kitchens at mealtime.”

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) agrees, and advises against washing pre-washed lettuce a second time. “At the store, you may find produce, like bagged salads or some cut and packaged fruits or vegetables, that is labeled as ‘pre-washed’ or ‘ready-to-eat.’ If you see this label, then you can safely use the produce without further washing,” the government department explains. “If you choose to wash produce marked as ‘pre-washed’ or ‘ready-to-eat’ be sure that it does not come in contact with unclean surfaces or utensils, especially those that have touched raw meat, poultry or seafood or their juices. This will help to avoid cross-contamination.”

When to Rinse Bagged Lettuce

Look carefully at your lettuce packaging when deciding whether or not to wash it: Some clean-looking lettuce and greens will have instructions on the bag, like “wash before serving” or “wash before using” while others will indicate that the lettuce is “pre-washed” or “ready-to-eat.” Trust the labels! 

Even organic lettuce, which is grown without conventional pesticides, needs to be washed if the package doesn’t indicate it has been pre-washed.

Bagged lettuce from the farmer’s market or green market, typically bagged by hand just before being put out to sell, should typically be washed as well. 

How to Rinse Lettuce 

“When rinsing bagged lettuce, you want to make sure that you decrease any risk of cross-contamination from any other foods you might be consuming along with the leafy greens,” Wood says. “Make sure you wash your hands and clean all surfaces the lettuce might come in contact with, such as your sink and counter spaces, prior to rinsing. If you’re using something like a salad spinner, don’t forget to make sure that you wash and dry this prior to spinning! Bacteria and other pathogens that can make you sick could be hiding in those nooks and crannies, which can be avoided if you are cleaning the device properly.”

To rinse lettuce effectively, follow the step-by-step instructions below:

1. Remove lettuce from packaging 
2. Wash hands and any surfaces the lettuce will touch. Prepare a resting area for the clean lettuce, such as a salad spinner, kitchen towel, or paper towel. 
3. Separate the lettuce leaves, and run them under cold water, the force of which will help remove any debris.
4. Lay out lettuce leaves and pat them dry or spin in a salad spinner to remove excess water.