Here’s what a registered dietitian says about why you shouldn’t wash your pre-washed lettuce at home.
Pre-washed lettuce is already about as safe as it gets.
These practices are set by the Food and Drug Administration, and all food manufacturing facilities must follow them.
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Your home kitchen isn’t subject to these same sky-high standards for safety and cleanliness.
Predictably, people went nuts, and many couldn’t imagine not washing their chicken before cooking it.
Trust that your pre-washed lettuce is ready to eat.
If you have pre-packaged, unwashed greens, then the leaves should already be separated.
“Separate and individually rinse the leaves under cold running tap water,” Cochran says.
“Plus their safety and effectiveness have not been thoroughly tested or standardized.”
It’s even possible that they’re less effective for washing than water alone.
The bottom line
The safest way to eat leafy greens is to buy them pre-washed.
Best to leave the washing to the experts.
