I used to buy a head of romaine and watch it turn into a limp science project by Wednesday. Bagged salads were my backup plan, and they cost twice as much for half the leaves. Then my neighbor, a retired produce manager, told me the paper towel trick and I have not thrown out a single head since.

Why Lettuce Goes Limp

Lettuce does not go bad because it is old. It goes bad because it sits in its own moisture. The leaves release water, the water pools in the bag, and the trapped dampness turns crisp leaves into slimy ones. Remove the extra moisture and you remove the problem.

The Setup That Changed It

The whole trick takes about two minutes:

1. Wash the head and shake it dry. You want it damp, not dripping.
2. Lay a clean paper towel flat and wrap the head like a burrito. One towel is enough for a standard head.
3. Drop the wrapped head into a produce bag or a loose container. Do not seal it airtight. Lettuce needs a little airflow.
4. Store it in the crisper drawer, wrapped towel side down.

That is it. The towel soaks up the moisture the leaves release, and the lettuce stays crunchy.

A Few Rules I Learned the Hard Way

• Do not pre-cut the leaves. Chopped lettuce wilts fast. Chop only what you need that night.
• Check the towel after a week. If it feels wet, swap in a dry one. Takes ten seconds.
• If the outer leaves look tired, peel them off and the head underneath is usually fine.

I once forgot a wrapped head in the back of the crisper for eleven days. The towel was soggy and the outer leaves were done for, but the inside was still good enough for a salad. Eleven days.