What is the best way to store some heads of iceberg lettuce for a few weeks in the fridge?

Question

I know there's a way, but I just can't recall it. I usually store it whole-headed in a tightly wrapped plastic bag, and just peel off a few outer leaves for a salad every day or so, till it's used up.
A head lasts a couple of weeks or longer that way, and it's very fresh and crispy, and has no rot. Sometimes I break off the stem, if it looks rusty. But I'd like to know how to store it for 4 weeks or longer.

I never cut my lettuce; it causes rust to form. I remove the outer leaves only, a few at a time, and the head lasts. This does not work as well with leaf lettuce or Romaine lettuce.
Please, people, I already know how to store it successfully for at least 2 weeks. Now I want good advice to store it for 4 weeks. Thanks!

Answer 1

To store lettuce, wash, drip dry and place in a plastic bag in the refrigerator. Lettuce keeps best at 32°F and high (96%) humidity.

Lettuce leaves should be free of wilt, rot and rust. Harvest crisp green leaves.

Wrap fresh, unwashed leaves in plastic warp and store in the refrigerator for a few days if necessary.

Cooler temperature will keep lettuce fresh longer. The coolest part of most refrigerators is usually on the first shelf against the rear wall.

Avoid storing lettuce with apples, pears or bananas. These fruits release ethylene gas, a natural ripening agent, that will cause the lettuce to develop brown spots and decay quickly.

Toss lettuce that looks slimy or has black spots. The slime is the residue of bacterial decomposition and the black spots are usually mold.

Answer 2

wrapping the lettuce heads in plastic isnt going to help. In restaurants the lettuce comes in a box that has openings on the top bottom and sides so it can breath. If you want it to last longer keep it moist and let it breath no matter what you do once you cut into the lettuce head is going to start to wilt. they all do. but to keep it last longer prop it up off the top shelf in your fridge and keep it moist and let the air circulate around it that will give you the longest shelf life for your lettuce. make sure your fridge's temp is around 35 degrees if its warmer than that then the quality of your cold foods arnt as good and you not getting the most of your money by having to through things away

Answer 3

For WEEKS?! Food distibutors do it by pumping the cold storage full of CO2 and removing oxygen... not sure how you'd effectively pull that off. Dry wrapping in damp paper towels then in zipper bags.

Answer 4

You cant, lettuce only lasts about a week. Resturants only keep it for 3 days. Chop it up, wash it, dry it real good, and wrap it in paper towels is about the best you can do.