Do You Wash Bagged Greens?

May 5, 2010

The other day I was making a salad and dumped a bag of mixed greens into a bowl. I know I should have washed the greens, but the bag says "pre-washed," so I didn't take the time to wash them. How about you?

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22 Comments

silicapathways 3 years 1 week

My husband and I don't buy them very often (usually just got for a head of lettuce as it's cheaper) but when we do we do not wash them. My parents bought bags often growing up and we never got sick.

GummiBears 3 years 1 week

Yeah I do. I bought some turnip greens and it still had grit. Nowadays I rarely buy bagged veggies unless I have a taste for them.

3 years 2 weeks

Well, it's no secret by now that chemicals of all sorts (not just in food) and the abuse of them cause allergies, skin irritations, asthma and intolerances, problems which up until 20 yrs ago weren't so common. My issue with bagged veggies is that they're grown in greenhouses, where they don't get the nutritional benefits of sun and earth so in turn have the nutritional value of about zilch. Add the chemicals used to preserve the leaves and you're just about doing a complete disservice to your body when in reality think you're actually eating well.

tigr3bianca 3 years 2 weeks

I don't buy "bagged" salad but I do buy spinach in a plastic container and I always wash it. I buy whole lettuce because every time I did buy bagged lettuce it went bad the next day. Plus I don't want to pay extra money for chemicals on my salad. I don't consider that convenience.

Vampyre 3 years 2 weeks

My concern about bagged vegies is exactly what Anon17 just mentioned. While ingesting those chemicals may not hurt us at the moment, they may build up in our system over time, which is when the problems start. And they may cause a problem for those people who have various intolerances and sensitivies already. Not to mention we ingest enough chemicals as it is. No need to go adding to it.

3 years 2 weeks

Bagged lettuce/salad is "pre-washed" in a chlorine solution several times for preservation purposes. The plastic bag is also lined with preservatives and other chemicals. That's the convenience you're paying for. Your best bet is to get a head of fresh lettuce and wash it yourself.

anhesty 3 years 2 weeks

i def do. it just doesn't feel right if i dont.

bryseana 3 years 2 weeks

I never wash pre-washed bagged greens. But I would never skip on washing fresh veggies. Bagged fruit (like grapes) I wash those too.

Spectra 3 years 2 weeks

Nah, it's triple-washed already...why waste the energy and effort?

AmberHoney 3 years 2 weeks

My garden lettuces have more crude (bugs) than anything I've ever gotten at the store. A big NO!

3 years 2 weeks

Isn't this the reason we buy bagged veggies? So we don't have to wash them.... just sayin' !

msdecember 3 years 2 weeks

i don't buy prewashed ever.

MsTwirlySkirts 3 years 2 weeks

I actually saw a Doctor on GMA who said that washing them in water after they already have been washed 3 times before bagging will not do any good. In fact, he said if for some reason there was some bacteria on the leaves, washing it would just spread that around to more leaves.... haven't washed it since

danakscully64 3 years 2 weeks

I don't. What's the point of buying bagged if you have to wash it and spin it anyway? You're paying for that convenience, that's the point. I don't buy bagged anymore, I pay 79 cents - $1 and cut it up myself, saves a few dollars.

limelindsey 3 years 2 weeks

I wash them. I feel like a blast of cold water crisps them up.

skigurl 3 years 2 weeks

not unless they look dirty isn't that the point??

sourcherries 3 years 2 weeks

Know I should. Luckily, usually buy whole and make mself.

mornnglo28 3 years 2 weeks

I used to wash them but then I realized that the grocery store uses them directly from the bag for premade salads and the salad bar, so I stopped.

onlysourcherry 3 years 2 weeks

I never wash them, and I've never once gotten sick. I'm unconvinced that it's necessary, and furthermore I'm unconvinced that me running greens under water is more effective than the triple washing technique or whatever they they do before bagging them.

SFCA 3 years 2 weeks

I've read many times that you should wash them; however, I don't and I haven't gotten sick. And I've been eating bagged salad regularly for the last 6 years.

POPSUGAR Food 3 years 2 weeks

No, but I probably should.

bluebellknoll 3 years 2 weeks

I abso-frickin-lutely wash them.

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22 Comments

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