salad spinner?

[lil_miss_understood]

ok i know this is going to sound lazy but here goes.
i love salad. i hate making it. Well, one particular part of it anyway.
I will gladly wash, dry and chop tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes, onions and anything else to "top" it, even make fresh dressing, but I HATE HATE HATE washing and drying greens. I almost would prefer to pay the $$ for the packaged, pre-washed greens (except that I don't trust they're washed or, if they are, with what? ).
Do you think a salad spinner might help?
I'm hoping you will all say yes.
Also, is there any way to wash greens say on Sunday for use later in the week? How long do you typically expect greens to stay "fresh" in your fridge?
Thanks!

[SophieAnn]

Yes, get a salad spinner! I love mine and use it all the time.

Yes, you can wash greens and then use them throughout the week. Actually, I found that the greens from our CSA would be pretty wet on pickup and if I washed and spun them dry they would actually keep longer in the fridge (in an airtight container lined with a tea towel).

For a large amount, I like to fill a clean sink about 2-3" deep with cool water, pour the greens in, swish around and transfer to the spinner in batches.

If I am just washing enough for one salad, I chop the greens, put the unwashed, chopped greens straight into the spinner. Fill the spinner with cool water, swish around to wash, then lift the basket part out to strain off the water, then spin dry.

[CalaRei]

I couldn't believe how much we actually use our salad spinner. It also stores the chopped greens really well in the fridge, because I leave them in the basket, which keeps them away from the sides - then they don't get all mushy and slimy.

The only drawback is that you have to search a bit if you want one where the outer bowl isn't made out of polycarbonate.

[elmh23]

My dh laughed at me for waisting $5 on our salad spinner, saying we weren't going to use it and how hard is it to make salad anyway? Then we started using it and he LOVES it. We found that it kept the greens fresher for longer (we also keep ours in the basket like CalaRei.) We've had it for about 2ish years now and have easily made up that $5 by not having our greens go bad so fast!

[dogmom327]

Word of warning--don't get one with an open bottom. I apparently picked the one that's supposed to be used in the sink or something. What a pain! My friend has one where the water collects and is easy to pour out. I've been meaning to get a new one...

[Ola_]

We recently got a salad spinner too and I love it. I wash the lettuce right before use so I can't help with the storing question, sorry. Ours has a removable basket thingie inside the spinner bowl so what I normally do is take out the basket, keep it by the cutting board and toss the lettuce right in as I chop. Then I hold the basket under the tap and shake/toss around to wash the lettuce. After that I just sit it inside the spinner bowl, put the lid on, and spin. Once I take out the lettuce I just dump the water out of the bowl, rinse the basket and bowl and set them to dry in the sink (I'm lazy, I don't wash them after each use). I like how the dressing sticks to the lettuce better because they're not as wet.

[journeymom]

Originally Posted by Ola_

We recently got a salad spinner too and I love it. I wash the lettuce right before use so I can't help with the storing question, sorry. Ours has a removable basket thingie inside the spinner bowl so what I normally do is take out the basket, keep it by the cutting board and toss the lettuce right in as I chop. Then I hold the basket under the tap and shake/toss around to wash the lettuce. After that I just sit it inside the spinner bowl, put the lid on, and spin. Once I take out the lettuce I just dump the water out of the bowl, rinse the basket and bowl and set them to dry in the sink (I'm lazy, I don't wash them after each use). I like how the dressing sticks to the lettuce better because they're not as wet.

Yes, that's exactly how I use ours. Love our spinner.

I had a cheapie one from Cost Plus that worked great. But someone gave me one from Oxo that's even nicer. Bigger, too.

[sophiesgrandma]

I love my salad spinner. I make a big batch and it lasts in a bowl or bag lined with a towel for 3 days or more.
I put the basket in the bowl part, fill it with cold water and let sit for at least 10 minutes. All the grit falls to the bottem and I just lift out the basket and hold it under running cold water afew seconds, empty the bowl and spin and pour out the water a few times.
I also use my salad spinner for washing other veggies such as kale, cabbage and spinach. LOVE IT!

[KatWrangler]

This is the one I have. I have an OXO.

http://www.amazon.com/Oxo-Good-Grips.../dp/B00004OCKR

[artemis33]

I love my salad spinner! Who likes soggy lettuce - yuck!

I just have a very cheapo plastic one and it has an open bottom like the PP mentioned, so yeah, you have to do it in the sink. It is a bit cumbersome to turn (crank style - not just push in like others) but even so I use it all the time!

Eventually I want to splurge on this one. I like that you can serve and store in the bowl too.

http://www.cooking.com/products/shprodde.asp?SKU=102503

[staceychev]

Oh my gosh, yes. We eat salad a lot, and our OXO salad spinner is one of our most important kitchen tools. We actually use it to store the lettuce in the fridge, too. We leave a tiny bit of water in the bottom and then put a towel in over the lettuce before putting the lid back on.

[Magelet]

yes. with a salad spinner, salad is so much easier. I really miss having a salad spinner. without one, I just don't make salad that much. (ok, actually, lately I make it and just don't wash the lettuce, but I admit that's not really a good idea. but the idea of trying to towel dry it.... ukkk.)


I'd say greens stored in a plastic baggie (or box) with a towel in it, will last oh... at the least almost a week. probably a full week.

(tip for advance lettuce prep. tear the leaves, don't cut them. the contact with the metal can oxidize them and turn them a bit red or otherwise icky)

[olien]

I love my OXO spinner well worth the extra money!

[lil_miss_understood]

thanks so much for the replies! the stainless oxo looks awesome! i doubt i can convince dh to spend $50 on a salad spinner, but you can bet i'm going to try!

[Ola_]

I've read awesome reviews on the OXO spinners. We have a Starfrit one though, I was worried it wouldn't be good but it does a great job. We previously had a hand me down one that used a pull-cord to spin the basket - that thing didn't work at all! Avoid those.

Ours is this one:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows...52BSpinner.jsp

[Arduinna]

I have the large oxo one too and love it. I've been tempted to get the small one just for herbs.

[ollyoxenfree]

Definitely get one with a pump style to spin, like the OXO choices posted above.

I like my salad spinner too, but it has the knob that you rotate around the bowl top to spin the bowl. It takes a little longer and a little more effort - not really a big deal, except I'm usually making salad along with a bunch of other things.

I find that a little convenience goes a long way during meal prep.

[blueridgewoman]

Yep, I love my OXO. I felt ridiculous buying it, but it's so convenient and we eat a LOT more salads now.

[journeymom]

From the OXO web site:

Most Popular OXO Tool Among OXOnians [employees]:
The OXO Good Grips Salad Spinner ranks the most popular which, not surprisingly, is one of the most popular items among consumers.

[kjbrown92]

We have the oxo as well. Love it. My kids love taking a turn to wash the lettuce. I love romaine but never liked green and red leaf lettuce from my mother's garden because I always thought it was soggy. Last summer I got the oxo, and had fresh lettuce all summer long, because it turns out I do like garden lettuce, because when you spin it, it gets much crisper. Love it! (and you know how I love my gadgets, Jacqueline).