Spin Class for the Poor

OK, so you don’t have to be poor to follow this advice.  Maybe you just don’t have room on the shelf for another kitchen gadget?  The gadget I’m talking about is a salad spinner.  If you don’t know what one is, it’s a spinner to get the water off your lettuce after you wash it.  And yes, even bagged lettuce needs to be washed unless you enjoy salmonella and e. coli.  On that pleasant thought…  A salad spinner works great and keeps your salads crisp and fresh…no standing water on the bottom of the bowl.  It also works great with herbs like parsley and cilantro when you’ve washed it and need to chop it dry. 

The problem is, a salad spinner is about the size of a large cooking pot.  Simple solution…use a pillow case.  Go out and buy yourself a pillow case that will be dedicated to kitchen greens only.  Please don’t take the pillowcase from the guestroom and use that.  You can buy specialized bags from gourmet markets too but a simple white pillowcase will do the same thing.  Put your lettuce, parsley, cilantro, whatever inside then step out your back door and swing that thing around.  The greens will come out like they just…well…went through a salad spinner.  When you’re finished, turn it inside out and let it dry.  Then fold it up and put it in a drawer for next time.  When you need to wash it, do it in the sink with dishwashing liquid, not the washing machine.  Try it and enjoy your better tasting salads!