How long does Lettuce last in the fridge?

Lettuce — refrigerator: 7–10 days. Exact evidence is still under review; follow the product label.

How do you know if Lettuce has gone bad?

Brown or rusty edges, dark slimy spots; Sour or off smell; Wilted, slimy, or limp leaves. Normal smell and appearance do not prove safety. Never taste food to check safety; consider storage history and product instructions.

How long can Lettuce sit out before it goes bad?

Lettuce should not be left out more than 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F / 32°C). Refrigerate promptly.

How Long Does Lettuce Last?

Q: Can you freeze Lettuce?

Lettuce — freezer: Not recommended. Exact evidence is still under review; follow the product label.

Lettuce: 7–10 days in the refrigerator. These are listed storage intervals; check each card for exact evidence and conditions. Freezer intervals describe quality.

2 cited USDA/FDA/FSIS sources
Editorial review · Editorial record: June 2026

7–10 days

Evidence under review

This editorial interval has no verified exact source yet. Follow your product label.

Not recommended

This editorial interval has no verified exact source yet. Follow your product label.

Each card identifies whether its interval has an exact source or is still under review. A missing card means no interval is available for that state.
An absent after-opening entry must not be replaced with an unopened interval.

Discard slimy leaves and wash the rest before eating. Bagged salads should be used by their date and discarded if they smell off.

How to tell if it's gone bad

Normal appearance and smell do not prove food is safe. Disease-causing bacteria may be present without visible spoilage. Never taste food to test its safety; follow time, temperature and recall guidance. FDA — Storage Basics

Look:Brown or rusty edges, dark slimy spots
Smell:Sour or off smell
Texture:Wilted, slimy, or limp leaves

When in doubt, throw it out. If Lettuce smells, looks, or feels off — discard it. Food poisoning is not worth the risk.

Can you freeze Lettuce?

Freezing Lettuce is not recommended for this storage state. Use the storage guidance above.

Freezing lettuce isn't recommended: the leaves are almost entirely water, so ice crystals rupture the cells and it thaws into limp, brown mush with no crunch left. There's no practical way to preserve the crispness that makes lettuce worth eating raw. Buy it in smaller amounts instead, and revive slightly wilted leaves in ice water rather than freezing them.

Full freezing guide →

Storage tips

Keep lettuce in the crisper drawer wrapped loosely with a paper towel to manage humidity. Tear rather than cut leaves to slow browning.

Check your storage dates

Compare the elapsed time with the storage guidance. This cannot certify that food is safe.

FDA — Storage Basics / Freezer Facts

Common questions

How long can Lettuce sit out before it goes bad?: Lettuce should not be left out more than 2 hours (1 hour above 90°F / 32°C). Refrigerate promptly.

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