Washing packed herbs and hem lettuce

[rutabellsum]

A bit random but this question actually bothers me.. So I wash everything, every single bunch of herbs or lettuce leaves out of the plastic and before chopping. That takes more time (especially with lettuce as need to dry in salad spinner) create more dishes - salad spinner again, and takes the sharpness out when chopping wet herbs. BUT I see so many people skip washing and chop straight out of the bag! Especially Romaine lettuce and gem lettuce!

I must admit the outcome of chopping fresh herbs when fully dry is much more satisfying than the wet version, and not looking good for garnish, for example chopped wet coriander looks like grass out of the the lawn mower box! So very tempting to chop dry..and quicker too.

Just to make two points clear:

1. I don't have time to wash all my herbs and dry in advance.
2. I only refer to the super clean stuff that comes wrap in plastic (though with lettuce there is always sand in between the leaves, no?)

Just curious to know why do you do. Am I being right to wash every single thing or being a bit anal about it?

Sorry title meant to say Gem lettuce.. not hem... 😂

I don't wash much at all. Probably should but really can't be bothered unless visibly dirty.

I give a half arsed rinse which ends up with the worst of both worlds

@RaininSummer but what about the chemicals and sprays? You think they are not used on herbs and lettuces? I have no idea but that's what I'm worried about most, after that it's having sand in my salad and also imagining the pickers hands on my food...I have wild imagination 😰

Am I being right to wash every single thing or being a bit anal about it?

If you need to and it gives you piece of mind ,no you're not wrong.

I don't worry about the things you do(I probably should) so I don't wash lettuce. Just peel off the outside layers and cut the end off if needed.

Unless the bag says they are already washed, I wash that kind of stuff. Preferably in advance so they can dry, but frequently I don’t time it right so then they are soggy. I’m not freaked out by germs, but washing produce, especially if eaten raw, seems sensible to me.

I never wash anything. I spent a lot of time eating fresh from the field as a child though.

Grow your own herbs and lettuce on a sunny windowsill indoors so you don't need to worry about washing them? I do that in the winter when I can't grow them outside.

Delia suggests wiping individual lettuce leaves with a damp paper towel
I just use as is. You won't get rid of sprayed chemicals, if that's your worry, but visible dirt might come off

I don’t think washing will get rid of the chemicals. They’re designed to be not rained away after all. You’d need detergent and to rub them. Can you buy organic?

I find washing individual fresh peas a right chore before added them to a salad. So now a put a bit of melted butter in a bowl with the peas, swirl it around and get the cat to like the butter off. They finish up really nice and shiny.