Kitchen Confidence

Hacking a Salad Spinner

By • September 19, 2012 • 23 Comments

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Inspired by conversations on the FOOD52 Hotline, we're sharing tips and tricks that make navigating all of our kitchens easier and more fun. Today, one of our community members shows us how to hack a salad spinner. 

Salad

Remember when we asked for your best kitchen hacks? We've got an honorable mention.

Today, our friendly community member vvvanessa is showing us a fun way to dry lettuce leaves (and other salad greens) without a salad spinner. Take a look and try it out if you don't have a salad spinner, or if you just want to make a slightly boring kitchen task more exciting. 

And if you've got any other fun kitchen hacks, share them with us in the comments. 

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Tags: Kitchen Confidence, hacks, salad, salad spinner, honorable mention, vvvanessa

Comments (23)

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9 months ago robinorig

Just wondering, is it not compatible with a safari/mac browser? I had to google the video, send it to my phone & open it in a video program to see it.

3_eyes

9 months ago robinorig

Just wondering, is it not compatible with a safari/mac browser? I had to google the video, send it to my phone & open it in a video program to see it.

3_eyes

9 months ago robinorig

I'm not seeing a video or link either ???

Mcs

9 months ago mcs3000

Genius!

Chris_in_oslo

9 months ago Greenstuff

Chris is a trusted source on General Cooking

I grew up using that method (or sometimes slightly less violent ones). In fact, when salad spinners first came out, it took my family a while before we thought they were anything more than a silly waste of space. And while I'm not throwing my salad spinner away, I still think a towel gets the lettuce drier.

Dsc00426

9 months ago vvvanessa

Thanks for the shout-out! Dry lettuce for everyone!

Buddhacat

9 months ago SKK

Vanessa, you are a famous genius! Love this!

Mlc_cooks_as_a_kid_001

9 months ago Mlc1977

Here is my fool proof way of getting my pizza off the cookie sheet and on to my hot grill/pizza stone every time without it sticking or getting burned. http://player.vimeo.com...

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9 months ago Aimless

Have tried this in the past. Just gather up the corners and hold them securely. Don't be like me and end up with some of your lettuce on the lawn.

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9 months ago Aimless

Have tried this in the past. Just gather up the corners and hold them securely. Don't be like me and end up with some of your lettuce on the lawn.

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9 months ago PFossil

I'm a Manhattanite. Wish I had an outside. A salad spinner is cheaper.

Kandm

9 months ago Kristy Mucci

Kristy is the Associate Editor of Food52.

Our senior editor, Kristen, is also a Manhattanite. Her kitchen has no room for a spinner, and she's been known to use this trick out of a window.

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9 months ago PFossil

Full disclosure, I've used the trick inside my kitchen. It's an efficient way to clean my kitchen and dry my lettuce at the same time.

Miglore

9 months ago Kristen Miglore

Kristen is the Senior Editor of Food52

Actually, I've only done this on my fire escape, but if there weren't screens on my windows, I'd probably try that too. You're brave for doing it inside, PFossil!

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9 months ago Mary Goodwin

My favorite way to dry lettuce, herbs or any other washed greens is to rinse the lettuce, place in a single layer on a large towel, top with another towel and roll up jelly-roll fashion. Place the roll around the agitator of a top-load washing machine and set the cycle on "spin". Completely dry in seconds and the lettuce stays completely stationary in the towel.

New_years_kitchen_hlc_only

9 months ago AntoniaJames

AntoniaJames is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.

I am unable to load this video. (It's the only video on the site, other than vvvanessa's gold medal winning hack, that won't load for me.) Would someone please describe the salad spinning hack for me? Thanks so much. ;o)

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9 months ago Summer of Eggplant

Looks good! I have a salad spinner but it consumes a lot of real estate so maybe I can pitch it?

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9 months ago KristaFriday

Thanks for posting! This looks like fun. I'm also super curious about that gorgeous salad dressing in the main image. Is there a link to the recipe? Thanks!

Kandm

9 months ago Kristy Mucci

Kristy is the Associate Editor of Food52.

Here you go: http://www.food52.com/recipes...

Enjoy!

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9 months ago KristaFriday

Thanks so much! This looks AMAZING.

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9 months ago darksideofthespoon

Kristy beat me to it, but I would like to say, I tried this dressing last week and it is just amazing. Definitely segment the lemon, it's worth it.

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9 months ago KristaFriday

Thank you! I'll be trying it tonight! Wondered about trouble of the lemon segments; good to know it's worth it. :)

Tad_and_amanda_in_the_kitchen

9 months ago amanda

Amanda is a co-founder of Food52.

Super cool. Thanks, vvvanessa!