Why didn't I buy head lettuce before?

[Nikia]

I grew up eating head lettuce, but bought bagged cut lettuce as an adult. The last couple of times, I bought it, I have been disappointed with the flavor and how quickly it goes bad.
A little over a week ago, I bought head lettuce to put on my sandwiches that I make for my lunch. It tastes much better. It isn't rotting either even though I dug into it right after I bought it.
I don't know why I ever bought bagged lettuce. Although it is true that it doesn't have cabbage and carrots in it, I don't really like cabbage and I suppose I can cut up my own carrots when I want it as salad.

[miss_kitty]

1. Lettuce browns when it is cut

and like compost, smaller particles decay faster than large ones. So if you see the greens are cut and not torn, then I'd pass it up. If you aren't going to eat it all in a day or two, I'd pass it up too. The amount of water in the bag will speed up decay too.

The bagged stuff is handy for variety of greens and organic blends can have some good stuff you wouldn't find in regular grocery stores.

[fleabert]

3. I think some of the bagged stuff also uses preservatives...

to keep it 'looking' fresh longer... :puke:

[miss_kitty]

5. I only bought organic 'bag your own greens' at the co-op

and it really depended on how long the box had been out, and how much it got misted. Since greens upset my stomach now, it's not something I buy anymore.

[Nikia]

7. It does taste different

Which makes me wonder about preservatives. It doesn't seem to preserve very long though.

[Nikia]

6. I never can eat it fast enough

I have bought the stuff with less common healthier greens when it has been on sale, but my husband won't eat it. Unless I am having salad at every meal, I can't finish the bag before it is bad. Sometimes if I don't use it right away, but before the expiration date, it seems to go bad in less than 24 hours of opening. I have also seen it go bad before the expiration date. Sometimes I wonder its handling.

[donco6]

2. It used to be inordinately expensive.

It seems to be cheaper nowadays.

I have a plastic knife I use when cutting head lettuce. Keeps it from turning brown.

[hfojvt]

4. what sort of German

does not like cabbage?

I probably never bought bagged lettuce because it is more expensive. Besides that, it is fun to play with knives! Chopping your own lettuce is easier and more fun than peeling cucumbers isn't it?

That sorta reminds me, that a couple months ago I was going to make rice krispies bars. Then when I went shopping, the Rice Krispies was so expensive that it was alot less trouble to buy the pre-made ones, and not that much difference in cost.

[Nikia]

8. Sometimes there isn't that much difference

Between the cost of convience items and the cost of doing it yourself.
I think that I'll save money with the head lettuce, especially since it keeps longer. I was throwing some of the bagged stuff away because it went bad sooner than expected.
With some other items, especially when they require multiple ingredients, you might as well buy the convience items unless you really value home fresh. That's something of value though.