Do You Need To Wash Bagged Spinach? Here’s What Experts Say

I asked a registered dietitian and a vegetable expert.

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I’ve done a lot of food prep in my day, and I must confess that I dislike certain tasks. Working with beets and deveining shrimp, for example, is high on that list. So is washing greens. 

Even though I’ve done it millions of times, I dread pulling out the salad spinner and all of the steps that come next. That’s why, when I get the chance, I buy the pre-washed spinach at the grocery store. No washing needed! 

Or, at least that’s what I thought.

Recently, I was asked if the too-good-to-be-true-sounding claims of “ready to eat” and “triple-washed” were true. Doubt started creeping in. Do I actually need to wash bagged greens?

I can’t be the only one wondering, so I reached out to food safety experts to weigh in on the subject.

The Food Safety Concern

If you follow the news, then you’ve likely read, seen, and heard about the variety of food-borne illnesses contaminating our greens.

“Fortunately, beyond the FDA, USDA, and EPA, there are nine more federal agencies responsible for overseeing compliance with national food safety regulations," says Toby Amidor, M.S., R.D., an award-winning nutrition expert and author of Up Your Veggies.

While our food supply is well protected, fresh fruits and vegetables are still vulnerable to contamination since they require water and soil to grow—both of which can be contaminated by rain, runoff, and, generally speaking, humans and animals. Some contaminants can be washed off, and once clean, are safe for human consumption.

Since lettuce and spinach grow close to the ground, they can easily pick up dirt and debris. Because of that, they are often triple-washed before being bagged and sold to the consumer.

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What Is Triple-Washing?

Like the name implies, triple-washing means the spinach in your bag is washed three times before packaging.

“Where the three washes happen can differ depending on the operation, farm, and packaging facilities," explains Amidor. Generally, though, she says the first wash is done at the farm to remove dirt, debris, and bugs.

The second and third washes are typically done at the packing facility, she says, "where the lettuce is washed in a regulated sanitizing solution to help reduce the amount of microorganisms to safe levels.”

Does all of that washing equate to a ready-to-eat bag of greens?

Do You Need To Wash Packaged Spinach?

The simple answer is no, says Robert Schueller, director of public relations at Melissa’s Produce. He says that “triple-washed spinach is ready to eat out of the bag, thanks to industry standards.” 

Amidor agrees: “If the bagged lettuce is labeled as 'triple-washed,' 'washed' or 'ready-to-eat,' you do not need to wash it.” In fact, she says that according to the USDA, washing it may increase the risk of contamination by transferring bacteria from your sink and kitchen to the food.

If your bag doesn’t specify that any washing has been done, then Schueller recommends doing so in a strainer in cold water for about one minute. Pat dry with clean paper towels, or better yet, use your salad spinner.

For the best results, he adds, “Save washing spinach until you’re ready to use it.”

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