How to Hydrate Wilted Leaf Lettuce

Green Leaf Lettuce Before and After Soaking

I was at our local grocery store trying to buy leaf lettuce (romaine, green leaf, red leaf, etc.) but everything was wilted. I bought some green leaf lettuce, sliced off all the bottom stems one inch or so with a sharp knife, and put the freshly cut stems down into a couple of inches of water in a large bowl, as if they were cut flowers. I loosely covered them with plastic wrap, refrigerated for about 5 hours and, voila!, the lettuce was not wilted anymore. It was crispy as if just picked.

After it's crispy, take it out of the water, blot off the wet stems with a paper towel and put back in the fridge.