Bagged lettuce is one of the most convenient, easy-to-use healthy ingredients at the grocery store, so why must it also be one of those that goes bad the fastest? Indeed, it seems like bagged salad greens start to turn limp and slimy before we’ve even had a chance to think about how we want to enjoy them. To the rescue: These storage tips will help you keep your bagged lettuce crisp, fresh, and tasty until you’re ready to munch.

In general, we recommend consuming your bag of lettuce as quickly as possible. But if you follow the tips below to maximize its shelf life, your bagged lettuce should last for five to seven days. If you need it to last longer, consider buying whole heads of lettuce instead, as these will stay fresh for up to two weeks (and they’re usually cheaper). Looking through the bags for the latest sell-by date or best-by date will also help you ensure your greens stay fresh until you’re ready to enjoy them.

Excess moisture and warm temperatures are the biggest enemies of your bagged lettuce. If you can’t see any moisture inside the bag, pop it straight into the crisper drawer in your fridge as soon as you get home from the market.

The crisper drawer has the most consistent temperature and humidity levels of any part of your refrigerator, so as long as you’re stowing it carefully (i.e. safe from being crushed by bell peppers or heads of broccoli), your lettuce will keep there for a day or two.