National Salad Week: How to Wash Leaves Safely
With summer on the horizon, fresh salads are making their way back onto British dining tables – just in time for National Salad Week, running from 1st to 7th June 2025. But did you know that 1 in 10 Brits have felt unwell after eating unwashed salad leaves? A recent survey commissioned by Zyliss, the cleverly Swiss brand renowned for kitchen innovation, reveals that despite most people recognising the risks, nearly one in five still skip washing their salad.
Why washing your salad leaves is crucial for health
Unwashed salad leaves can carry harmful bacteria such as salmonella, listeria, and E. coli — potentially causing food poisoning. Dr Deborah Lee, GP and health expert at Dr Fox Pharmacy, highlights:
“Salad leaves are a common source of pathogens including norovirus, Hepatitis A, cryptosporidium, giardia, toxoplasma, salmonella, E.coli, campylobacter, yersinia and listeria. They can become contaminated at every step of the production process, from contact with soil, water, handling, equipment or storage. The NHS recommends rewashing all prewashed salads and vegetables before use. This is a vital step in food preparation to help reduce gastroenteritis (food poisoning).”
Why do some people skip washing salad?
The survey revealed common reasons include:
- Not thinking it’s necessary (64%)
- Forgetfulness (25.4%)
- Finding it messy or annoying (18%)
- Relying on pre-washed bags (7.8%)
- Lack of time (4.2%)
In addition to the health risks posed by eating unwashed salad, the study also found that the most common method of washing was to rinse under the tap, according to 72% of respondents, while 24% said they soaked salad in water. A further 19% used a salad spinner, which supports cleaning and hygiene by removing excess water, while 10% went all out with vinegar or another-food safe cleaning solution.
Introducing the Zyliss Easy Spin and Swift Dry Salad Spinners
Zyliss’ Easy Spin and Swift Dry salad spinners combine clever Swiss design with eco-conscious materials, making salad preparation fast, efficient, and sustainable:
- Patented AquaVent™ technology rapidly extrudes water, drying 2–4 portions with smaller models and up to 6 portions with larger spinners, leaving perfectly crisp leaves in seconds.
- Intuitive one-handed operation: Easy Spin features a foldable handle with a magnetic clip, while Swift Dry uses a smooth pump-action handle that locks neatly in place for compact storage.
- Both spinners include a stop button for instant braking and a pouring spout so you can drain water without removing the lid, helping keep your kitchen mess-free.
- Ergonomic design details finger gaps on the basket making it easy to lift out, and a non-slip base keeps the spinner steady during use.
- The bowls double as serving dishes, with options in transparent SAN plastic or elegant stainless steel — perfect for going straight from preparation to table.
- Sustainability is built in: lids contain up to 10% wheat straw material, reducing plastic use while maintaining durability and style.
- Dishwasher-safe components (excluding lids) make cleaning quick and hygienic.
Make salad prep safer and easier this National Salad Week
Taking time to wash and thoroughly dry your salad leaves is an easy way to protect your health and improve your meals. With a Zyliss salad spinner, you’ll save time while ensuring your greens are safe and delicious.
Top tips for salad safety:
- Always wash salad leaves, even pre-washed bags.
- Use a salad spinner like Zyliss Easy Spin or Swift Dry to dry leaves completely.
- Store salad leaves dry in the fridge to prevent bacterial growth.
Why choose Zyliss?
For over 70 years, Zyliss has been bringing Swiss cleverness to the kitchen with innovative, durable, and sustainable tools. The Easy Spin and Swift Dry salad spinners carry on this proud legacy, helping you prepare safe, fresh salads faster and with less fuss.
Explore Zyliss’ full range of kitchen innovations and make salad prep simple and safe this National Salad Week at www.zyliss.co.uk/collections/salad-spinners-shakers.