2 hrs ago
Are Fresh Salads Really Fresh? Chefs Explain Keeping Bowls Crisp
A salad can look fresh, but keeping it fresh takes work.
Chefs start by choosing good fruits and vegetables.
They store them at suitable temperatures and manage moisture carefully.
In the kitchen, they wash, sanitise, dry and cut the ingredients with care.
Too much water or rough handling can make greens limp or less crisp.
Salads may also include grains, proteins, seeds and dressings, so chefs plan how the parts fit together.
Packaging helps protect the salad while it travels.
The goal is for it to arrive safe, tasty and crunchy.
Chef Ritwika Mukherjee says salad freshness depends on a chain of steps, from sourcing through delivery.
Produce is checked for texture, maturity and quality before it enters the kitchen.
Careful temperature and humidity control helps protect delicate ingredients such as leafy greens.
Washing, sanitising, drying and cutting must be handled precisely to maintain texture and food safety.
Packaging should limit moisture buildup and protect separate components during delivery.
- Who
- Chef Ritwika Mukherjee, Executive Sous Chef, NPD, Salad Days, describes the process.
- What
- The article explains how sourcing, storage, preparation, packaging and delivery affect salad freshness.
- Where
- The article discusses salad preparation and delivery in India.
- When
- The article does not specify a date.
- Why
- Careful handling helps preserve salads' texture, flavour and safety until they reach consumers.
Key facts
- Freshness begins
- With ingredient sourcing and quality checks.
- Quality checks
- Produce is assessed for texture, maturity and overall quality.
- Storage concerns
- Temperature and humidity affect produce; excess moisture and inadequate cooling can harm quality.
- Preparation steps
- Washing, sanitising, drying and cutting all influence freshness.
- Delivery
- Packaging helps protect ingredients and prevent unnecessary moisture buildup during transit.
- Salad components
- Modern salads can combine proteins, grains, fruits, seeds and dressings.
- Market context
- The article says demand for convenient and wholesome meals is growing in India.
Quotes
Ritwika Mukherjee
Executive Sous Chef, NPD, at Salad Days
“For us, fresh is not just how something looks when it reaches you. It is about how every stage, from sourcing to delivery, is managed so that the final experience still feels crisp, balanced and full of flavour”
firstpost.com
“We evaluate ingredients for their texture, maturity and overall quality before they even enter our kitchens. If the produce is not right at the start, no amount of handling later can truly fix it”
firstpost.com





