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Kitchen tips · speed

How to dry salad greens without a spinner.

Three fast methods to get water off salad leaves when you don't own a salad spinner.

K

King of Quick · The Lazy Cook

May 16, 2026 · 2 min read

No spinner? Three methods that work. Pick one.

The towel method

This is the best one.

  1. Wash greens in cold water. 30 seconds.
  2. Lift out by hand. Don't pour — grit pours back in.
  3. Drop onto a clean kitchen towel.
  4. Fold the towel over. Press once.
  5. Gather the four corners into a bundle.
  6. Hold over the sink — or step outside.
  7. Swing in a wide arc six times.

Water flies out. Greens are dry.

The pillowcase method

Same idea. More room than a towel.

Better for a whole head of lettuce or a big bag of spinach.

Swing it outside. Neighbours will stare. Worth it.

Paper towels — last resort

Lay greens on three sheets. Roll loosely. Press down. Wait 60 seconds.

Slower. Less fun. Still works.

Why dry greens matter

Wet leaves repel dressing. Oil sits on top, slides off.

Dry leaves grab dressing. Every bite gets seasoned.

One extra minute. Completely different salad.

About the author

K

King of Quick The Lazy Cook

Writes about speed shortcuts, 30-second tips, time-savers, and one-tool tricks. Tone: ultra-short, practical.

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