Salads will be crisp and fresh for longer if 1 easy storage mistake is avoided

Packing a salad for work would be a lot more tempting if the ingredients stayed crisp and fresh until lunchtime. Even after half a day in the fridge, leaves turn limp, tomatoes go mushy, and the whole thing can become a soggy mess.

Luckily, the key to extending the life of your salad doesn't come down to expensive tools or complicated techniques. Instead, it mainly relies on avoiding one very common - and surprisingly damaging - storage mistake: "When it comes to storing a salad, the key thing to remember is limiting moisture."

Lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, and other water-heavy ingredients are healthy and hydrating, but when it comes to storage, they're working against you.

"Before you prep or pack your salad, make sure you dry them out as thoroughly as possible using a salad spinner or paper towels," advised Vlatka Lake of Space Station.

Another key to long-lasting salads is how you combine - or rather, don't combine - your ingredients.

"If your salad contains any cooked items or proteins, such as eggs, chicken or tofu, these should ideally be stored in a separate container," Vlatka said.

"The same goes for any croutons, as well as your dressing, which you should avoid adding to your salad before storing, as this is the number one culprit for soggy salads."

But even if you've dried and separated everything perfectly, it could all go to waste if you're using the wrong container - and here's where that easy mistake comes in.

"Whilst plastic bags and tubs are a go-to option for many of us, you're far better off opting for an enclosable glass container or mason jar," Vlatka explained.

Unlike plastic, glass helps limit exposure to outside oxygen and moisture, which rapidly speeds up spoilage.

Lining your container with a paper towel adds an extra layer of protection, absorbing any lingering moisture that might otherwise lead to wilting.

And don't just toss the salad into any random fridge spot, either, Vlatka recommends placing your container on a shelf in the fridge, avoiding overcrowding or spots near the back of the shelf, where colder temperatures may lead to your salad freezing.