Leeks
Leeks have the general appearance of a “giant” green onion. Leeks will be iced and bunched and shipped in wax-lined boxes. It has a thick, white stalk that’s cylindrical in shape and has a slightly bulbous root end. The broad, dark green leaves wrap tightly around each other like a rolled newspaper.

Storage
» Store immediately in the coldest part of the walk-in cooler. Kitchen heat will cause yellowing, wilting and rapid and deterioration of quality.
» Store protected in the original sealed containers.
» Leeks are susceptible to dehydration, protect from the drafts of cooler fans.
» Keep leeks away from products that absorb odors.
» Leeks are not susceptible to ethylene damage.

Handling
» Follow good rotation practices, first shipments received should be used first.
» Immediately trim away brown or decaying leaves.
» Leeks have an expected shelf life of 5-6 days. Plan to rotate frequently to maintain quality.
» Avoid placing the case or raw product on non-sanitized kitchen counter tops to help prevent the potential for cross contamination.
» Keep leeks under refrigeration until the immediate time of use. After use, return the unused portion back into refrigeration immediately.

Preparation
» Prepare as needed. Try not to use product from the previous day.
» Leeks are field packed and will need a thorough, clean water rinse in a sanitary sink immediately prior to prep.
» Do not soak. Soaking will cause the flavor of the leek to lessen.
» Store prepped product immediately into refrigeration (covered) upon completion of the prep.