Steal this smart restaurant tip for the crispiest, best-tasting salads.

“The science of cooking has everything to do with time and temperature,” she explains.

Then I put a portion of a simplearugula saladon each plate.

Winter salad with apple, red onion, pecans, cranberries, and spring mix

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This simple step is worth it for the very best-looking and tasting salads.

Fall salad with kale, cabbage, and apples, topped with pumpkin seeds and dried cranberries

Simply Recipes / Getty Images