Lettuce is a green leafy vegetable found all over the world in many forms such as romaine, iceberg, etc with each one having a different amount of green depth and , therefore, vitamins. It is usually eaten cold and raw, in salads, sandwiches, hamburgers, tacos, and in many other dishes. There are four main types of lettuce: crisphead, butterhead, looseleaf, and cos all with hundreds of varieties in each.
There are four main types of lettuce: crisphead, butterhead, looseleaf, and cos all with hundreds of varieties in each. Crisphead lettuce are the crunchy ones and are densely packed. Butterhead lettuces have very soft leaves and are tender. They have a loose head of leaves. Looseleaf lettuces do not form a head of leaves, but are rather a loose bunch of leaves. Cos or Romaine lettuces have long upright leaves that form a cylindrical head.
Selecting and Buying
Preparation and Use
Various salads are made with lettuce as the main component. Lettuce is also served as a side dish in itself with grilled or barbecued meats. The juice of lettuce is very refreshing and cool. Boiled lettuce is also used in certain recipes.
Conserving and Storing
Certain varieties of lettuce have a storage life of upto 2 weeks, if stored in plastic in the refrigerator. The leaves often tend to get soggy if left uncovered in the refrigerator. The leaves loose their crispiness after a few days.