Lettuce
Varieties

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YEAR ROUND VEGETABLE

Description:

There is a wide variety of lettuce available in all shapes and sizes. Some of the more well-known and popular varieties include:

Butterhead: a variety that is characterized by small, loosely formed heads with soft, buttery-textured leaves. The outer leaves are pale green and fade to yellow-green inner leaves. This variety has a sweet flavor and includes Boston and Bibb lettuce.

Crisphead: a lettuce variety that has a solid, tightly-packed head with a crisp texture and a neutral flavor. It does not easily wilt. Iceberg lettuce falls into this category.

Looseleaf: the leaves of this variety branch from a center stalk in a loose bunch. The leaves are crisper and have more flavor than the head lettuces but do not hold up as long. The color ranges from green to red and varieties include: Green Oak Leaf and Red Oak Leaf.

Romaine: a variety with an elongated head and dark green leaves that are narrow and stiff with a center rib.


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Selecting:

When selecting, look for crisp, fresh looking heads with good color.

Avoid heads with wilting leaves or leaves that are broken or damaged. There should be no decaying or browning either.

Storing and Handling:

When storing, place unwashed, whole heads in plastic bags in the refrigerator. Depending on the freshness of the product, romaine and iceberg can be stored up to approximately seven days while the more delicate varieties like Boston or red leaf can only be stored up to three to four days.

Preparing:

Remove any deterioration and wash leaves thoroughly, drain and blot with a paper towel or use a salad spinner. The dryer your leaves are the better your salad dressing will hold. Tear leaves into the desired sized pieces.


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Serving Suggestions:

Salads: use each variety alone or in combination with each other and add fruits or vegetables of your own choosing.

Sandwiches and Wraps: a nice addition to sandwiches and wraps and with the wide variety available you can always vary them to your own personal preference.

Burgers: a great topper for your best burgers.


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Seasonings and Foods to use with Lettuce: anchovies, cheeses of all kinds, cucumber, herbs, onion, sweet peppers, tomatoes, vinaigrettes


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Quick Salad - Lettuce Recipes:

Bibb Lettuce Salad
Easy Salad Recipe




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