GREEN LEAF LETTUCE

About Green Leaf Lettuce

Green leaf lettuce is a variety of loose-leaf lettuce. There are hundreds of varieties of cultivated lettuces. All contain significant amounts of water (as much as 95 percent). Darker lettuce varieties are more nutritious.

Selection

Choose lettuce that looks alive and firm. The leaf ends should be unwilted and especially not slimy.

Storage

Store unwashed lettuce in a perforated bag or in an unsealed plastic bag. Alternately, you can wrap the lettuce in a damp paper towel and seal in a zipper bag.

Preparation

Wash lettuce thoroughly and dry in a salad spinner. Alternately, place washed lettuce in a tea towel, gather the loose towel ends and swing the towel sharply to drive the water off the leaves and into the towel. (Please be careful you don’t strike a family member or dinner guest.)

Nutrition

Lettuce is high in vitamins A and K as well as potassium, calcium, iron, and manganese. One head of green leaf lettuce contains only 49 calories. One head of romaine lettuce only contains 106 calories … and, what’s more, it contains 13g of fiber.