Lettuce

Description
Americans consume about 30 pounds of lettuce a year. There are 87 varieties of lettuce. The darker green the leaves, the more nutritious.

Availability
Year-round

Shopping
Look for fresh, crisp leaves. Avoid limp, withered leaves that have brown or yellow edges, or dark or slimy spots.

Iceberg lettuce should be symmetrically shaped, compact, and firm, yet springy with its dark green outer leaves intact. The stem may look brown and should smell slightly sweet, not bitter.

Avoid overly large heads of romaine.

Storage
Refrigerate in the crisper. Iceberg should keep for up to two weeks, romaine for about 10 days, and boston for about four days. Leave a cellophane-wrapped head of iceberg lettuce in the wrapper.

Varieties

	Iceberg Lettuce:  Pale green lettuce forms a tight, cabbagelike head. Texture is crisp and its flavor very mild.
	Romaine Lettuce:  Long, deep green leaves that form a loaf-shaped head. Crisp texture and an assertive, but not bitter, taste.
	Boston Lettuce:  Sometimes called Butterhead. Loose head and grass green leaves. Soft “buttery” texture and a sweet, mild flavor.