WHAT IS ICEBERG LETTUCE?

Perhaps the least respected of the lettuce family, this steakhouse salad staple is one of the less perishable leafy greens.  A member of the daisy family, they can grow up to 1 foot in diameter in about 3 months.  Also known as crisphead lettuce, it has a crunchy mouthfeel unique among lettuce varietals.  This combined with its non-threatening blandness has made it a safe, economical choice for many food service establishments.  Ironically because iceberg lettuce is so bland, it is often drenched in a cheap, blue cheese dressing.

WHY IS ICEBERG LETTUCE GOOD FOR YOU?

Essentially not bad for you is the new good when it comes to this pale, green ball.  With a composition that is 95% water, there isn’t much else present to help or harm you.  So it has similar health benefits like air when it comes to being low in calories or water when it comes to being gluten free.

WHEN IS ICEBERG LETTUCE IN SEASON?

This is a late fall harvest plant with seeds in the northern hemisphere typically planted in August or September (March down south of the equator).  Harvest occurs around November or December.

HOW SHOULD ICEBERG LETTUCE BE STORED?

Remove any wilting leaves, and rinse thoroughly cleaning off any debris.  Then wrap the ball in a damp paper towel, and store in a bag in your refrigerator.  It will keep for around 5 days before starting to wilt and can last up to 2 weeks.

WHAT IS AN IMPROPER BUT EFFECTIVE WAY TO CORE ICEBERG LETTUCE?

Click here to see!

WHY WAS THIS LETTUCE NAMED AFTER AN ICEBERG?

Up until the 1920s this leafy green (barely) was only known as crisphead lettuce.  But then as California farmers starting shipping them in trucks, the green balls were buried in crushed ice to keep them chilled.