Lettuce

How to select

Choose lettuce that is crisp with fresh-looking green leaves. Avoid heads of lettuce with withered or yellow/brown leaves. Avoid heads of lettuce with bitter-smelling stems or that appear overly large.

How to prepare

• Peel away any outer leaves that appear withered or discolored. 
• Pick the amount of leaves you wish to use from the head and rinse under running water. 
• Keep leaves whole or chop into pieces.

How to store

• Lettuce can be kept in the refrigerator for up to one week. 
• Store unwashed lettuce attached to the head in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. 
• Lettuce can be stored in its original packaging, a paper towel, or a plastic bag.

Ways to use

• Add some color and crunch to your favorite sandwich. 
• Toss different types of lettuce in a salad for variety and color. 
• Shred lettuce for tacos or to top off other Mexican dishes.

Fun facts

• If lettuce is stored near fruits like apples and bananas, it will ripen more quickly due to presence of ethylene. 
• Lettuce is second only to the potato as the most popular vegetable in the U.S. 
• On average, Americans eat about 30 pounds of lettuce per year. 
• Lettuce is about 95% water.

Nutrition info and facts

Lettuce is a good source of vitamin A, is low in calories & sodium, and contains no carbohydrates.

1 cup shredded lettuce = 5 calories, 1 g carbs, 13 mg calcium, 5 mg magnesium, 10 mg phosphorus, 70 mg potassium, 3 mg vitamin C, 5 mg choline

Learn more

Growing lettuce, endive and radicchio in home gardens (UMN Extension)