Head lettuce, also known as iceberg lettuce, is a popular vegetable in the US due to its texture and sweetness. It can be used as a wrap or a decorative plate for appetizers. It should be washed thoroughly before eating and California is the number one lettuce growing state.
Head lettuce, also known as iceberg lettuce, is a dense rosette of leaves that forms a tight ball about the size of a human head. Although head lettuce contains fewer nutrients than green leafy lettuce, it is a favorite staple vegetable due to its texture and sweetness. An annual crop that prefers cool weather and plenty of water during the growing season, only potatoes rank more in popularity as the number one vegetable in the United States.
A head lettuce leaf unfolds from the ball into a bowl shape, and unlike other types of lettuce, the color, taste and texture of the leaf varies greatly from the tip to the base. The tip is deep green, with a leafy green texture without being smooth or “slimy,” giving way to a lighter green sweet center with a slightly crunchy texture, leading to the whitish, snappy base of the leaf. The variance in texture, sweetness, and color make head lettuce an excellent choice for sandwich toppings and salads.
Because of the bowl-shaped leaves of lettuce on its head, it’s a perfect wrap, especially helpful for those watching their weight. The leaves can be used in place of bread, buns or tortillas to wrap burgers, fish, beans, meat or soy alternatives. The leaves also form a decorative “plate” for appetizers such as crackers and cheese, cut vegetables, pasta, egg and potato salads, and other appetizers.
Lettuce should always be washed thoroughly before eating. An excellent way to do this is to use a salad spinner. A salad spinner is a bowl with a removable inner basket. Put the lettuce leaves in the basket and put them under the water. Shake the basket of excess water, then return it to the bowl of the salad spinner. The top of the salad spinner includes an integrated hand crank or pump mechanism to turn the inner basket when the container is closed. This removes any remaining water and leaves the lettuce fluffy and perfect to eat.
Head lettuce was called chrysanthemum lettuce until the 1920s, but the name changed to iceberg when California farmers began packing it in ice to keep it fresh during shipping. Today, California ranks as the number one lettuce growing state.
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