Varieties

Four common lettuce types grouped together: romaine, iceberg, butterhead, and red leaf.

Showing multiple distinct lettuce varieties together in one scene teaches readers to visually identify and differentiate the most common types by leaf shape, color, and texture.

Produce

Lettuce

Crisp leaves for salads, wraps, and a fresh crunch

From sturdy romaine to crunchy iceberg, lettuce is the backbone of a salad and a cool wrap for grilled fillings. Keep the leaves dry and chilled so they stay crisp.

Lettuce is the cool, crisp backbone of the salad bowl and the crunch in a wrap or a sandwich. It ranges from watery, ultra-crisp iceberg to sturdy romaine to delicate, buttery leaf types — each suited to different jobs. Mild in flavor, its value is texture and freshness: a vehicle for dressing, a cool foil to rich fillings, and a fast way to add lightness to a plate.

Measured in: piece
Storage: Refrigerate
Shelf life: 7 days

Find it in

Produce

Types & varieties

Romaine (cos)

Sturdy ribs, sweet crunch; the Caesar lettuce

Iceberg

Pale, watery, ultra-crisp; great in wedges and on burgers

Butterhead (Bibb, Boston)

Soft, buttery leaves; lovely as cups

Leaf (red/green)

Loose, frilly, tender; everyday salad greens

Little Gem / cogollos de Tudela

Small, sweet, crisp romaine — a Spanish staple, grown locally and good value year-round; great grilled or halved

How to choose

Want heads that feel heavy and crisp, with vivid, perky leaves and no sliminess, dark wilting, or rust-colored edges. The cut core should look fresh, not brown and dried. For bagged greens, avoid any with condensation, sliminess, or mush.

How to store

Keep lettuce dry — moisture is the enemy. Wrap a whole head loosely in a dry towel inside a bag in the crisper, or store washed-and-spun leaves in a container lined with paper towel. Sturdy romaine and iceberg last over a week; tender leaf types only a few days. Revive a limp head in ice water.

Keep it dry to prevent slime
Towel-wrap in the crisper
Ice-water bath revives wilted leaves

How to wash and dress

Separate leaves, swish in a big bowl of cold water so grit sinks, then dry thoroughly in a salad spinner — wet leaves repel dressing and dilute it. Tear rather than cut delicate leaves to avoid bruising and browning. Dress just before serving, and only enough to coat, so leaves don't wilt.

Common uses

Caesar saladWedge saladLettuce wraps and cupsBLTs and sandwichesMixed green saladsGrilled romaineTaco toppingsBurgers

Tips & pitfalls

Dry leaves completely — dressing won't cling to wet lettuce
Dress at the last second and toss gently to keep the crunch
Grill romaine or Little Gem halves for smoky, warm salads
Use sturdy leaves (iceberg, butterhead) as low-carb wraps and cups
Tear, don't chop, tender leaves to avoid browning

Nutrition

14kcal

Energy

59 kJ · per 100 g

Where the calories come from

Protein 22%Carbs 71%Fat 8%

Protein

0.9g

2% DV

Carbs

1% DV

Fat

0.1g

0% DV

Fiber

1.2g

4% DV

Sugars

of which

Sodium

10mg

0% DV

Notable micronutrients

Vitamin K20% DV

Folate7% DV

Vitamin A3% DV

Vitamin C3% DV

Thiamin (B1)3% DV

Potassium3% DV

Source · USDA FoodData Central · Lettuce, iceberg (includes crisphead types), raw

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In the shops

Matched grocery products

Iceberg Lettuce
LA COLLITA · kg · Bonpreu
€0.79
Iceberg Lettuce
1 ud · Mercadona
€1.05
Romaine Lettuce
LA COLLITA · kg · Bonpreu
€1.15
Iceberg Lettuce Cut and Washed
250 g · Mercadona
€0.95
Romaine Lettuce Cut and Washed
200 g · Mercadona
€1.15
Red Oak Leaf Lettuce
1 ud · Mercadona
€1.60

Good to know

Peak season: Spring and fall (cool weather); year-round in markets
Flavor: Mild, fresh, faintly sweet or grassy; mostly texture
Origin: Mediterranean/Egypt; cultivated for thousands of years
Nutrition: ~15 kcal/100g; mostly water; vitamin K, folate (darker types richer)
How to buy: Crisp, bright leaves; firm core; no slime, browning, or wilting

Substitutes