![]() ![]() Lettuce, whether consumed as iceberg or romaine, is rich and abundant with nutritional value. The efficiency of packaged salads sold at markets also accounts for this dramatic increase since the mid-1980s. However, the consumption of romaine lettuce and loose leaf lettuces has been increasing throughout the years due to the increased popularity of caesar salad and salad bars, says ERS. per person every year, says the University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Science. consumption of head lettuce is estimated to be 23 lbs. The main types of lettuce include romaine and iceberg, also known as "head lettuce," which is the most widely used given its low cost and extended shelf life. in terms of its production value and the second most consumed vegetable - with potatoes ranked first. Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.Before you slap chop your low-calorie leafy green on the cutting board or hit the salad bar, you may want to know which has the highest nutritional value of lettuce - iceberg or romaine?Īccording to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Economic Research Service (ERS), lettuce is the leading vegetable crop in the U.S. Today Iceberg lettuce is widely available and can be found at supermarkets, farmers markets, and specialty grocers in North America, Central America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia. This technological advance allowed for Iceberg lettuce to become one of the most important commercial lettuces worldwide. In the mid-20th century, Iceberg lettuce became a symbol of America's rapidly industrializing agricultural system as the Whirlpool Corporation developed controlled and modified atmospheres and packaging, giving Iceberg lettuce a greater shelf-life. It was originally named for its ice white color and crunchy texture, but its namesake evolved over the next half-century to reflect its icy method of shipment on the Trans Atlantic railroad. Iceberg lettuce was developed from the French Crisphead lettuce, Batavia, by W. Known as the “Fresh Express,” Bruce Church is credited with the idea of shipping lettuce and Iceberg became the new popular name for the ice-covered lettuce. In California, growers discovered that Iceberg lettuce could be covered in crushed ice and shipped across the country without the lettuce wilting. Before the transportation of Iceberg, lettuce was a local item that would be consumed where it was grown due to its short shelf life. ![]() Originally known as Crisphead lettuce due to its shape and texture, Iceberg lettuce was the first variety to be successfully transported across the United States. The leaves will keep over a week when stored wrapped in a damp paper towel in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. Iceberg lettuce pairs well with herbs such as basil, mint, and flat leaf parsley, lemon, honey, tomatoes, shallots, green onions, chives, hard-boiled eggs, bacon, pork, fish, shrimp, grilled chicken, and a classic vinaigrette of olive oil, dried herbs, and cider vinegar. When cooked, Iceberg lettuce can be lightly braised or chopped and sautéed into a stir-fry, used similarly to cabbage. It is most well-known for its use in a cold wedge salad with Roquefort or blue cheese dressings, but it can also be shredded as a garnish, layered in sandwiches, used as a lettuce cup for fillings such as taco meat, shrimp, or chicken, or used to wrap burgers for a low-carb main dish. Iceberg lettuce is best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as braising and stir-frying. Iceberg lettuce is a good source of potassium, iron, calcium, fiber and vitamins A, C, and K. Iceberg lettuce is favored for its long storage capabilities, versatility in culinary applications, and crunchy texture. This eliminates the opportunity for the lettuce to quickly break down. Iceberg lettuce that is developed for supermarket standards is packed in the field into cartons and then immediately oxygen deprived, and vacuum cooled in cold rooms to remove field heat. Iceberg lettuce is one of the only lettuce varieties that does not occur in red form as well as green. ![]() Iceberg lettuce, botanically classified as Lactuca sativa, is the name given to dozens of cultivars of lettuce, all of which are adapted to specific planting regions and time periods and belong to the Asteraceae family. Iceberg lettuce is crunchy and juicy with a mild, sweet flavor. The leaves vary in color depending on the particular cultivar, but the outer leaves are typically light green while the inner leaves range from pale yellow to a translucent white. The firm head is tightly packed with broad, thick, and crisp leaves that are concentrated with a high-water content. Iceberg lettuce is medium to large in size, averaging 25-30 centimeters in diameter, and is spherical in shape, similar to cabbage. ![]()
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