How do you crisp up iceberg lettuce?

Fill a large bowl with very hot tap water (around 120°F) and plunge your wilted greens. Let them soak for 10–30 minutes, then drain. Wrap the leaves in a damp towel and chill before using (or if you need them immediately, cool them down in ice water). They'll be perkier than a Pomeranian with a plushie.

What to do with old lettuce?

That's where salad soup comes in – the perfect way to save those wilting lettuce leaves and bring them back to life!

What to do when you have too much lettuce?

I love me some salad, but I'm also kind of a big baby when it comes to eating them. ... Turn 'Em into Juice or Smoothies. ... Use Them in Sautés & Stir Fries. ... Make 'Em into Slaw. ... Make Lettuce Soup. ... Get Fancy & Make Lettuce Sauce. ... Make Lettuce Wraps. Aug 18, 2014

How do restaurants keep iceberg lettuce crisp?

That's why restaurants store their lettuce in special perforated bins that allow for air circulation while it's held in the fridge . Removing the air does help prevent oxidation, which is what causes lettuce to turn brown but has nothing to do with lettuce staying crisp.

How do I make sure my lettuce is crispy?

Lightly wrap the lettuce in a dish towel (or paper towel) to absorb any excess moisture during storage, and place in the crisper drawer of the fridge .

Why does putting lettuce in water make it crispy?

When the wilted leaves are placed in cold water then, it acts as a hypotonic solution. This leads to the inward diffusion of water molecules into the lettuce leaves. The leaves will become turgid and crisp due to the process of endosmosis .

Why does aluminum foil keep lettuce fresh?

"Aluminum does not, on its own, have any specific synergies with lettuce. If it's protective it's either protecting it from drying out or it has just the right permeability to allow the lettuce to breathe without drying it out ( aluminum foil IS permeable )," says Nestrud.

What happens if you dont wash iceberg lettuce?

Yes, it's important to wash all fresh produce, but especially leafy greens and lettuce. Harmful bacteria from the soil can contaminate fruits and vegetables and lead to a foodborne illness if consumed .

How to tell if iceberg lettuce is bad?

If your iceberg lettuce feels mushy and/or smells unpleasant , it's time to chuck them into the bin. That said, if the outer leaves of a lettuce head look a little wilted or browned, peel them off to check the inside. If the inner leaves still look fresh and crisp to the touch, they are still safe for consumption.

Why do I feel weird after eating lettuce?

The reason being is that when you eat vegetables the bacteria in your digestive track starts to break them down . When this happens there can be a release of hydrogen sulfide which has been known to cause sickness in some individuals.

What happens if you eat too much iceberg lettuce?

Consuming lettuce in excess can cause many side effects. These are mydriasis (dilation of the pupil), photophobia (inability to look at bright light), dizziness, heart and breathing difficulty, excessive sweating, hallucinations, and induced sleep .

What is the most common lettuce food poisoning?

Some outbreaks are tied to a specific kind of greens, often romaine lettuce and spinach, or to certain growers or packers. Salmonella and other bacteria can be traced to dirty irrigation water, soil, or human hands. Germs multiply in the juice from cut leaves and can get trapped inside the bags.

Grace Young's Stir-Fried Iceberg Lettuce Recipe on Food52 (2024)

One-Pot Wonders

by: Genius Recipes

April8,2014

4.5

4 Ratings

Grace Young's Stir-Fried Iceberg Lettuce Recipe on Food52 (1)

Serves 4

Jump to Recipe

Author Notes

A near-instant springy green vegetable before the springy greens. (And, yes, you can cook lettuce -- here's why you should.) Note: You can use this technique on many other vegetables in season, including romaine lettuce, spinach, watercress, baby bok choy, asparagus (fat spears sliced 1/4-inch thick on the bias; pencil spears in 2-inch lengths), snow peas and snap peas. Adapted slightly from The Wisdom of the Chinese Kitchen (Simon & Schuster, 1999) and Saveur Magazine —Genius Recipes

Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients

1 teaspoonsoy sauce
1 teaspoonsesame oil
1 teaspoonrice wine or dry sherry
³/₄ teaspoonsugar
¹/₂ teaspoonfreshly ground white or black pepper
1 ¹/₂ tablespoonspeanut oil or other neutral oil
4 scallions, cut on the diagonal into 1-inch pieces
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced or smashed
¹/₂ medium head iceberg lettuce, cored, outermost leaves discarded, inner leaves torn into 4-inch wide pieces (or substitute 12 ounces of other greens -- see headnote)
Kosher salt, to taste

Directions

In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine or sherry, sugar, and pepper; set sauce aside.
Heat a wok or 12-inch skillet over high heat. Add peanut oil, half of the scallions (including all of the white and light green pieces), and garlic and cook until garlic is golden, about 5 seconds. Add lettuce and stir-fry until lettuce softens slightly, about 1 minute. Drizzle in sauce and cook until lettuce is just coated with the sauce, about 1 minute. Season with salt, divide between 4 bowls while lettuce is just tender and still bright green, and garnish with remaining scallions.

Recipe by: Genius Recipes

Popular on Food52

11 Reviews

jeacooking February 13, 2023

I read several other recipes for stir fried iceberg lettuce before selecting this one because of the simple dressing. However, I was surprised it did not have fresh ginger in it which I noticed is in other recipes. So, I added a tablespoon of grated fresh ginger a minute before adding the lettuce and I doubled the dressing. It was a super nice side dish for some Asian-inspired chicken thighs. I will make it again, with the ginger, and a big pinch of red pepper flakes.

Hadley April 1, 2019

I made this yesterday-so easy and delicious. Had mine with a fried egg on top and rice.