Leaf Lettuce Delivery or Pickup

The term leaf lettuce refers to lettuce varieties that don't produce any kind of head. Unlike other lettuce types, leaf lettuce has leaves that come together at the plant's stem. You'll find dark green leaf lettuces and red leaf lettuces, and flavors can range from mild to sweet. No matter which type of leaf lettuce you choose, you can look forward to a high content of nutrients like vitamins A and K, folate, and manganese, not to mention attractive and tasty leaves with a snappy crunch and wonderful texture.

The plant known as Lactuca sativa includes a few basic types of plants people commonly call lettuce. That includes varieties such as butterhead, iceberg, romaine, and of course, leaf lettuce. Different types of lettuce contain different levels of various nutrients, so mixing many of these popular greens in a salad can get you the biggest nutritional boost. All in all, lettuces will deliver an array of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, plus water and fiber, making lettuce a great choice for healthy diets.

When shopping, you may find leaf lettuce products called simply leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, or oak leaf lettuce. You'll sometimes find leaf lettuce products referred to as looseleaf lettuce or loose-leaf lettuce, as well. Leaf lettuce often makes an appearance in mesclun, spring, and baby lettuce mixes, thanks to its tenderness.

Leaf lettuces tend to deliver a mild flavor and be very pliable, despite their crunchy stems. Red leaf lettuce and green leaf lettuce have a similar mild flavor, though you can easily differentiate these two types thanks to red leaf lettuce's burgundy tint.

Leaf lettuce's ruffled, uneven surface makes it a great choice to add layers of texture to your salads. Because leaf lettuce boasts large leaves, you'll want to tear those leaves into bite-sized sections to add to salads. You can also puree leaf lettuce to put in soups. Crisp and mild, leaf lettuce is great in sandwiches, tacos, and wraps, too. Thanks to its tender yet broad leaves and sturdy ribs, leaf lettuce is an ideal choice when you're making tasty, gluten-free lettuce wraps.

Look for lettuce with bright, crisp leaves and cut ends that appear fresh and clean. You should avoid lettuce leaves that look wilted, limp, dried-out, or rusty. It's common to see a few spots and holes on the leaves, so don't worry about these blemishes unless they are excessive. Remember, don't look for a head on leaf lettuce — the leaves branch out from a single stalk.

Because leaf lettuce doesn't have a head, it's typically more perishable than head lettuce varieties. When you're ready to store leaf lettuce, you should rinse it with cold water and then pat it dry before placing it in a storage container or plastic bag and keeping it in the refrigerator. Leaf lettuce can last up to seven or eight days in the refrigerator.