Romaine Lettuce – All You Need to Know | Instacart Guide to Fresh Produce

What is romaine lettuce?

Romaine lettuce is one of the most popular and well-known lettuce varieties around. Crisp, green, and refreshing, this lettuce is perfect for fresh salads, lightening up burgers, or creating healthy wraps.

Romaine lettuce is a medium to large lettuce variety. In addition to the most common vibrant green romaine lettuce, there is also a red romaine lettuce variety with dark red or purple leaves on top and traditional leafy green bottoms.

You can typically find romaine lettuce sold by the entire head, separated as loose lettuce leaves, or chopped for easy-to-prep salads.

Where did romaine lettuce originate from?

Not only is romaine lettuce one of the most common lettuce varieties, but it is also one of the oldest variations. Romaine lettuce has been grown and harvested for approximately 5,000 years. Because romaine lettuce has been around for centuries, it is difficult to trace its first origins. However, the term ‘cos’ is traced to the Greek island of Cos, which is where most believe romaine lettuce originated from.

What is the nutritional value of romaine lettuce?

Due to its high water content, 1 cup of romaine lettuce contains only 8 calories and 1 to 2g of carbohydrates. Romaine lettuce is high in vitamin C and vitamin A, both of which are antioxidants. Vitamin C helps build a strong immune system, while vitamin A helps with vision and cell growth and maintains the heart, lungs, and kidneys. Potassium found in romaine lettuce can aid in regulating cardiovascular health, and the folate in romaine lettuce can assist in preventing heart complications.

While romaine lettuce does have beneficial vitamins and minerals, it is not the most nutritious lettuce variety. If you want to add a boost of nutrients to your salad (or another recipe), try mixing romaine lettuce with other lettuce types like kale, spinach, beet greens, or Swiss chard.

How is romaine lettuce grown?

Because romaine lettuce is one of the most popular lettuce varieties, it is one of the most grown and harvested crops among farmers. In the United States, romaine lettuce is typically planted in early spring to late summer. Romaine lettuce takes around 70 to 75 days to fully mature.

If you are planting during the spring, you may want to plant your romaine lettuce seeds indoors first and then transplant them into the garden when the soil is malleable. If you are planting romaine lettuce in the fall, you should be able to plant them directly into the soil.

If you want larger heads of romaine lettuce, space your plants apart at least 12in to provide adequate room to grow. More space between plants also provides more air circulation, which can help reduce the risk of rotting.

To have a continuous crop of romaine lettuce, plant seeds every couple of weeks. By planting seeds at different times, your romaine lettuce plants will mature at various points in the year, allowing you to have a continuous source of fresh romaine lettuce.

When is romaine lettuce in season?

Although romaine lettuce is available year-round in grocery stores, it has a peak season during winter. See what other fresh vegetables and leafy produce are currently in season.

How to store romaine lettuce

If you have a whole head of romaine lettuce, do not wash or cut the head unless you plan to use it immediately. A head of romaine lettuce will stay fresher for longer when it is not disrupted.

If you have loose leaves of romaine lettuce, store the lettuce unwashed and place it in a loosely closed plastic bag in the refrigerator. You can also wrap the lettuce leaves in a paper towel and place them in a loosely lidded container. The paper towels will soak up excess moisture, preventing premature spoilage. Lettuce needs air circulation, so whether you store it in a plastic bag or container, make sure there is a bit of room to breathe.

When stored correctly, romaine lettuce should stay fresh for 7 to 10 days.

How to tell if romaine lettuce is bad

Whether you are purchasing romaine lettuce as a whole head or in loose leaves, check the leaves to ensure there are no wilted, brown, or mushy spots. When romaine lettuce starts to spoil, the texture will change from crisp to wilted or mushy. The color is a good indicator of how fresh the romaine lettuce is. Romaine lettuce will change from a bright green to a dark brown when it goes bad.

What can I substitute for romaine lettuce?

There are a host of tasty lettuce substitutes for romaine lettuce. Butter lettuce is a luxurious alternative. Its leaves are velvety and quite large, making them great for wraps or decadent salads.

Iceberg lettuce is another common variety of lettuce, similar to romaine. You can find iceberg lettuce often sold by the head at your local grocery store.

If you’re looking to change up your romaine lettuce salads, you can look into arugula, spinach, or kale. Arugula has a more bitter flavor profile but pairs well with stronger flavors. Spinach is wholly diverse and can be used to increase nutrients in salads or other homemade dishes. Kale has a bitter taste, and while it can be eaten raw, the texture will be much tougher than other lettuce varieties. Massaging the kale in the dressing before consuming can make the texture less tough, and incorporating kale into your dish will boost the nutrient benefits. Browse other lettuce varieties.

Add romaine lettuce to your grocery list

If you are looking to purchase romaine lettuce and have your groceries conveniently delivered, you can easily shop for romaine lettuce (and more!) via Instacart. After adding a product to your cart, use the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best products. Shop romaine lettuce.

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