# Lettuce **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 21, 2012, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettuce/628935 "2012-07-21T07:26:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettuce/628935/1 "2012-07-21T07:26:58Z")
So you’ve removed the confounding tape that binds lettuce packages closed, without damaging the integrity of the lettuce bag. How many layers of lettuce do you remove before deeming the lettuce suitable for consumption? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettuce/628935/2 "2012-07-21T10:50:44Z")
I don’t think you and I eat the same kind of lettuce. I usually eat romaine, and don’t remove any leaves. But with cabbage, I remove the outer two leaves. ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettuce/628935/3 "2012-07-21T12:05:18Z")
The [lettuce I normally buy](http://www.gardensimply.com/graphics/greens_redleaf.jpg) doesn’t come in a bag. I only toss out the outer leaves if they’re wilted and broken, but because I’m looking at my lettuce before buying it, I try not to pick any that are wilted or broken. Just wash the lettuce, and eat it. Why do you need to remove layers from yours? ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettuce/628935/4 "2012-07-21T13:29:41Z")
Remove any bruised, cut, or wilted outer leaves. Those big flat leaves aren’t so good in a salad anyway. Hold under the cold water tap and picture any dirt or germs being washed washed washed away. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettuce/628935/5 "2012-07-21T13:38:59Z")
Moved MPSIMS --\> Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettuce/628935/6 "2012-07-21T13:44:13Z")
Based on the description, I assume the OP means iceberg lettuce. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettuce/628935/7 "2012-07-21T13:46:01Z")
lettuce not waste leaves. ---
**Author:** ![Student\_Driver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@Student\_Driver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Student_Driver)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettuce/628935/8 "2012-07-21T13:47:54Z")
Assuming you’re talking iceberg, I remove both inner and outer layers. Slam the head stem-first onto a counter, pull out the inner “core,” then peel at least one outer layer off (more as needed if wilted or brown). Yeah, I worked fast food for a few years… ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettuce/628935/9 "2012-07-21T18:46:23Z")
Yes, iceberg. I do rinse it, and the outer few layers always seem wilty and not crisp. I can’t wait to try slamming the lettuce on the counter! I’m going to the store to pick one up for that purpose. I hope I can wait until I get home! ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettuce/628935/10 "2012-07-21T18:53:10Z")
Forget the counter. That’s for mass quantities. Smacking the core with the base of your palm works just as well and doesn’t get the counter messy. Outer wilted leaves go into the compost bucket, as does the core. ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2012, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettuce/628935/11 "2012-07-21T23:58:43Z")
People still eat iceberg lettuce? 😉 We buy it BOGO at the grocery store and hang it over the chicken yard to give them (and us) some entertainment. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2012, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lettuce/628935/12 "2012-07-22T00:43:23Z")
> [@Student\_Driver](#): > > Assuming you’re talking iceberg, I remove both inner and outer layers. Slam the head stem-first onto a counter, pull out the inner “core,” then peel at least one outer layer off (more as needed if wilted or brown). > > Yeah, I worked fast food for a few years… I didn’t work fast food, but this is how my mom taught me.