Page 5 - CBI Produce

LETTUCE GUIDE

LETTUCE NAME CHARACTERISTICS

This type of lettuce is commonly known as Boston and Bibb lettuce. And as
this variety’s name implies, the texture of a butter lettuce is indeed smooth like
BUTTERHEAD LETTUCE
butter. Bibb is the more expensive of the two and is usually sold in a plastic
container to protect the delicate leaves.

Romaine is a variety of lettuce which grows in a tall head of sturdy leaves
with a firm rib down the center. Unlike most lettuces, it is tolerant of heat.
ROMAINE
Romaine is the usual lettuce used in Caesar salad and commonly used in
Middle Eastern cuisine.

Sometimes sold with its soil still attached, this salad green imparts a mild and
slightly sweet flavor to a salad. Because of the small size of the leaves, trying to
MÂCHE
create a salad with a base of mâhe can be expensive. Its leaves are also very
delicate and will bruise easily, so handle with care.

The shape of this loose leaf lettuce’s leaves are similar to that of the oak tree,
thus, its name. From a distance, one could mistake it for red leaf and green leaf
lettuce, but a closer look will reveal differences in shape and texture: Oakleafs
OAKLEAF
are a little shorter and more squat, and the tops of their leaves have a softer
texture than their red leaf and green leaf counterparts. This delicate, tender
lettuce acts as a great bed for food and won’t compete with other flavors.

They have a mild flavor and are very pliable, despite the crunchy stem. Their
LOOSE LEAF, RED LEAF uneven ruffled surfaces add layers of texture to salads. Because the leaves are
so large, it’s best to tear them up into bite-size pieces.

Iceberg lettuce is more often used in wedge salads, than on burgers and
sandwiches. A lettuce cultivar noted for its crunchiness; the most familiar of all
ICEBERG
lettuces sold in the United States. And while in the U.S. it is rarely cooked, many
other cultures use it in a variety of cooked dishes.

BANANA RIPENESS GUIDE

GREEN GREEN TIPS ALL YELLOW YELLOW WITH SPOTS

Stage 2 Stage 3.5 Stage 5 Stage 7

Ripe in 2-3 days Ripe in 1 day Ripe and ready to eat Completely ripe, perfect flavor

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