Iceberg Lettuce Needs Washing?

maxell · 11-12-2009, 07:29 PM

Another novice cook here trying to become a low-carb chef. I've been eating lettuce leaves by plucking them from the iceberg lettuce that I buy from ShopRite. Does the iceberg lettuce need to be washed?

Nigel · 11-12-2009, 07:43 PM

Yes, I wash it. Here's a link with some info:
Washing Lettuce > Start Cooking

Charski · 11-13-2009, 07:57 AM

You bet it does. Lettuce has been a carrier of e.coli in the past couple years - most likely the contamination came from field workers or processors at the plant - but you really DO need to wash it! It can also have residual fertilizer or insecticides too, unless you're buying organic.

didi · 11-15-2009, 04:24 PM

I always just broke the core by smacking it on the counter and twisting it off. Then I rinsed the head by pouring water into the center... BUT one day while I was doing that I felt tickling on my hand...

Tiny red specks were crawling on me, they were all inside the head! Every leaf!

It took me about 2 years before I would eat head lettuce again!

As far as e.coli, I think all raw foods are suspect. It's scary!

Su11 · 11-15-2009, 05:02 PM

I even wash bagged lettuce (which is supposed to be washed). When you open it up, you get that 'old green' smell. A quick run through the spinner and I'm happy.

Charski · 11-15-2009, 06:48 PM

Back in the "good old days" (about 1980) I worked in sales for a company called SunHarvest which is now defunct - but we sold "shred" and "bagged salads" which were the first prewashed lettuce products and were pretty much sold exclusively to Burger King, McDonalds and the like. It came in 5 pound bags!

Well anyway, we could walk downstairs to the shred plant and pick up a bag to take home if we wanted, and boy could you smell the chlorine bath they used to wash all that lettuce before it was bagged.

Not sure if that's what they still do or not but some brands have more of that fragrance than others. Trader Joe's stuff doesn't seem to have it, so if I'm buying prebagged salad that's where I get it.

Mona · 11-16-2009, 01:58 AM

I wash my iceburg like Dianna said: hold head in palm of hand, core-side down, and smack it once or twice on the counter. Twist off core. Rinse inside of lettuce then drain core-side down so the water can run out. I wrap a few papertowels around it and store in a plastic bag in the fridge. Lettuce is much crisper after washing it and chilling it, too.

Linny · 11-16-2009, 01:43 PM

I always wash ALL produce!

Charski, I know that smell in the bagged stuff and it's overwhelming. One of our local grocery stores also gives their seafood and fish the chlorine bath to rid the smell of bacteria on the fish

11-12-2009, 07:29 PM	#1
maxell Junior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: East Standard Time Zone, USA Posts: 52 Gallery: maxell Stats: 5-10 205/168/175 WOE: Modified Low Carb Diet Start Date: 10/21/2009	Iceberg Lettuce Needs Washing? Another novice cook here trying to become a low-carb chef. I've been eating lettuce leaves by plucking them from the iceberg lettuce that I buy from ShopRite. Does the iceberg lettuce need to be washed?

11-15-2009, 06:48 PM	#6
Charski Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mostly in the kitchen! Posts: 33,859 Gallery: Charski Stats: 174 (WW)/139/150 goal 5'5" 59 years YOUNG! WOE: ATKINS always Start Date: May 2003	Back in the "good old days" (about 1980) I worked in sales for a company called SunHarvest which is now defunct - but we sold "shred" and "bagged salads" which were the first prewashed lettuce products and were pretty much sold exclusively to Burger King, McDonalds and the like. It came in 5 pound bags! Well anyway, we could walk downstairs to the shred plant and pick up a bag to take home if we wanted, and boy could you smell the chlorine bath they used to wash all that lettuce before it was bagged. Not sure if that's what they still do or not but some brands have more of that fragrance than others. Trader Joe's stuff doesn't seem to have it, so if I'm buying prebagged salad that's where I get it. __________________ It's easy to be miserable. Being happy takes more work. ~~from Ondine, the movie~~ Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I stuck. I reject your reality and substitute my own! ~~ Adam on Mythbusters

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11-12-2009, 07:43 PM	#2
Nigel Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 3,078 Gallery: Nigel	Yes, I wash it. Here's a link with some info: Washing Lettuce > Start Cooking

11-13-2009, 07:57 AM	#3
Charski Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Mostly in the kitchen! Posts: 33,859 Gallery: Charski Stats: 174 (WW)/139/150 goal 5'5" 59 years YOUNG! WOE: ATKINS always Start Date: May 2003	You bet it does. Lettuce has been a carrier of e.coli in the past couple years - most likely the contamination came from field workers or processors at the plant - but you really DO need to wash it! It can also have residual fertilizer or insecticides too, unless you're buying organic.

11-15-2009, 04:24 PM	#4
didi Senior LCF Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 497 Gallery: didi WOE: LCHF Start Date: October 2007	I always just broke the core by smacking it on the counter and twisting it off. Then I rinsed the head by pouring water into the center... BUT one day while I was doing that I felt tickling on my hand... Tiny red specks were crawling on me, they were all inside the head! Every leaf! It took me about 2 years before I would eat head lettuce again! As far as e.coli, I think all raw foods are suspect. It's scary!

11-15-2009, 05:02 PM	#5
Su11 Way too much time on my hands! Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Outside Perimeter Atlanta Georgia Posts: 14,972 Gallery: Su11 Stats: Total loss- 65 (since Sept 05) WOE: General lower carb- fructose limited	I even wash bagged lettuce (which is supposed to be washed). When you open it up, you get that 'old green' smell. A quick run through the spinner and I'm happy.

11-16-2009, 01:58 AM	#7
Mona Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Creswell, OR Posts: 4,187 Gallery: Mona Stats: 380/288/175 45y.o. 5'10" WOE: VSG 11/14/11 Moderate LC	I wash my iceburg like Dianna said: hold head in palm of hand, core-side down, and smack it once or twice on the counter. Twist off core. Rinse inside of lettuce then drain core-side down so the water can run out. I wrap a few papertowels around it and store in a plastic bag in the fridge. Lettuce is much crisper after washing it and chilling it, too.

11-16-2009, 01:43 PM	#8
Linny Very Gabby LCF Member!!! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NW PA Posts: 4,803 Gallery: Linny Stats: Lost 50 lbs WOE: Organic & Natural Whole Food version of Atkins	I always wash ALL produce! Charski, I know that smell in the bagged stuff and it's overwhelming. One of our local grocery stores also gives their seafood and fish the chlorine bath to rid the smell of bacteria on the fish