7 Different Types of Lettuce with Pictures
The term ‘lettuce’ is often thought to be synonymous with salad greens. But in truth, salad greens are any leafy greens usually eaten raw in salads. And lettuces are the most commonly accepted and consumed salad greens.
Lettuce, or Lactuca sativa, is a leafy green with several types and cultivars of its own. Most of them are eaten raw in salads and sandwiches, while some may be used in other dishes (like celtuce, grown for its tender stem). Lettuces contain a lot of water and are an excellent source of Vitamins K and A. Also, being leafy greens, they are low in calories and carbs and can be a good addition to any healthy diet.
Below is a list of all the types of lettuces, along with the common cultivars of each type. Out of the 7 main varieties, Iceberg is generally what one is likely to come across in the United States, whether at supermarkets or restaurants.
7 Types of Lettuce
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List of the Different Types of Lettuce Name of the Types Carbs (per 100g) Calories (per 100g) Common Cultivars (Available at the Supermarkets) Common UsesLeaf Lettuce 2.2g 5 kcal Green Ice, Red Sails, Black Seeded Simpson Salads
Iceberg Lettuce (Crisphead) 2.9g 14 kcal Great Lakes, Salinas, Dynasty Wedge salads, sandwiches
Romaine Lettuce (Cos) 3.3g 17 kcal Little Gem, Parris Island, Cosmo Salads and sandwiches; typically used in Caesar salads
Summer Crisp 2.5g 7 kcal Cherokee, Nevada, Salinas Salads, burgers
Butterhead 2.2g 13 kcal Bibb, Boston, Buttercrunch Salads, wraps
Red Leaf Lettuce 2.3g 29 kcal New Red Fire, Lollo Rosso, Red Sails Salads, garnishes
Celtuce (Stem Lettuce) 3.0g 20 kcal – Typically used in Asian cuisine; added to Stews, stir-fries, and soups
The head lettuce varieties, like crisphead (Iceberg) and butterhead, are sometimes referred to as ‘cabbage’ lettuce due to their more compact and shorter cabbage-like appearance. They are easily distinguishable from loose-leaf varieties like Romaine and leaf lettuce.
The oilseed lettuce, yet another type, is not mentioned in the above table because it is grown mainly for its seeds that are used for oil extraction.
FAQAre there any bitter lettuce types?
Lettuce leaves are not supposed to be bitter. But sometimes, especially when growing at home, they may turn bitter in response to certain growing conditions like too much heat or lack of nutrients in the soil.
Which lettuce types are best for growing in a kitchen garden?
Leaf and Romaine lettuce are typically grown in kitchen gardens as they grow quickly, need less care, and are easy to harvest. Butterhead lettuce is another commonly grown variety with excellent heat tolerance.
Are there any lettuce varieties with curly leaves?
There are no true lettuces out there with curly leaves. Frisée (or curly endive) is a curly-leaved salad green often mistaken for lettuce, but it is a type of chicory.
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November 26th 2019
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