• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

our recipes + your inbox = the eatmail

Join now

Subscribe for new recipes + 3 fan-favorite ebooks

  • About
  • Contact

Live Eat Learn

Easy vegetarian recipes, one ingredient at a time

free ebook

Subscribe for new recipes + 3 fan-favorite ebooks

  • Recipe Index
  • Vegetarian 101
  • Travel
  • Meal Plans
  • Course
    • Breakfasts
    • Lunches
    • Dinners
    • Appetizers
    • Sweets
    • Drinks
  • Diet
    • Dairy Free
    • Gluten Free
    • Low Carb
    • Paleo
    • Raw
    • Vegan
  • Season
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Fall
  • Ingredient
    • Avocado
    • Bean
    • Cauliflower
    • Chickpeas
    • Eggplant
    • Mushroom
    • Tofu
    • Quinoa
    • View All
  • Collections
    • All Time Favorites
    • Air Frying
    • Budget Friendly
    • Comfort Food
    • High Protein
    • Meal Prep
    • Meatless Monday
    • View All
  • Visit our kombucha site
    Visit our dog food blog
Home Vegetarian Cooking 101 Ingredient Guides

Romaine Lettuce 101

Share
Share on:
By: Sarah BondUpdated: Mar 22, 2023 1 Comment

This post contains affiliate links.

Everything you need to know about good old romaine lettuce, from cutting and storing to using it in your favorite recipes!

A up-close view detailing the texture of whole romaine leaves

Romaine lettuce has my heart….get it? But, it’s the truth, and that’s not just because it’s perfect for eating as taco shells. Romaine is a favorite of mine in the lettuce world for so many reasons – the great taste, the versatility, and the nutritional benefits!

What about you? Are you a romaine person? How well do you really know romaine lettuce after all? Today, let’s dive into everything there is to know, from the benefits and taste to how to cut and use it (like in my infamous Grilled Romaine Salad). It just may spark some ideas!

Romaine Lettuce Benefits

Did you know that the darker leaves, the more nutrients? Though all parts of romaine are green and good for you, those parts concentrate most of the minerals!

As a whole, however, romaine is a supplier of magnesium, calcium, potassium, and Vitamin C. It’s an all around great choice!

Romaine vs. Iceberg

It’s a classic argument. Which is better, romaine or iceberg? Though they’re main competitors in the lettuce world, they can usually be substituted for each other. They’re both used in a wide range of recipes, both being super crunchy, and they both supply a lot of water.

But the taste and nutrition of romaine vs. iceberg lettuce is a bit different! Romaine takes on more of a bitter flavor, while iceberg has a mild sweetness to it. And generally when it comes to leafy greens, the darker the color the more nutritious it is. The same holds true here!

Four hearts of romaine arranged on a white background

What it Tastes Like

Romaine lettuce has a very refreshing and juicy taste. It’s very crisp, and the taste is a bit bitter, though not too much. It’s not as sweet as iceberg, but it’s not as “grassy” as spinach. It’s just… good! And its crunchy texture makes it great for using in so many different recipes.

How to use Romaine

Romaine is kind of like iceberg in that the uses are nearly endless. Unlike kale or chard which you wouldn’t want to use on just any type of dish, romaine can be used frequently! The obvious use is salad, and I actually do love a good, crispy romaine-based salad from time to time. You can go savory or sweet with your toppings.

Other romaine lettuce uses include wraps (with which you can use the lettuce in the wrap or as the wrap), sandwiches, tacos, smoothies, soup, spring rolls, or rice bowls… heck, you can even grill it!

A fresh romaine heart on a white background

How to choose your romaine

Choosing the perfect package of romaine is pretty easy — just look for the darkest bunch! The darker the romaine hearts, the better it is to eat. If it’s lighter, you may find it to be extra bitter. Similarly, make sure it’s firm, but not too firm. It needs to feel “crunchy” in your hand.

Best Way to Cut Romaine Lettuce

Cutting romaine is simple. If using on a sandwich or as a taco shell, simply rip off a leaf and either fold it in half (sandwich), or keep it intact to add with taco fillings. If slicing, here’s the best method!

  1. Remove the outer leaves from the heart. I usually go 1-2 layers down depending on the quality.
  2. Cut the heart in half lengthwise, and then cut out the root on either half.
  3. Slice the halves down the center a second time.
  4. Turn your cutting board sideways and slice the leaves into strips.
A 4-step image depicting how to cut romaine lettuce: cut down the center, remove the stems, and slice

Storing romaine

Romaine lettuce stays good for up to about a week when stored properly. Keep it in the crisper; in a plastic bag is best. If already cut and washed, make sure it’s dry before storing.

Salads made with romaine should stay good for 1-2 days when stored in the refrigerator. It’s best to keep dressing stored separately to prevent sogginess.

Where it’s grown & harvested

Growing romaine lettuce in the US occurs mostly in Arizona and California. The hot, dry temperatures are great for growing and cultivating the crispiest, tastiest romaine! This is actually very interesting, considering romaine thrives in cool temperatures too. A lot of production actually takes place in China!

Romaine And E.Coli

Unless you’ve been living under a rock (which, in this day and age I wouldn’t blame you — in fact, I’d be jealous), you’ve heard about a romaine recall. This happens once in a while and is often do to possible E. coli contaminations. What’s up with that? Why is it so common?

The truth is that romaine isn’t actually any more susceptible to E. coli than other types of lettuce (yes, even your beloved kale). People just eat more of it! When more is produced and sold, it’s more likely to be the type that gets recalled. Greens are grown in open fields, and like other veggies and fruits grown in this way, are subject to contamination from bad water, bacteria, and other things in the environment. This is why proper washing is so important!

A up-close view detailing the texture of sliced romaine lettuce

You may also like...

  • Grilled Romaine Salad
  • Freekeh 101
  • Collage of vegetarian salad recipes
    25 Hearty Vegetarian Salad Recipes
  • vegetarian fall recipes collage
    17 Vegetarian Fall Recipes
Previous Post
Next Post

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Rate this Recipe:




  1. Ian Bryson says

    Posted on 8/1 at 8:53 pm

    I love romaine lettuce ,I tend to grow my own in containers in the green house . In Scotland ,this supplies me with fresh lettuce almost all year round. I pick mine a few leaves at a time I wash them and put them in a glass jar with the ends in cool water. This appears to keep the leaves dry and fresh for two or three days. The plants just keep growing as I remove the outer leaves they just keep adding new ones in the centre they just get taller an taller. It might seem a strange way to harvest a lettuce but it works for me ,it’s incredible how many leaves you can get from one romaine lettuce.

    getting taller and taller.

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hello

I'm Sarah

A flavor-loving nutritionist and sensory science specialist showing you how to make easy vegetarian recipes, one ingredient at a time.

Let's Meet

Freebie alert!

3 reader-favorite cookbooks delivered straight to your inbox.

Get in now!

Subscribe for new recipes + 3 fan-favorite ebooks

Air Fryer Recipes

Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower

Plate full of crispy chickpeas with a wooden spoon.

15 Minute Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas

Personal size mozzarella pizza cooked in an air fryer

Air Fryer Pizza

Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks

Brussels sprouts on a plate with wooden serving spoons.

The Best 15 Minute Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts

Kale chips on a white plate.

10 Minute Air Fryer Kale Chips

Dinner This Week

Vegan tikka masala with naan and rice in a white bowl

M

Chickpea Tikka Masala

Roasted Chickpea Gyros

T

Roasted Chickpea Gyros

Vegan Thai red curry in a bowl on a red background

W

Thai Vegetarian Coconut Curry

Vegan nachos on a black plate on a white background - These vegan nachos are piled high with easy mushroom BBQ "pulled pork" and a cashew-based queso cheese sauce that will knock your dairy-free socks off.

R

BBQ Mushroom Pulled Pork

Roasted Cauliflower Street Tacos

F

Roasted Cauliflower Tacos

Lemon risotto in a bowl with basil on a yellow background

S

Lemon Basil Risotto

As featured on:

3 bonus books!

Join our Eatmail newsletter to get free copies of our top 3 cookbooks, new recipes, exclusive meal plans, and more!

Follow Along

  • Easy Vegetarian Facebook Group
  • Kombucha Brewers Facebook Group
Back to Top
  • Web Stories
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Collaborate
© 2023 Live Eat Learn
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled Support by Foodie Digital