Brown spots on an iceberg lettuce raise questions. How did the spots come about? Is the salad spoiled? Read about the most common causes of brown discoloration on iceberg lettuce here. You can find out whether you can still eat the salad here.
Can you eat iceberg lettuce with brown spots?
An iceberg lettuce with brown spots is no longer fresh. If the discoloration is onlyon the stalk, you can still eat the iceberg lettuceInedible is an iceberg lettuce if the leaves are covered with muddy brown spots and the head of lettuce collapses.
Why does iceberg lettuce get brown spots?
The most common cause of brown spots on iceberg lettuce arebruisesthat occurred during storage. Brown discoloration on the stalk and head of lettuce is often an indication that the iceberg lettuce isno longer fresh. Another cause of brown spots on iceberg lettuce is storing it next to ripe fruit. Apples, bananas and other ripening types of fruit release theripening gas ethylene during storage. If lettuce or another type of lettuce comes under the influence of the gaseous ripening hormone, the lettuce leaves develop brown spots.
When should you stop eating iceberg lettuce?
An iceberg lettuce is spoiled when its leaves are covered with soft,brown spotsand the head of lettucecollapses. In this condition you should no longer eat iceberg lettuce.
The path to inedibility for iceberg lettuce is a long process that begins with brown discoloration on the stalk. As long as the lettuce leaves are still light green and crisp, iceberg lettuce is not spoiled. Simply remove the stalk, wash the lettuce leaves and eat without worry.
How to avoid brown spots on iceberg lettuce?
Thecorrect storage can prevent iceberg lettuce from getting brown spots. Ideally, you should not cut or wash an iceberg lettuce before storing it. How to do it right:
- Remove damaged and heavily soiled leaves from the lettuce head.
- Put the lettuce head in a perforated plastic bag or wrap it in a kitchen towel.
- Store iceberg lettuce in the vegetable compartment of the refrigerator (shelf life is two weeks) or in a dry, cool cellar (shelf life is one week).
- Dry already washed lettuce leaves in the salad spinner and store in a lockable Tupperware container in the refrigerator (shelf life is a few days).
Tip
Grow iceberg lettuce yourself
Iceberg lettuce is preferred for cultivation on the windowsill or in the cold frame in March. In May, plant the young plants in nutrient-rich soil in a sunny to partially shaded location. To ensure that a round, firm head of lettuce forms, plant iceberg lettuce just below the root neck. The optimal planting distance is 35 cm. Watering in dry conditions and fertilizing with compost are sufficient.
