Baby Iceberg lettuce
Estimated Inventory, 40 ct : 33.45
This item was last sold on : 11/21/24
Description/Taste
Baby Iceberg lettuce is small in size, averaging twelve centimeters in diameter and is round, about the size of a softball. The leaves are tightly bound, broadly shaped, thick-walled, and crisp with high water content. The outer leaves are typically light green, and the inner leaves range from pale yellow to a translucent white. Baby Iceberg lettuce is crunchy, tender, and juicy with a mild but concentrated, sweet flavor.
Seasons/Availability
Baby Iceberg lettuce is available year-round.
Current Facts
Baby Iceberg lettuce, botanically classified as Lactuca sativa, is a compact, petite variety that belongs to the Asteraceae family. Baby Iceberg lettuce evolved out of a need for Iceberg farmers to compete with pre-packaged lettuce mixes and newer baby varieties of darker, leafy greens. Developed for supermarkets by being packed in the field into cartons, immediately oxygen deprived, and vacuum cooled in cold rooms to remove field heat, Baby Iceberg lettuce is favored in the food industry for its compact size, long shelf life, and dense, cup-shaped leaves.
Nutritional Value
Baby Iceberg lettuce contains vitamins A, C, and K, potassium, iron, calcium, and fiber.
Applications
Baby Iceberg lettuce is best suited for both raw and cooked applications such as braising and stir-frying. Its petite size makes it suitable for slicing and half and using the leaves as a cup or wrap. When used as a bowl, Baby Iceberg lettuce can hold cold cucumber soup, creamy dips, or contain a cocktail sauce with shrimp lined around the edge. The leaves can also be used as taco cups, burger buns, cups for chicken salad, or containers for Asian lettuce wraps. When cooked, Baby Iceberg lettuce can be lightly braised or chopped and sautéed into a stir-fry, used similarly to cabbage. Baby Iceberg lettuce pairs well with gorgonzola cheese, mozzarella cheese, goat cheese, rosemary, mint, parsley, poultry, beef, bacon, pork, shrimp, eggs, tofu, avocado, carrots, beets, tomatoes, and vinaigrettes. The baby heads will keep up to five days when stored in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. When sliced or torn, the leaves will keep up to one week when stored in a sealed container in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Baby Iceberg lettuce has increased in popularity in the United States as the number of baby lettuce varieties has become more mainstream since their introduction in the 1980s. As demand increased, Iceberg farmers began growing more compact varieties to compete for market share with the popular mache, red oak, and butter types. Baby Iceberg lettuce is favored by chefs as the heads can easily be prepped by slicing in half and form a sturdy bowl for dips and sauces. The heads can also be used whole producing little waste for the restaurant industry. Baby Iceberg lettuce is commonly used in restaurants as bowls for shrimp cocktail or as a crunchy, juicy counterpart to combat spicy flavors in Asian and Mexican meat dishes. Also known as the "wedge" in the famous wedge salad, one head can be split in half or quarters and drizzled with blue cheese dressing and bacon to become a satisfying and economically frugal first course.
Geography/History
Iceberg lettuce was developed from the French Crisphead lettuce known as Batavia by W. Atlee Burpee & Co. in 1894. It was originally named for its crunchy texture, but its namesake evolved over the next half-century to reflect its method of ice-covered shipments on the Trans Atlantic railroad cars. In the mid-20th century, Iceberg lettuce became a symbol of America's rapidly industrializing agricultural system when the Whirlpool Corporation developed controlled and modified atmospheres and packaging, giving Iceberg lettuce a greater shelf-life. This technological advance allowed for Iceberg lettuce to become one of the most important commercial lettuces worldwide. Today Baby Iceberg lettuce is widely available and can be found at supermarkets, farmers markets, and specialty grocers in North America, Central America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Black Radish | San Diego CA | 619-775-7412 |
| Stake Chophouse & Bar | Coronado CA | 619-522-0077 |
| Local Tap House & Kitchen | Oceanside CA | 760-547-1469 |
| Pacific Yacht Agents | Los Angeles CA | 808-214-0970 |
| Shorehouse Kitchen Carlsbad | Carlsbad CA | 858-663-9916 |
| Kitchens For Good | San Diego CA | 619-450-4040 |
| Inn at Rancho Santa Fe (Banquet) | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-381-8289 |
| Rosewood Social | San Juan Capistrano CA | 669-243-8403 |
| Marriott Marquis North Tower | San Diego CA | 619-234-1500 |
| Zeca Trading Co. | San Diego CA | 619-410-1576 |
| Herb & Sea | Encinitas CA | 858-587-6601 |
| Sycuan Casino | El Cajon CA | 619-445-6002 |
| Le Papagayo (Encinitas) | Encinitas CA | 760-944-8252 |
| SandBox Pizza | San Diego CA | 858-272-7263 |
| Rancho Bernardo Inn (Avant) | San Diego CA | 858-675-8505 |
| Omni Hotels | San Diego CA | 619-231-6664 |
| Black Raill Kitchen + Bar | Carlsbad CA | 619-454-9182 |
| The Flavor Chef (Catering) | Vista CA | 619-295-3172 |
| Cardellino | San Diego CA | 619-722-3398 |
| Firefly Beach | San Diego CA | 619-222-6440 |
| Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-1582 |
| Del Mar Country Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-5995 |
| Fairplay | San Diego CA | 303-870-0065 |
| Bali Hai Restaurant | San Diego CA | 619-222-1181 |
| Hilton Harbor Island | San Diego CA | 619-291-6700 |
| Wildland | Carlsbad CA | 619-385-0914 |
| La Valle Coastal Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-5473 |
| Rancho Valencia | Del Mar CA | 858-756-1123 |
| Gravity Heights Mission Valley | San Diego CA | 619-384-5993 |
| Sheraton Carlsbad (Banquets) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
| Gravity Heights Restaurant and Brewery | San Diego CA | 858-551-5105 |
| Storyhouse Spirits Bar | San Diego CA | 801-949-5955 |
| Huntress | San Diego CA | 619-955-5750 |
| The Glen at Scripps Ranch | San Diego CA | 858-444-8500 |
| La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club | San Diego CA | 619-816-8319 |
| Beaumont's | San Diego CA | 858-459-0474 |
| The Wild Thyme Company | San Diego CA | 858-527-0226 |
| Neighborhood Burger | San Diego CA | 619-446-0002 |
| Prey Brewing Company | Vista CA | 760-822-4226 |
| Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines | La Jolla CA | 858-450-4581 |
| Barleymash | San Diego CA | |
| Public House 131 | San Diego CA | 858-537-0890 |
| The Shores | La Jolla CA | 858-459-8271 |
| The Santaluz Club Inc - Bistro Kitchen | San Diego CA | 858-759-3150 |
| Counterpoint | San Diego CA | 619-564-6722 |
| Fairmont Grand Del Mar | San Diego CA | 858-314-1975 |
| Viejas Casino Grove Steakhouse | Alpine CA | 800-295-3172 |
| Lauberge Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-259-1515 |
| Mike Erlanson | San Diego CA | 619-453-7395 |
| Giaola | Carlsbad CA | 858-266-9303 |
| My Chef | San Diego CA | 916-217-0049 |
| Four Seasons Residence Club | Carlsbad CA | 760-603-6360 |
| Jeune Et Jolie | Carlsbad CA | 858-231-0862 |
| Carte Hotel | San Diego CA | 619-365-1858 |
| Sheraton La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-453-5500 |
| College Cuisine - ZBT | San Diego CA | |
| Tom Hams Light House | San Diego CA | 619-291-9110 |
| Humphrey's | San Diego CA | 619-224-3577 |
| Barbarella La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-454-7373 |
| The Guild Hotel | San Diego CA | 619-764-5108 |
| The Santaluz Club Inc - Main Dining | San Diego CA | 858-759-3150 |
| Kona Kai Resort and Marina | San Diego CA | 619-221-8000 |
| San Diego Yacht Club | San Diego CA | 619-758-6334 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Baby Iceberg lettuce. One
is easiest, three is harder.| My Cooking Hut |
|
Melon, Tomatoes, Mozzarella & Lettuce Salad |
| White on Rice Couple |
|
Bacon Lettuce Tomato (BLT) Spring Roll |
| Sailu's Kitchen |
|
Mango Lettuce Salad |
