What Is Iceberg lettuce and How Can I Use It?
Wondering what to do with iceberg lettuce? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it, plus 91 recipes to put it to work.
Key Points
- Crisphead lettuce: dense, pale, very crunchy, mild and watery with almost no bitterness.
- The classic wedge salad green; holds shape under thick blue cheese dressing.
- Shredded for tacos, burgers, and subs; whole leaves make sturdy wrap cups.
- Dress at the last second; it weeps water and dressing slides off waxy leaves.
- Whole unwashed head keeps a week or more in the crisper, longer than leaf lettuce.
What is iceberg lettuce?
Iceberg lettuce is the pale, tightly packed crisphead you reach for when you want crunch and nothing else. The leaves are thick and watery, almost sweet, with none of the bitterness or grassy edge of looseleaf greens.
It forms a dense round head about the size of a softball. Slice into it and you get that signature wet snap, which is the whole point.
This is a texture vegetable rather than a flavor one, built to stay crisp under heavy, juicy toppings while everything else on the plate goes soft.
Where Iceberg Earns Its Spot
The classic is the wedge salad: a quarter head under blue cheese dressing, with bacon and tomato. Nothing else holds that shape and stays rigid under a thick dressing the way iceberg does, which is exactly why the wedge is always iceberg and never romaine.
Shredded, it is the cold crunch inside tacos and stacked under burger toppings.
It does that job in Mom's Big Sub Sandwich and the Seven Layer Taco Dip here, staying crisp while everything around it turns rich and soft. It rides along the same way in cold composed salads like Avocado with Crab and Quick Chinese Chicken Salad.
Whole leaves peel off into sturdy cups for lettuce wraps. They are wider and crisper than butterhead cups, so they hold more filling without tearing.
Pairing and Common Mistakes
Iceberg wants bold, fatty, acidic partners because it brings none of that itself. Blue cheese, ranch, bacon, avocado, sharp vinaigrettes, fresh tomato, anything with heat. A plain iceberg salad under light dressing just tastes like wet crunch, so lean hard into the contrast.
The biggest mistake is dressing it early. Iceberg weeps water and the dressing slides off the waxy leaves, so toss it at the last second and serve it cold.
Do not cook it. Heat collapses the cell walls and you lose the only thing it offers.
What to Use Instead
For shredded crunch in tacos or sandwiches, romaine lettuce is the closest swap. It is leafier and a touch more bitter but holds a similar snap and stands up to heat better.
For a wedge, there is really no substitute. Half a small romaine heart, grilled, is a different dish, not a stand-in. If you only need the cup function, romaine hearts or butterhead leaves both work.
Green or red cabbage gives you even more crunch and keeping power for slaws, though it is firmer and needs thinner slicing or a quick salt.
Buying and Storing Iceberg
Pick a head that feels heavy for its size with tight, springy outer leaves. Heaviness means water, and water means crunch. Skip any with browning edges, soft spots, or a hollow lightness.
To core it, whack the stem end hard against the counter once and twist the core out. Rinse, then spin or shake it dry before dressing.
Stored whole and unwashed in the crisper drawer, a head holds a week or more, longer than most lettuce thanks to its density. Once cut, the edges pinken from oxidation within a day or two.
That rust is harmless but ugly, so cut close to serving. See the parent lettuce page for general crisping and reviving tricks.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 NLEA serving (89g)Quick facts
Where to find iceberg lettuce: Iceberg lettuce is usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
Food group: Iceberg lettuce is a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
- In Chinese
- 生菜
- British (UK) term
- Iceberg lettuce
- en français
- laitue iceberg
- en español
- lechuga iceberg
How much does iceberg lettuce weigh?
| Amount | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 cup shredded | 72 grams |
| 1 head, large | 755 grams |
| 1 head, medium (6" dia) | 539 grams |
| 1 head, small | 324 grams |
| 1 leaf, large | 15 grams |
| 1 leaf, medium | 8 grams |
| 1 leaf small | 5 grams |
| 1 NLEA serving | 89 grams |
Related
Vegetables and Vegetable Products
Recipes using iceberg lettuce
There are 91 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Favourite Classic Greek Salad
A refreshing and tasty summer salad that uses fresh and seasonal tomatoes and cucumbers. It takes no time to make, and a great side dish that goes well with any main course.
Chili N'Awlins
Chili N'Awlins is a New Orleans-style beef and pork chili with green chiles, oregano, and a Cajun edge. Topped with corn chips, sharp cheddar, and shredded lettuce for a hearty crowd-feeder.
Firecracker Salad
A crisp, crunchy Asian-style salad with julienned radishes, cucumber, toasted sesame seeds, and a tangy soy-ginger dressing. Light, refreshing, and ready in under 30 minutes. A low-calorie side dish that packs serious flavor.
Antipasto #1
Eat heartily, accompanied by much loud Italian conversation. In fact, I typed this accompanied by much loud Italian conversation. My parents were here, and both were shouting instructions over my shoulder. They disagreed about the arrangement of the lettuce - my mother said that the hole in the middle of the platter was necessary; my father insisted that it wasn't, saying you can just dump the tuna on top of the lettuce. I finally had to give up on this reply until they went home. So now, in the peace and quiet of the aftermath, I've finished it. Hope you had a wonderful holiday.
Jamon Jibarito
A Jibarito is a Puerto Rican sandwich popular in Chicago. This is my adaptation of Jeff "Sandwich King" Mauro's recipe.
Cool Soba Noodle Salad
Assorted fresh crunchy vegetables, sour, sweet and spicy sauce, and soba noodles make this quick, easy and tasty cool summer salad!
Tex-Mex Salad
A hearty salad that's suitable as a main dish. Lots of flavors and textures throughout.
Quick Chinese Chicken Salad
If you just need a quick dinner, this scrumptious salad is the perfect dish for you!
Black Bean, Veggie & Taco Salad with Lime Vinaigrette
This is a vegetarian version of black bean-taco salad. The dressing is so refreshing and tasty, which makes this bean and veggie salad taste still delicious.
Wild Rice & Artichoke Salad
Love this salad. We jut had some leftover wild rice, and we didn't have sweet bell pepper, so used the picked hot cherry pepper instead, also added some sliced celery and smoked tofu. It came out delicious. A very good side dish or can be a wholesome and tasty main dish as well.
Black Bean-Taco Salad with Lime Vinaigrette
A delicious yet refreshing salad! The dressing is amazingly flavorful.
Mom's Big Sub Sandwich
That's right, I have a recipe for a sub sandwich. You may ask yourself why it is necessary. Its because its the best sandwich and a huge crowd pleaser! Trust me.
Schulz's Guacamole Salad
If you are a fun of avocado or guacamole, you should certainly give this salad a try. The guacamole dressing is creamy and tasty, the combination of lettuce, cheeses, tomato, scallions and corn chips is full of flavors and texture, and it's tossed with the creamy dressing. It's not easy to resist this mouth-watering salad.
Avocado Multi-Layer Party Dip
A refreshing twist on a multi-layer tortilla dip great for serving a crowd.
Seven Layer Taco Dip - Superbowl
Excellent. Several of our guests stated that they hate refried beans but after trying this dip they are converted. Great mix of flavors, I added a chipotle pepper in adobo sauce that was chopped and mixed into the refried beans. A perfect superbowl dip or great anytime you have a gathering.
Bacon Summer Salad
A warm New Orleans-style salad with bacon, romaine, watercress, and Belgian endive tossed in walnut oil and deglazed with red wine and raspberry vinegar. Topped with garlic croutons.
Calico Fruit Salad
Crisp apples, sliced bananas, and plump raisins tossed on crunchy iceberg lettuce with a creamy peanut butter honey dressing. Ready in 10 minutes flat.
Cantonese Chicken Salad with Cashews
Cantonese-style chicken salad with hand-shredded roast chicken, crispy fried rice noodles, roasted cashews, cilantro, and a hot mustard-sesame dressing. Crunchy, savory, and full of Cantonese flavor.
Castle Nacho Grande
White Castle sliders chopped and layered with salsa, nacho cheese, cheddar, and black olives, then baked and loaded with fresh toppings. The ultimate game day nacho casserole.
Gory Gorilla Tonsils
Gory Gorilla Tonsils are Brussels sprouts drizzled with melted cheese "pus" and paprika "blood specks" for Halloween. A fun, gross-out way to get kids eating their veggies.
Monte Cristo Salad
Enjoy the wonderful flavors of a Monte Cristo Sandwich in this wonderful, low fat, salad.
Tostadas De Pollo Y Frijoles
Crispy chicken tostadas piled high with mashed black beans, shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, and a kick of hot sauce. A 30-minute Mexican dinner for two that's loaded with fresh toppings and bold flavor.
Three Lettuce Chiffonade
A French-style chiffonade salad of finely shredded radicchio, Bibb, and iceberg lettuce with green pepper strips, tossed in a simple red wine vinaigrette. Crisp, colorful, no cooking required.
Fungus Among Us Vegetable Salad
Fungus among us salad tosses crisp iceberg, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes, and red onion with chilled creamed spinach as a green, gloopy 'fungus' dressing. A Halloween party gross-out salad kids love.
Taco Salad with Cumin Dressing (Wedman 2)
Taco salad with a fresh cumin vinaigrette, toasted tortilla chips, cooked turkey, ripe avocado, and cheddar. Lighter than the diner version with a sharp dressing in place of creamy sauce.
Warm Fajita Rice Salad
Warm fajita rice salad with lime-marinated sirloin, corn, black olives, cherry tomatoes, and a zesty picante dressing. Tex-Mex meets rice bowl in one bold platter.
Saltimbocca Al Parmigiano-Reggiano (Veal with Parm-Reggiano)
Saltimbocca al Parmigiano-Reggiano: thin Italian veal cutlets sauteed and topped with prosciutto, sage, and butter, then served over parboiled lettuce with flaked Parmigiano-Reggiano and a white wine pan sauce. A Roman classic with a cheesy twist.
Fried Chicken with Ginger Dressing
Chinese fried chicken with a warm ginger-soy-sesame dressing, marinated in rice wine and ginger, battered and deep-fried, then chopped into bone-in slices.
Taco Bar
Full-spread taco bar: chipotle-spiced ground beef simmered in tomato broth, chunky homemade guacamole with lime and garlic, and fresh serrano pico. Twelve tacos' worth of filling with every fixing on the table.
Cobb Salad Sandwich
Cobb salad sandwich wrap with grilled chicken, slab bacon, avocado, tomato, red onion, and chunky blue cheese dressing rolled in flatbread or a flour tortilla.
Omelet & Noodle Dinner
Chinese egg foo young noodle bowls: crispy ham and vegetable omelets stacked over Chinese noodles in a ginger-garlic broth with sherry, soy, and rice vinegar. A one-bowl Chinese-American dinner.
Spicy Tofu Salad
Spicy tofu salad with julienned vegetables, chopped peanuts, and a chili-soy-rice vinegar dressing. Thai-inspired, loaded with crunch, and completely plant-based.
Curried Tuna Salad with Asparagus & Eggs
Flaked tuna and tender asparagus arranged on crisp lettuce, draped with creamy curry dressing and topped with sliced hard-cooked eggs. This elegant plated salad takes just 10 minutes to prep.
Salmon Tacos
Salmon tacos built on canned salmon, Greek yogurt-cucumber-mint sauce, and crisp shells. A fast, omega-packed weeknight dinner with the freshness of tzatziki-style topping.
English Pea Soup
Light English pea soup blended with fresh spinach, lettuce, and green onions. A low-fat pureed soup with bright green color and clean garden flavor.
Thai Papaya Veggie Salad
Thai green papaya salad layered with iceberg lettuce, cucumber, tomato, scallions and cilantro, dressed in a chili-lime-soy sauce with crushed roasted peanuts. A fresh, no-cook Thai salad ready in 15 minutes.
Mushroom Salad
Mushroom salad tosses crisp iceberg and Boston lettuce with cucumbers, green beans, and raw sliced mushrooms in French dressing. Light, vegetarian, diabetic-friendly side.
Southwest Meatball Supper
Southwest meatball supper with chili-spiced beef meatballs in taco sauce and fresh tomatoes, served over shredded lettuce with cheese, avocado, and tortilla chips. A taco salad meets meatball dinner.
Kiddy San Choy Bau
Kid-friendly san choy bau: crumbly pork mince with garlic, ginger, carrot, and water chestnuts tucked into crisp iceberg lettuce cups. A build-your-own Chinese-style wrap dinner for picky eaters.
Radish Salad
Radish salad with iceberg lettuce tossed in a tangy Dijon and white wine vinegar dressing. A crisp, peppery side dish that comes together in 10 minutes.
Lettuce with Sweet Oxyporum Dressing
Ancient Roman lettuce salad with sweet oxyporum dressing: honey, vinegar, cumin, ginger, and dates over crisp lettuce. An authentic recipe from Apicius brought to modern kitchens.
Nectarine Salad Bowl
Summer fruit salad bowl of nectarines, raspberries, and grapes over crisp iceberg, dressed with a cream cheese sauce thickened with macerated ginger-nectarine juices.
Fresh Rice Paper Rolls With Pork
Tender pork simmered in savory stir-fry marinade, wrapped in delicate rice paper with crisp lettuce, fresh herbs, and fragrant rice powder. Classic Vietnamese street food.
Bean & Rice Burritos
Mashed pinto beans and brown rice rolled up in warm flour tortillas with fresh veggies and salsa. Vegan, low-fat, and ready in 20 minutes flat.
Gumbo Des Herbes
Gumbo des herbes is a traditional Cajun green gumbo with seven greens, brisket, smoked ham, chaurice sausage, and file powder. A hearty Louisiana Lenten stew served over rice.
Salad with Picante Dressing
Sirloin steak salad with rice, corn, black olives, cherry tomatoes, and a spicy picante-lime dressing. A Tex-Mex main dish salad with serious substance.
