The best lettuce for burgers

While some people don’t mind lettuce on a burger, it undeniably adds extra texture, color, and flavor. Also, lettuce leaves have a special function in a burger.

But what is the best lettuce to use on a burger?  Iceberg lettuce is the best variety to use on a burger. It adds a lot of crunch and is sturdy enough to keep the bun from getting soggy. The flavor of the iceberg lettuce is mild enough not to interfere with the overall flavor of the burger. 

Read on to learn why iceberg lettuce is the best lettuce for burgers and how to prepare and use it for the best results.

What makes lettuce good for a burger

Some people prefer their burgers without lettuce. Or rather, they don’t care about lettuce on a burger. They think that this “healthy” leaf gets in the way of enjoying hamburgers, which are usually very caloric.

However, many others find that a fresh lettuce leaf adds some texture and flavor to the dish. You can put many types of vegetables in your burger.

But how do you choose one if you don’t have a favorite or just decided to add the green layer to your most beloved burger recipe?

Crunchy

In general, a hamburger doesn’t have a lot of crunch to it. So adding a little crunch to it is always nice.

Although it is a matter of preference, it is good if the lettuce leaf adds some crunch to the burger.

The textural contrast between the crisp, fresh lettuce and the soft bun, burger patty, and other toppings takes the burger to the next level.

Test

Lettuce has a wide range of varieties. While many of them have a mild neutral flavor, others can be slightly bitter and even spicy.

Butter lettuce , for example, has a mild sweet flavor that won’t affect the overall flavor of the burger. It’s also the best choice for lettuce wraps.

Chicory , on the other hand, has a spicy touch. You can use it if you are not afraid to add an extra layer of spiciness to your burger.

heat tolerance

The heat and some varieties of lettuce do not get along.

If you choose the wrong kind, the hot burger will instantly destroy its layer of freshness . Instead of getting the crisp, you’ll end up with a wilted leaf that will only annoy you.

Iceberg Lettuce: The Best Lettuce For Burgers

Iceberg lettuce, also known as crisphead lettuce, is one of the most commonly used varieties in burgers.

It’s the crispiest lettuce you can put on a burger. In addition to the great textural contrast it creates, the cool leaves of iceberg lettuce also create a temperature contrast.

When it comes to flavor, iceberg lettuce has a mild sweet flavor that works perfectly for any burger.

Iceberg lettuce, unlike other varieties, is not the best choice when it comes to nutrition. Romaine lettuce, for example, is much healthier than iceberg.

However, when you’re eating a burger, it’s not the nutritional value that counts.

That being said, iceberg lettuce does contain certain vitamins and minerals:

• Potassium
• Calcium
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin C
• vitamin K
• folate

The only downside to iceberg lettuce is that it has a very high water content. However, patting the leaves dry before putting them on your burger will solve the problem.

How to choose iceberg lettuce

If you plan to use iceberg lettuce on your burger for added crunch, you need to know how to choose a good head of lettuce.

Buy a fresh head of iceberg lettuce

Instead of buying a bag of pre-washed iceberg lettuce leaves, buy a fresh head of lettuce.

It may take some time to separate, wash, and store the leaves. However, lettuce leaves attached to the head are juicier and taste much better than those preserved in a plastic bag.

Choose medium green leaves

When picking hardhead iceberg lettuce, pay attention to the color of the leaves.

The outer leaves should be medium green with white around the core area. Do not choose iceberg lettuce that has deep green or pale yellow leaves.

However, keep in mind that the closer the leaves are to the center, the paler they will be. The inner leaves of iceberg lettuce can be yellow or white.

There are no brown spots or damaged leaves

Make sure there are no brown spots on the bud. Soft ribs and brown-edged leaves indicate that the lettuce is going bad.

Some of the outer leaves may be damaged. You can remove them while you wash the lettuce.

Choose the heaviest

When looking for a good head of iceberg lettuce, try to choose the heaviest ones.

They are generally sold by the head and not by weight. The heavier the head, the more and juicier the leaves will be.

notice the shape

Head lettuce varieties, including iceberg lettuce, should be symmetrical in shape.

Also, you should look for a head of lettuce in which the leaves are well compacted.  Iceberg lettuce is not a loose-leaf variety . Therefore, you should not buy it if the lettuce head does not appear to have the conventional shape.

How to prepare Iceberg lettuce for burgers

If you are not going to shred the lettuce, it is important that you know how to separate the leaves so they do not get damaged.

Here we explain how you have to prepare the iceberg lettuce leaves to put them in a burger or store them in the fridge for later use.

1. Pound the heart of iceberg lettuce onto your kitchen counter or cutting board.
2. Make a cut around the heart and turn it out.
3. Remove the brown bits and damaged leaves.
4. Hold the head of iceberg lettuce under running water to clean and separate the leaves.
5. Put the lettuce head in a salad spinner.
6. After running water through the leaves and spinning them in a salad spinner, the leaves are somewhat separated. Gently separate the leaves one by one trying not to break them.
7. Place the leaves on a paper towel to dry.
8. Place a few layers of kitchen paper in a resealable plastic bag.
9. Put the leaves in the bag trying not to crush them.
10. Seal the bag leaving some air inside and put the leaves in the fridge.

If prepared correctly, iceberg lettuce leaves will last up to 8 days in the fridge. Thus, you can have them on hand whenever you decide to prepare a hamburger.

Iceberg Lettuce in a Burger: Where to Put It

There have been many debates about where the lettuce leaf goes on a burger.

We recommend that you put the lettuce before putting the hamburger and the tomato slice. The lettuce leaf will serve as a barrier between the meat and the juicy tomato. It will prevent the bun from soaking up the juices and becoming soggy.

Shredded or not?

There is no correct way to put the lettuce leaf on a burger. Some people like it shredded, others like the look and feel of the whole sheet placed on a burger.

If you decide to put the iceberg lettuce leaf on your burger as is, follow a few simple rules 

• Dry the sheet very well before putting it on the burger.
• People who prefer shredded lettuce to the leaf on a burger note that the leaf always slips off. To avoid this, do not put the lettuce on a naked bun. Add a little sauce or mayonnaise before placing the iceberg lettuce leaf.
• Use the inner sheets to get the perfect size for your burger.
• If the sheet is a little larger than the bun, break and tear the sheet and “handle” it so that it sits nicely on the bun making the same round shape.

Shredded iceberg lettuce works just as well for burgers. In fact, many people like it shredded because it adds more texture to the burger. 

Shredded lettuce can be a bit messy. However, it protects the bun from soaking up the oil from the burger and the liquid from the tomatoes or sauce.

Other Options: Green Leaf, Butterhead, and Romaine Lettuce

If you want to make a book burger with the perfect ruffled edges, green leaf lettuce is your best bet. It has a mild flavor that will combine well with all ingredients.

Butterhead lettuce , also known as Bibb or Boston lettuce, is another variety widely used in burgers. The sheets are just the right shape for the burger. Its flavor is smooth, with a slight sweetness that will only enhance the flavors of the other ingredients in the burger.

Romaine lettuce is the healthiest option. This variety of lettuce is highly nutritious and may be a favorite for those who want to get their vitamins and minerals even when eating a hamburger. The romaine lettuce will also add some crunch to the burger.