Is there a clear winner in the iceberg vs romaine debate?
What’s the Difference Between Iceberg Lettuce and Romaine?
Updated on Dec. 06, 2021
I love to make enormous salads for dinner. But every time I head to the market, I have to wonder, what type of lettuce is best? So I did some quick research on the two most popular options, iceberg and romaine, to see which one comes out ahead.
Iceberg Lettuce vs Romaine Lettuce
Shelf Life
Look for leafy greens at the grocery stoere and you’ll come across a multitude of packaging styles. It has to do with the shelf life of each type of lettuce.
Iceberg lettuce, like most other full heads of lettuce, tends to last longer. Iceberg lettuce was bred specifically for cross-country travel before the invention of refrigerated train cars. (That’s also how it got its name!)
Post-WWII, shrink-wrapping vegetables was the norm to keep food fresh. This practice is still used today and allows iceberg lettuce to travel long distances and maintain its crispness.
Romaine lettuce tends to stay fresher with airflow. Each type of lettuce has a different lifespan and, thus, different shelf life and packaging.
Nutrition Benefits
We adore lettuce for its health benefits and adaptability in salad recipes. Both iceberg lettuce and romaine lettuce contain vital nutrients that help us live our best lives. Iceberg is about 13 calories per serving while romaine is about 15 calories. However, romaine tends to have more nutrients than its cousin. It contains fiber, folate, iron, potassium, manganese, vitamin A, vitamin c and vitamin K. It also contains calcium, magnesium and several other key vitamins.
How to Store
To store iceberg lettuce, grab some damp paper towels and a plastic bag. Take your head of lettuce and wrap it in the damp paper towels and place it in the plastic bag. The paper towels help to keep the leaves crisp and fresh. Remember to change out paper towels as needed!
To store romaine lettuce, put the unwashed head of lettuce in a plastic bag and stash it in a produce drawer. Find more tips and tricks to keep lettuce fresh.
Both iceberg and romaine should last for 7-10 days when stored properly in the refrigerator.
Which Do You Prefer?
I grew up with iceberg lettuce, but I’ve slowly become a romaine lettuce gal. The hearty taste and crunch make all my Caesar salads unforgettable. If you’re a fan of wedge salads and wraps, iceberg may be the way to go. But for healthy salads, bowls and even taco night, pick up romaine!
Lettuce Recipes You Can Get Excited About
1 / 35
Vietnamese Pork Lettuce Wraps
Casual, flavorful and low in carbohydrates, these Vietnamese Pork Lettuce Wraps are a perfect and low-fuss way to feed a group. Place the ingredients in separate dishes and let your guests assemble their own wrap, which allows them to personalize to suit their tastes. —Gretchen Barnes, Fairfax, Virginia
Tuna Nicoise SaladTuna Nicoise salad is a perfect lunch for a weekend or even to make ahead for the work week. Our recipe is traditional with tuna, tomatoes and beans, but is easily adaptable to suit your tastes.
Warm Rice & Pintos SaladDuring my undergrad years, my roommate taught me how to cook vegetarian dishes like brown rice with pintos. It's so versatile; you can turn it into a wrap or casserole. —Natalie Van Apeldoorn, Vancouver, British Columbia
Mexican Layered SaladHere’s another popular dish I like to prepare in advance, adding the cheese and chips just before serving. It’s a slightly different version of the traditional layered salad.—Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas
Strawberry Poppy Seed SaladSweet, tangy and bursting with the fresh flavors of summer, this easy strawberry poppy seed salad is a gorgeous, versatile side dish to serve the second warm weather arrives.
Hoisin Meatball Lettuce WrapsI make these tangy-sweet appetizers every year during the holidays, and it doesn't take long for them to disappear.—Elaine Sweet, Dallas, Texas
BLT WrapsThese easy BLT Wraps use ready-to-serve bacon, flour tortillas and ranch dressing to transform the beloved tower of a deli sandwich into an easy picnic-ready meal you can assemble without needing a stove for even a minute.
Tropical Layered Chicken SaladThis is a fresh and delicious recipe that is a big hit whenever I take it to a potluck—it's always the first to go! —Frances Pietsch, Flower Mound, Texas
Turkey Salad on Wheat BreadWhen one of my favorite lunch spots closed, this recipe let me hold on to more than just good memories. The peas, bacon and cheese are such a fun and springy combo. I make big batches of the salad for parties—turns out I'm not the only fan! —Merrijane Rice, Kaysville, Utah
Spicy Turkey Lettuce WrapsMy go-to meal after an evening run is this satisfying turkey wrap with jicama, a potato-like root veggie used in Mexican cooking. —Christie Arp, Blue Ridge, Georgia
Nectarine Arugula SaladHere's a summer salad that brightens any supper. The homemade dressing with a hint of berries is perfect with arugula, nectarines and blue cheese. —Christine Laba, Arlington, Virginia
Harvest Salad with Lime-Curry DressingA friend gave me this salad recipe to help me impress my new husband who loves citrus. We serve the dressing over greens we harvest from our garden—the lime and curry make a fantastic pairing. —Rachel Muilenburg, Prineville, Oregon
Caesar Salad in Peppered Parmesan BowlsThis cheese bowl salad looks impressive but is a cinch to make. I won't tell if you don't! —Melissa Wilkes, St. Augustine, Florida
Mediterranean Romaine SaladThis salad is my standard—I always make sure I have the ingredients on hand so I can whip up this easy salad anytime. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Chicken Tostada SaladIf I don't have any tostada shells on hand for this speedy salad, I just heat taco shells, break them in half and lay them flat on the plates. It works just as well. Great Southwest flavor! —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah
Strawberry-Chicken Pasta SaladWhen I figured out how to re-create this restaurant dish at home, my family was so excited. For a different spin, use raspberries or peaches instead of strawberries. —Jane Ozment, Purcell, Oklahoma
Tuna and White Bean Lettuce WrapsHere's a fabulous way to dress up ordinary tuna salad. This easy recipe makes a quick dinner or lunch at the office, and it's good for you. —Heather Senger, Madison, Wisconsin
Hearty Asian Lettuce SaladThis meatless version of your favorite restaurant salad packs 13 grams of protein per serving and is bursting with juicy flavor. It's a brilliant choice for lunch or a busy-day dinner. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Fresh Spring RollsLearn how to make rice paper-wrapped spring rolls that are fresh, crunchy and delicious. It is easier than you think!
Blueberry Romaine SaladI love to bring this delicious salad to school gatherings. The homemade dressing couldn't be simpler, so I whip it up in advance and just give it a quick toss with the other ingredients when I get to any event. —Kris Bristol, Charlotte, Michigan
Cherry-Chicken Lettuce WrapsI came up with this amazing recipe when I had a load of cherries on hand. My family polished them off fast, and asked for more. Luckily I had enough fruit to make them again the next day! —Melissa Barlow, Fruit Heights, Utah
Tortellini & Chicken Caesar SaladMy family loved this pasta salad right from the start, so these days I serve it a lot. When grilling season hits, I grill the chicken as a special treat. —Lee Reese, Rolla, Missouri
Mandarin Orange & Romaine SaladA tangy salad of romaine, celery and oranges with tarragon vinegar and hot pepper sauce makes a cool companion for turkey dishes. —Cathy Pawlowski, Naperville, Illinois
Bacon Chicken Chopped SaladHere's one of many reasons we love tomato season. Chopped salads are so simple and such a fantastic way to eat fresh. —Donna Marie Ryan, Topsfield, Massachusetts
Wedge Salad with Blue Cheese DressingA wedge salad gets the creamy treatment when topped with blue cheese dressing. Keep the dressing as a topper, or make it a dip for Buffalo wings. —Jenn Smith, East Providence, Rhode Island
Thai-Style Cobb SaladThis veggie salad is like a mix of Cobb salad and my favorite summer rolls. If you have leftover chicken, toss it in. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah 
Bacon-Tomato SaladWe love this wonderful bacon salad that tastes like a piled-high BLT without the time or effort. You can make it hours ahead and keep it in the fridge till serving time. —Denise Thurman, Columbia, Missouri
Green Salad with Dill DressingWith a big holiday meal, a light colorful salad is the perfect side dish, especially with this flavorful dressing. I like to make this pretty, tasty salad for the holidays or anytime. —Lucy Meyring, Walden, Colorado
Overnight SaladThis overnight salad is a great recipe for any occasion but it's especially well-suited to those where you want to feed a crowd. The crunchy vegetables combine very well with the creamy mayonnaise dressing.
Northwest Salmon SaladI love that I can use my favorite Northwest ingredients—salmon, blueberries and hazelnuts—all in one recipe. The salmon
and dressing make a tasty sandwich too. —Davis Clevenger, Dexter, Oregon
Holiday SaladThis holiday salad is a light, bright alternative to heavy seasonal side dishes. Its colors and flavors fit with the holiday theme, but you can also enjoy it as part of a light meal between celebrations.
Shrimp Caesar SaladCaesar salad need not be enjoyed as a mere side dish to steak. With crispy fried shrimp topping the plate, our shrimp Caesar salad shines as the star entree of any meal.
Asian Lettuce WrapsThis recipe is as tasty as the lettuce wraps found in national restaurants, but it's healthier! — Linda Rowley, Richardson, Texas
Italian Fresh Vegetable SaladGarden-fresh veggies are a hit at community potlucks. I carry the dressing in a mason jar to add just before serving. — Jeanette Hildebrand, Stafford, Kansas
Up Next: What's the Difference Between Iceberg Lettuce and Romaine?
