Prepackaged Salad Greens vs Fresh

Since the first recipe I posted is a salad, I'm sharing my few thoughts about preparing your salad from fresh, whole heads of lettuce versus the pre-packaged version.

Fresh versus the Bag

• Taste -- The difference between fresh and bagged lettuce is amazing. It's like the difference between frozen lasagna and the real thing. Bagged mix tends to taste flat rather than complex.
• Texture -- Fresh lettuce is crisp and some varieties pack a satisfying crunch. The fresh version has a high water content-- 94.5% according to the University of Illinois Extension. This water content is the main reason that it can't be preserved for long periods of time.  Cut lettuce, as found in prebagged varieties has already begun to lose water, freshness and texture. How many times have you opened a "new" bag of salad mix that is already getting slimy?
• Cost - I buy most of my produce at Publix. Bagged salad mix is usually $2.99 or $2.50, if on sale. An entire head of romaine lettuce costs around $1.79 and red leaf lettuce at $1.49.  I can get three to four times the amount of lettuce from the less expensive fresh variety. Then I use the savings on salad additions like red bell pepper, avocado and fresh mushrooms.

You will notice that I did not mention iceburg lettuce. Iceberg is tasteless and nutritionally void. Romaine contains three times the folate, 8 times the beta carotene and vitamin A of Iceberg and has a wonderful flavor. No contest, right? 

Packaged salad has been marketed as a shortcut/timesaver. I don't see any time savings as both varieties must be washed during preparation. And, I find that tearing lettuce into bitesized pieces takes about 30 seconds. And if you've ever seen the mechanical "wash" that bagged lettuce endures before making its way onto your plate, you can understand why it tastes flat, feels wilted and just doesn't meet your foodie standards.

Bon Apetit!
Andrea