When it comes to lettuce, romaine is arguably the MVP. It has a mild and versatile flavor that makes it a reliable foundation for nearly every type of salad. Romaine has enough structural integrity to stand up to hearty fillings in a lettuce wrap. And, most importantly, it’s affordable and easy to find at any grocery store.
You can reliably find a bag of pre-washed romaine hearts in the produce department. But there’s also a good chance that the lettuce you find at the store is spotted with strange orange stains. These splotches typically litter the crisp, light green section of your romaine, and to say they look unappetizing is a serious understatement.
Sure, these stains may look like your romaine got a bad spray tan, but what are they exactly? How do these orange spots develop and are they safe to eat?
Before you throw away the whole head, we’re here to help! We’re breaking down everything you need to know about the rust-colored stains on romaine. So the next time you’re making homemade Caesar salad or turkey taco lettuce wraps, you can rest assured that you’re not serving any unwanted health risks.
Yes, the brown parts are safe to eat. Lettuce can turn brown due to exposure to air, or due to a moisture imbalance, or if it’s stored at the improper temperature, but eating it after it has turned brown is very unlikely to cause food poisoning.
You may want to halt and exercise caution before throwing away your heads of lettuce in the trash just because of signs of browning. According to LiveStrong, this isnt necessarily associated with food poisoning. Lettuce leaves can turn this muddy color for harmless reasons, such as bruising, oxidation, or “tipburn,” which indicates theyve been grown under stressful conditions.
Many of us fill our carts with vegetables to get our vitamins and add more sustenance to our meals; however, we all fall short sometimes. And, with E-coli recalls and warnings of germy leaves (per Food Safety News), you may be especially wary of that head of lettuce you ambitiously purchased. According to the CDC, eating raw greens without proper preparation can increase your risk of getting foodborne illnesses like E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and Cyclospora. But this doesnt mean you should stop eating your favorite salad recipes or cease topping your sandwiches with fresh lettuce.
There are plenty of ways to reduce exposure to bacteria: washing the leaves with clean hands, removing any bruised or torn, and keeping them away from other foods to avoid cross-contamination (via The View from Great Island). However, if you take these precautionary steps and still notice a few brown spots on your lettuce, should you still be quick to throw it out?
If the brown parts on your lettuce look more like tiny dots than a larger patch, it could signify russet spotting, which occurs when the plant is subjected to ethylene. This hormone triggers the plant to produce those small brown or black spots if exposed to other foods that produce the gas — a produce storage mistake you should avoid. While this may lead to your uncertainty about the lettuces quality, dont be alarmed, as this is a purely aesthetic concern. The lettuce is still considered safe to eat (via Eat or Toss).
As we all strive to better prevent food waste, we may be more likely to consider eating a few products we neglected in the back of our fridge. Whether youre returning to last weeks leftovers or a couple of now-wrinkly vegetables, we applaud your efforts. However, it is best to know when your food is past its prime, so you dont accidentally ingest a product that puts you at risk for your health.
What Are The Orange Spots On Lettuce?
The orange spots you can find on heads of lettuce kind of look like rust. But no need to fear—actual rust has nothing to do with this phenomenon. Its officially called russet spotting, and its named after the color, not the potato. Its also one of the most common disorders that can affect lettuce.
But how does russet spotting even happen? According to Marita Cantwell and Trevor Suslow at UC Daviss Department of Plant Sciences, we have the compound ethylene to thank. This gas is used by certain fruits and vegetables to speed up the ripening process. Ethylene is what makes your avocados soft and your bananas turn brown.
But for more delicate produce, like lettuce, ethylene can trigger a chemical reaction that makes your food look less appetizing. Cantwell and Suslow report that exposure to ethylene promotes the production of phenolic acids and causes orangey brown pigments to develop on your head of lettuce. This process is expedited when your lettuce is packaged in a closed container, like a clamshell or plastic bag.
Is Iceberg Lettuce Good for You? | Dietitian Q&A | EatingWell
FAQ
Why does my iceberg lettuce have brown spots?
Is rusty iceberg lettuce safe to eat?
Are brown spots on lettuce OK?
How brown is too brown for lettuce?
Is it safe to eat brown spots on lettuce?
Any lettuce that is slimy, decayed, or smelly is also a no-go. But if all you’re seeing on your lettuce is a few brown spots or streaks, you can feel confident about digging in. Your healthy salad recipes await! If you’ve noticed some brown spots on lettuce you just bought, you might be wondering if it’s safe to eat.
Is iceberg lettuce good for health?
Iceberg or crisphead lettuce is sometimes viewed as having little nutritional value; however, it can easily be part of a healthy diet. It contains moderate levels of many health-promoting phytonutrients, vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Iceberg lettuce is one of the lowest calorie vegetables and it contains a lot of fiber and water, which contribute to feelings of fullness and satiety. Iceberg lettuce also offers a satisfying crunch and is hydrating at an affordable price. These highlights are useful for individuals trying to lose weight.
Does iceberg lettuce cause russet spotting?
It’s not fair to exclusively blame other foods though: lettuce produces some ethylene itself. Studies have found that iceberg lettuce produces more ethylene after it’s bruised or cut, making it still more susceptible to russet spotting. Another risk factor, oddly enough, is exhaust.
What causes brown spots on lettuce?
The condition is called “russet spotting.” Ethylene causes the lettuce to produce certain compounds which lead to those brown spots. The lettuce is still safe to eat, though make sure to give it a good rinse. Those spots signal that cells have been weakened, making the lettuce a touch friendlier to any pathogens that happen to be nearby.