How Much Does Romaine Lettuce Cost?

You can easily recognize Romaine lettuce by its long, crisp leaves that form a long, compact head. Although it has a slightly bitter taste, romaine lettuce is among the most appreciated vegetables due to its properties.

Romaine lettuce is used most often in various vegetable salads. It is an indispensable ingredient in Caesar salad. Less traditionally, this salad can also be fried, steamed or baked, or grilled and can serve as an ingredient in a soup. You can combine it with parmesan, chicken, fruit, nuts, tofu, or shrimp.

How Much Does Romaine Lettuce Cost?

Like with any other plant, Romaine lettuce prices will depend on the time of the year, the type of lettuce, and the place you buy it from. The average cost of Romaine lettuce is anywhere between $4 and $8 regardless of whether you are getting a package of Romaine lettuce hearts or a head of Romaine lettuce from your local grocery store.

For example, at Sam’s Club, a six-count bag of Romaine lettuce hearts is available for around $5.

According to the USDA, you should expect to pay around $3 for a pound of Romaine lettuce hearts, while for a full head, you will have to pay almost $2 per pound.

ABC reported that one time the price of Romaine lettuce cartons increased from $8 to $25 due to freezing temperatures in its location sources in South-Western Arizona. This is the area where most Romaine lettuce is grown during winter.

Factors that influence the price

Amount

The more Romaine lettuce you will buy at once, the less you will have to pay. For instance, if you purchase Romaine lettuce from a warehouse, you will pay less per head than at a grocery store.

Store

The place you buy it from will affect its price. For instance, Romaine lettuce will be more expensive at a health store that sells mostly organic food, than at a regular grocery store.

Season

You might also like our articles on the cost of carrots, eggplants, or tomatoes.

As Romaine lettuce is grown more efficiently during the summer months, its price will be affected by the time of the year.

Romaine lettuce overview

Romaine lettuce is the second most popular salad in the world. It’s an item a little darker than iceberg lettuce and, like iceberg lettuce, romaine lettuce is low in calories and also contains 1 gram of fiber, the same 2% of the RDA for potassium, vitamin C, magnesium, and phosphorus.

However, experts say that romaine lettuce is more nutritious and nutrient-dense than iceberg lettuce, as it provides the body with 25% of the recommended daily intake of vitamin A, as well as 40% more vitamin K.

Important things to consider

When buying a Romaine salad in the market or in a store, you should pay attention to its quality. Choose a compact head, with fresh leaves, of intense and crunchy color. Avoid brown spots, discolored portions, and a flabby appearance. If not consumed immediately, romaine lettuce can be stored in the refrigerator for up to seven days.

Before consumption remove the outer leaves of the Romaine lettuce and cut the tips of the leaves with a sharp knife. They tend to be responsible for the slightly bitter taste of the dishes. Wash the leaves under a stream of cold water, chop them into the desired size (or tear them by hand to prevent oxidation), and pass them through a salad dryer.

To store the Romaine lettuce, you should place it in a bag on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. It must not be washed before storage and, if it has been washed, it must be dried. It is best to eat the salad in the next 2 days after purchase to get the most out of it.

You can grow Romaine lettuce even in an apartment. To grow lettuce at home, the base of the cut head is placed in water or soil and soon a new plant grows.

Romaine lettuce can be consumed in any type of diet, including the Dukan and Atkins diets.

Tips for saving money

Consider buying Romaine lettuce heads instead of lettuce that is packed in hearts and bags, because it will be cheaper.

If you need Romaine lettuce for preparing Caesar salad, you should buy a kit that includes all the ingredients (croutons, lettuce, cheese, and Caesar dressing), and this way save money.

Keep your eyes peeled for promotions as grocery stores have periodic sales on most of their products.