What is the proper way to prep lettuce?

• A. Tear off the bottoms of the lettuce leaves so they are about the size of the Kaiser roll. Store lettuce vertically in Board coldwell. Place leftover lettuce in a prep bucket and put prep stickers on it.
• B. Chop into small pieces and place in a bowl
• C. Wash and dry, then store in the freezer
• D. Use whole heads without trimming

Answer: (A)

Proper lettuce prep focuses on keeping lettuce crisp and safe by trimming and sizing leaves, and by storing them correctly. Tear off the bottoms of the leaves so they’re about the size of the Kaiser roll, which makes them easy to portion and keeps texture intact rather than shredding. Store lettuce vertically in the Board coldwell to promote airflow and prevent moisture buildup that can lead to sogginess. If there’s any leftover lettuce, put it in a prep bucket and apply a prep sticker so it’s dated and rotated properly. This approach preserves quality, reduces waste, and supports food safety. Chopping into small pieces creates inconsistent texture and isn’t how it’s served, freezing lettuce ruins texture, and leaving whole heads untrimmed wastes time and can contaminate or bruise the lettuce.