If you are not a cook, you may feel a little dread in front of the compact and voluminous head of iceberg lettuce. However, you don't have to worry - you don't need professional training to cut it properly. With just the help of a sharp knife and a cutting board, you will be able to transform the head of lettuce into many more or less thin strips within a few minutes.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Cut the Iceberg Lettuce into wedges
Step 1. Remove the core from the lettuce
Place the head on its side on the cutting board with the stem facing the knife. Starting at the bottom of the core, remove and discard the last 2-3 cm of the lettuce.
Alternatively, you can slam the stem against the kitchen counter to break it from the inside, making it easy to remove the core even with your hands. However, some leaves could be damaged in this way
Step 2. Remove the outer leaves
Discard the leaves that make up the outer layer or the last two layers of the lettuce head. Generally the outer leaves are wilted or damaged due to packaging and transport.
If the outer leaves have minimal defects and you want to keep them, only remove the damaged parts with your hands
Step 3. Cut the lettuce head in half
Hold it still with your fingers facing the knife. Holding your hand like this will reduce the risk of accidentally cutting yourself.
Step 4. Place the flat side of the two parts of the head on the cutting board and divide them both in half
This will give you 4 large wedges of lettuce. If you prefer them smaller, you can divide them in half again to obtain 8 wedges.
Method 2 of 2: Cut the Iceberg Lettuce into Thin Strips
Step 1. Remove the core and cut the lettuce into wedges
Remove the last 2-3 cm of stem and the outer leaves that appear damaged or wilted. Cut the head into four wedges, first dividing it in half and then cutting both halves into two equal parts. Cutting the lettuce into wedges before slicing will allow you to get thin strips.
For larger strips, cut the clump only in half instead of four equal parts. Do not try to slice the lettuce without first cutting it in half because, due to its round shape, you may struggle to hold it still and risk cutting yourself
Step 2. Hold the wedges still and cut them lengthwise to get long strips
Place the wedges on the cutting board with the flat side facing down. As you cut, move your hand in the same direction you move the knife away from the blade, then continue until you have sliced the whole salad wedge.
Step 3. Cut the wedges perpendicular to their length to get shorter strips
Place the wedges on the cutting board with the flat side facing down and cut them into horizontal strips giving them the desired thickness. Gradually remove the hand with which you are holding the salad away from the knife.
Step 4. Separate the salad strips with your fingers
Pull them gently to separate them. You can mix them with your hands or salad tongs to divide them further.
Advice
- Cut the salad on a clean cutting board to avoid damaging the kitchen worktop or dishes with the knife.
- Use damaged or excess leaves for compost to avoid waste.
