Boston lettuce is a rose-shaped variety of lettuce that is known for its tender leaves and nutritional value. When choosing the best Boston lettuce, it is important to consider its end use and the freshness of the lettuce. If cost is a consideration, how much you spend will also play a factor in choosing the right lettuce. When growing lettuce at home, you have more control over whether pesticides are used during the growing process, but often it is easier to simply pick it up at the store.
The end use of the Boston lettuce is important when deciding which lettuce to choose. If the lettuce is going to be chopped up and used in a simple salad, it is not overly important that it is a particular size or color. If the Boston lettuce is going to be utilized in a presentation where size or color matters, it is important to choose a lettuce that is the right size and is a healthy green and yellow color. Larger leaves can be used under other food items to provide color to the table while smaller heads of lettuce can be tossed into a salad made with micro greens.
Freshness is one of the most important factors in choosing vegetables, so make sure that the leaves appear to be intact and do not exhibit wilting. Boston lettuce is often sold in packages along with the roots, so examine the roots to make sure they are still alive and do not appear to have gone bad, as this means that the lettuce will not last as long in your refrigerator. Smell the lettuce to ensure that there is a fresh scent and look for any moldy or slimy places on it. When there is mold or slimy leaves, avoid picking that bunch of lettuce, as it is past its freshness date.
Choose Boston lettuce that is in the right price range, but opt out if the lettuce does not look healthy or fresh even if it is inexpensive. It is better to purchase another brand of lettuce that appears fresh rather than buy Boston lettuce on sale that has gone bad. This will ensure that the quality of the product you are using is good. It is possible to grow this type of lettuce out of a container or in a garden if the desire to be able to pick small or large leaves regularly is strong.
