Can You Freeze Iceberg Lettuce? (Best Tips)

I love iceberg lettuce as one of the ingredients of my veggie salad. I love its crunchiness that bursts in my mouth.

However, my appetite for lettuce sometimes led me to prepare more than what I can actually eat.

If you are like me, you might also wonder whether or not you can freeze leftover lettuce for future use.

So, can you freeze iceberg lettuce? The good thing is that you can always freeze iceberg lettuce for later use. If done properly, iceberg lettuce can last for weeks to 6 months.

However, it is very important to remember though that iceberg lettuce is not like other vegetables that freeze well. You should make sure that you do it properly.

In this post, I will share with you some effective methods that will help you freeze iceberg lettuce correctly.

How to Freeze Iceberg Lettuce Correctly?

As mentioned, iceberg lettuce does not freeze well. But this does not mean that you cannot store it in the freezer.

With the right techniques, you can successfully freeze iceberg lettuce for your future veggie salad and smoothies.

Here are the steps you can follow to freeze iceberg lettuce the right way.

1. Separate the Leaves from the Stalk

What I like to do before freezing iceberg lettuce is to separate the leaves from the stalk. I do this because I like to freeze leaves and stalks separately.

When doing the first step, it is important that you do it by your hand. Of course you can use a knife.

However, I found that knife cut can cause browning of the leaves. This is the reason why I preferred separating leaves from stalks by hand.

2. Wash the Iceberg Lettuce Thoroughly

Now you have to portions: the stalks and the leaves. The second important step is to make sure that the leaves and the stalks are clean.

The only way to do that is by washing them thoroughly.

3. Place the Leaves and Stalks in Separate Bags

It is essential that the lettuce is stored in freezer bags. This is a good practice not only for freezing iceberg lettuce but also with other leafy vegetables.

4. Seal and Remove the Excess Air

In this case, sealing does not only mean closing the bag but also you need to make sure that there is a little air in the bag possible.

You can do whatever you can to remove the air inside. I like to use a straw in sucking the air.

Whatever you do, make sure that the leaves are not damaged. Keep in mind that the leaves of iceberg lettuce can easily be damaged.

Once the excess air is removed from the bag, you can now seal the bag.

5. Freeze It

Before you freeze the bags full of iceberg lettuce, make sure that you label them. In my case, I like to write the date so that it will be easy for me to identify the time the lettuce is in the freezer.

If you do mentioned tips correctly, you will be able to freeze iceberg lettuce successfully.

Can You Freeze Pureed Iceberg Lettuce?

Aside from freezing the fresh iceberg lettuce, you can also do it with pureed iceberg lettuce.

I do this whenever I have leftover pureed lettuce. When the cooking time comes that I need my puree, I can just get the frozen one.

To freeze puree iceberg lettuce, here are the simple steps you can follow:

1. Wash the Separated Leaves

The first thing you can do is to separate the leaves from the stalk. Then wash the leaves thoroughly. I recommend that you use cool water in washing the leaves.

2. Blend the Leaves

Once the leaves are washed, you can now put them in the blender. Blend them until you get the desired consistency.

3. Pour the Puree into The Ice Cube Slots

This step is similar to making ice cubes only you are using puree rather than water. After filling the ice cube slots, freeze it for a couple of hours until the puree is frozen.

4. Bag the Frozen Puree

Once the puree is frozen, you can now transfer them into a freezer bag. Again, I recommend that you label the bag.

5. Free Again

Once the puree iceberg lettuce is bagged, you can put it in the freezer for future use. It is ready for whatever recipe you want it to add.

Best Tips for Freezing Iceberg Lettuce

So far I have covered how to freeze iceberg lettuce. But there are a few tips that I want to share with you.

Here are a few things you need to remember when freezing iceberg lettuce.

1. Freezing Affects Texture

The cold temperature in the freezer can affect the texture of the leaves. This is due to the water content of the leaves which crystalizes under freezing temperature.

This is normal and you should expect it. I often got this issue especially if the leaves are frozen for too long.

2. Never Eat the Leaves Raw

I do not recommend eating the raw frozen leaves of iceberg lettuce. In some instances, frozen leaves may become mushy making them unsuitable for eating.

What you can do instead is to add the leaves to any cooked dish like lettuce soup. This will keep it safe to consume.

3. Take the Leaves Gently

I have mentioned this earlier but I want to reiterate that lettuce leaves are delicate. They can easily be damaged if mishandled.

Gentle handling is needed to retain the texture of the leaves.

How Long Can You Freeze Iceberg Lettuce?

We have been talking about freezing iceberg lettuce. The next logical question would be how long can iceberg lettuce last in the freezer?

Iceberg lettuce can last for weeks to 6 months if stored properly. This is true for leaves and pureed iceberg lettuce.

Freezing is a great way to preserve leafy vegetables. The good thing about having frozen leafy vegetables is that you can easily use them whenever you need those leafy veggies.

Should You Defrost Frozen Iceberg Lettuce?

Unlike frozen goods, you don’t need to defrost frozen iceberg lettuce. All you need to do is to add the frozen cubed pureed or leaves to the recipe you’re making.

As I said, it is always a great idea to have frozen iceberg lettuce. You can easily get them and use them for your cooking whenever necessary.

Is It Possible to Refreeze Iceberg Lettuce?

I do not recommend refreezing iceberg lettuce. Refreezing will only cause more severe damages to the leaves.

What I recommend though is to take only what you need and leave the rest in the freezer. This way you do not need to refreeze the leftovers.

Final Thoughts

Iceberg lettuce is one of the green leafy vegetables that you can add to your salad and other recipes.

However, if you have too many than what you need, you might wonder whether you can freeze iceberg lettuce.

Iceberg lettuce can be stored in the freezer for future use. It can last up to 6 months if stored properly.

You can take the tips shared in this post to successfully freeze iceberg lettuce.

If you want to learn more about freezing foods, do not forget to visit this page.