How do you cut romaine lettuce?

I have always heard it is best to tear lettuce into bite size pieces rather than cut it with a knife. Tearing it will break the bonds between the cells, making for less water loss. Cutting lettuce slices through cells, allowing the water to escape. I have also heard that cutting lettuce (especially with a metal knife) will cause it to turn brown more rapidly, possibly due to a chemical reaction between the metal and the lettuce.

romaine lettuce

It is much better if you tear it into the desired size. Some also prefer to tear the green leafy parts off the center rib, as the rib can be a little tough. Bite-size pieces are usually around one inch in diameter so they are easy to fork up and don't have to be folded to get them in your mouth.

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