Bibb Lettuce

Bibb Lettuce is a member of the Butterhead group of Lettuces. It is very like Boston Lettuce, but its outer leaves are a bit darker and taste a little less sweet. The inner leaves are cream-coloured; the outer leaves are a dark green and are crisper than the inner leaves. The leaves form a loose head.

The leaves of bibb lettuce, which have a mild flavour, taste best when the plant has finished growing in cooler weather. The plant takes 60 to 70 days to mature from seed.

Cooking Tips

Core it at the bottom, remove leaves, swish them around in a sink or large bowl of cold water. No need to soak them. Remove, drain and dry. The leaves bruise easily, so handle carefully.

The leaves pair well with fruitier dressings, and with sweeter items such as cherry or grape tomatoes or grated carrot.

Nutrition Facts Per 1 cup shredded (50 g)
		Amount
Calories		7
Fat		.1 g
Carbohydrate		1 g
Fibre		.5 g
Protein		.7 g

Equivalents

1 pound lettuce = 450g = approx 6 cups torn

8 oz lettuce = 225g = approx. 3 cups torn
2 oz shredded lettuce = 50g = 1 cup
8 oz shredded lettuce = 200g = 4 cups

Storage Hints

Store in plastic bag in fridge for up to 3 days.

Literature & Lore

Developed by and named after John B. Bibb (1789 – 1834), who was a lawyer, a Kentucky politician and an enthusiastic amateur horticulturist in Frankfort, Kentucky. He developed the lettuce in a large garden at the back of his house. His name for it was “limestone lettuce”.