![]() ![]() ![]() Studies have found that iceberg lettuce produces more ethylene after it’s bruised or cut, making it still more susceptible to russet spotting.Īnother risk factor, oddly enough, is exhaust. It’s not fair to exclusively blame other foods though: lettuce produces some ethylene itself. It can happen on the delivery truck, if, for example, your lettuce is packed near ethylene gas releasers. But sometimes the exposure is out of your control. You can reduce the risk of russet spotting by storing ethylene-releasing produce, like apples, bananas and avocados, away from lettuce. Ethylene exposure can happen at home or before the lettuce gets to the supermarket And prioritize eating this lettuce the brown spots indicate an accelerated rotting schedule. Those spots signal that cells have been weakened, making the lettuce a touch friendlier to any pathogens that happen to be nearby. The lettuce is still safe to eat, though make sure to give it a good rinse. The condition is called “russet spotting.” Ethylene causes the lettuce to produce certain compounds which lead to those brown spots. Which brings us to the weird little dots you see on the lettuce pictured above. Even low concentrations can cause problems. Lettuce isn’t a fruit so it doesn’t “ripen”, but it is particularly sensitive to ethylene emitted by any gassy neighbors. The trouble is that if neighboring produce is exposed to that gas, it can hasten ripening or otherwise impact quality. Ethylene occurs naturally in plants and prompts fruits to soften and sweeten. Many types of produce give off invisible vapors of ethylene gas. How about salad for dinner tonight? So, why is it OK to eat lettuce with “freckles”? What you see: Brown dots on your lettuce, especially along the lower parts of the ribs.Įat or toss: Eat! This is harmless (for you!), though the lettuce may rot sooner. ![]()
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