HOW TO SHRED LETTUCE IN A FOOD PROCESSOR
Shredded lettuce can bring a refreshing, crispy crunch to everything from tacos and salads to artisanal sandwiches and more. Shredding lettuce by hand can be tedious, but you can take advantage of your food processor’s slicing/shredding capabilities to streamline the process so you have more time to explore new recipes and cooking techniques. Read on to learn more about preparing, shredding and storing lettuce using a food processor.
SHREDDING LETTUCE WITH A FOOD PROCESSOR
Shredding with a food processor brings precision and control to the ingredient preparation process. Food processors can come with multiple shredding discs to choose from that are designed to create fine, medium or thick slices, allowing you to seamlessly customize the consistency of your lettuce to best suit your recipe. Follow the steps below to learn how to shred lettuce with a food processor.
YIELDS
Approximately 6, 3 oz. servings
INGREDIENTS
- Head of iceberg or romaine lettuce
TOOLS
- Kitchen knife
PREP TIME
3 minutes
TOTAL TIME
5 minutes
STEP 1: PREPARE FOOD PROCESSOR
Assemble your food processor by placing the bowl on the base, then lowering the drive adapter onto the drive pin inside of the work bowl. Place the slicer/shredder disc onto the drive adapter with the shredder side facing up, then close the lid.
STEP 2: RINSE, CORE AND CHOP LETTUCE
Rinse lettuce by holding the core side up and running it under cold water as you gently pull leaves outward. Flip the lettuce to drain and remove any wilted leaves. Core by banging the head of iceberg lettuce, core side down, against a flat and hard surface to dislodge the core. Remove the dislodged core by hand. If using romaine, simply cut the core off to remove it. Cut the lettuce head into quarters, or smaller if necessary, to feed through the food processor.
STEP 3: SHRED LETTUCE
Select the low speed on your food processor and feed each quartered piece of lettuce through the feed tube, using the food pusher included with your food processor as necessary.
STEP 4: USE OR STORE SHREDDED LETTUCE
Continue preparing shredded lettuce for your recipe, or place in a zip-top bag lined with paper towels and store in the refrigerator for use later on.
SHOP KITCHENAID® FOOD PROCESSORS FOR SHREDDING LETTUCE
WHAT TYPE OF LETTUCE IS BEST FOR SHREDDING?
Recipes calling for shredded lettuce are most likely referring to crisphead—commonly known as iceberg—lettuce. These round and compact lettuce heads are made up of thick leaves with a crunchy texture that are less likely to become mushy or wilted throughout the shredding process. You can also shred romaine, another sturdy variety, in your food processor for similar results. Lettuce varieties like butterhead and loose leaf have tender leaves that may bruise or mush easily.
SHOULD I SHRED LETTUCE WITH AN S BLADE OR SHREDDER PLATE?
A food processor s-blade can chop, mix or puree ingredients for a variety of recipes, but it won’t help you achieve an even shredded consistency for lettuce the way a shredder disc will. Stick to using a slicer or shredding disc when preparing shredded lettuce, and if you have a variety of slicer or shredding discs, select the disc best suited to your desired thickness.
SHOULD I REMOVE THE CORE BEFORE SHREDDING LETTUCE?
Coring lettuce before shredding helps the process run more smoothly and prevents bits of core from mixing with lettuce leaves. You can core iceberg lettuce by knocking the lettuce head, core side down, against a hard, flat surface. This should detach the leaves from the core and allow you to pull the core out. For varieties like romaine lettuce, simply twist the core off by hand or chop it off with a knife.
CAN I SHRED LETTUCE WITHOUT A FOOD PROCESSOR?
A food processor can help create uniform pieces of shredded lettuce, but you can also shred lettuce manually using a knife or box grater. If using a box grater, core the lettuce then slice it into quarters prior to shredding. This keeps the lettuce large enough to grip while you shred against the grater. It’s not recommended to use a blender as the high speeds are more likely to puree your lettuce.
CAN I STORE SHREDDED LETTUCE FOR MEAL PREP?
You can keep shredded lettuce fresh for up to one week in the refrigerator. If you’re tucking away prepared lettuce for upcoming recipes, simply line a zip-top bag with paper towels to help absorb moisture, then place shredded lettuce inside. Zip the bag nearly closed, leaving a small opening for air to flow. However, shredding lettuce with a food processor is such a quick and easy task, the best option is to process it just before using.
HOW CAN I USE SHREDDED LETTUCE IN RECIPES?
Dishes like chicken tacos or caesar salad may come to mind for using shredded lettuce, but you can use prepared lettuce for a wide variety of mouthwatering recipes. Top a classic italian sub or use shredded lettuce as a filler in crispy kung pao egg rolls. You can also create a simple but stunning layered chopped salad or whip up a batch of masa tortilla dough for pupusas or sopes.
EXPLORE KITCHENAID® FOOD PROCESSORS AND CHOPPERS
Food choppers and processors from KitchenAid brand make it easy to chop, puree, mix, slice and shred ingredients for go-to recipes and bold new creations alike. KitchenAid® food choppers feature 3.5 or 5-cup capacities ideal for chopping fruits and vegetables, creating savory dressings or whipping cream. Food processors from KitchenAid brand come equipped with space for 7, 9 or 13 cups with select models that can even knead dough to help create moist, flaky breads.
