Iceberg lettuce yield: how much is usable after prep (AP to EP %)
Iceberg lettuce: about 71% usable going catering pack to trimmed leaves, with a published range of 67–87%. That is a cost factor of 1.41: for every kilo you need ready to use, buy 1.41 kg as purchased.
Yield by preparation stage
| Stage | Average | Range | What is lost | USDA item |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catering pack → trimmed leaves (coarse leaves and core off) | 71% | 67–87% | Coarse leaves and core | 1424 |
| Catering pack → trimmed to a retail-style head | 78% | 73–86% | Coarse outer leaves | 1423 |
| Retail-trimmed head → trimmed and cored | 93% | 88–96% | Core and wilted leaves | 1425 |
| Cos or romaine, catering pack → trimmed and cored | 64% | 51–78% | Outer leaves, core, trimmings and cutting loss | 1421 |
A case of iceberg loses about 29% before it reaches a plate, and cos loses more. Cost a salad garnish on the usable weight, not on the head.
Prep notes
Bang the core end down hard on the board and twist the core out, then hold the head under running water core-side up so the leaves separate. Drain well, or spin: wet leaves weigh more and dilute dressings.
What the yield does to the cost
Iceberg lettuce, case of 10–12 at £9.99 (JJ Foodservice, 10 Oct 2026), assuming 11 heads of about 600 g, is £1.51 a kilo as purchased. At 71% usable that is £2.13 per usable kilo.
Worked example: 40 g of shredded lettuce in a burger or wrap needs 56 g as purchased, costing 9p. Costed on the bought weight it would read 6p, so the costing would be 29% light: 2p a portion, or £2.47 over 100 portions.
| Usable iceberg lettuce needed | Buy (as purchased) at 71% |
|---|---|
| 1 kg | 1.41 kg |
| 5 kg | 7.04 kg |
| 10 kg | 14.08 kg |
Use 71% in the yield calculator →
Typical uses
Burgers, kebabs, sandwiches and wraps, prawn cocktail and side salads.
Storage and the trim
Refrigerate whole heads in their wrap for about a week. Shredded iceberg browns at the cut edges within a day, so shred close to service. Coarse outer leaves can line a kebab or a sandwich tray; the core is waste.
Yield source: USDA Agriculture Handbook No. 102, Food Yields Summarized by Different Stages of Preparation (Matthews and Garrison, USDA Agricultural Research Service, 1975), Table 1, items 1424, 1423, 1425, 1421 (US samples of crisphead (iceberg) lettuce, catering pack). Prices as stated, read on 10 Oct 2026. Your own case is the real number: weigh it in the yield calculator.
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