How to Core a Head of Lettuce with One ‘Thwack’!

A head of lettuce, like iceberg, can be easily cored with a well-placed hit on a hard surface.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A head of lettuce.
• A hard surface, such as a kitchen counter top or butcher’s block.

1. Hold the head firmly, with the core pointed down. Hold the top portion of the head of lettuce firmly in your hands, with the core pointed down.
2. Raise the head a few inches above your work surface, then bring it down with a ‘thwack’ onto the surface. You should feel the core ‘give in’.
3. A little tug and the core comes easily out. With little effort, the core comes cleanly out. The result is a head of lettuce that is lighter, more compact, and more easily prepped for salads. Who knew that my summer job after high school as a cook’s helper at camp would teach me such a valuable lesson!

Tips & Warnings

• Tip: Sometimes it may take a couple of ‘thwacks’, but generally one well executed hit is all that’s required.