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There's no better way to treat yourself than by ordering a burger. If you're going to go all out, you know that you'll be ordering a deluxe burger meal with all of the toppings and add-ons you can get. But, not every topping on your burger should be eaten. In fact, chefs have said that the lettuce used to top most restaurant burgers isn't always as fresh as you'd expect it to be...
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Most restaurants add a hearty piece of iceberg lettuce to their burgers. Not only does this topping had a fun crunch to your burger, but chef Peter Chastain says that it could also be adding germs to your burger, too! "You think lemons in water are dirty? The salads are filthy,' he told Reader's Digest. "Plus, germs can hide inside lettuce’s cracks, corners, and edges."
Yikes! Chastain also pointed out that the lettuce has probably been sitting out all day without being washed. And, most of the time, it's not as crisp and fresh as you'd like it to be. He warns that any type of soggy lettuce is a red flag since it hasn't been cleaned properly and has been drenched in mayo, ketchup or barbeque sauce.
Now that you know to avoid the lettuce that comes with your burger and fries, Chastain always wants you to know that it's not worth it to order it in a salad either. The executive chef says that the salads served at most restaurants are a rip-off because they feature iceberg lettuce as a base and are often "marked up at least 20 times." Not to mention, iceberg lettuce is roughly 98% water with little to no nutritional value or substance.
Were you surprised to hear that most restaurants rarely clean the lettuce they use for their burgers and salads? Let us know your thoughts and other helpful restaurant ordering tips in the comments below!
