How Can I Get the Bitter Taste Out of Leaf Lettuce?

Bitterness in leaf lettuce is a common problem among gardeners, caused by a lack of moisture in the soil and high temperatures. Head lettuce was developed to remove the bitter taste from lettuce, but in doing so the lettuce lost most of its flavor and nutritiousness. In contrast, leaf lettuce is a good source of beta carotene and a moderate source of fiber and carbohydrates. Leaf lettuce is characterized by leaves grown from the stem, rather than in tightly packed heads. The lettuce is most commonly found as red leaf, green leaf and oak leaf varieties.