A good source of vitamin A, folate, potassium and fiber, romaine lettuce is available fresh any time of year. Delicious topped with croutons, shredded Parmesan cheese and Caesar salad dressing, romaine lettuce is also tasty when placed in sandwiches or as a light snack when paired with turkey slices. Preparing romaine lettuce correctly will help it last longer and preserve its fresh taste.

Inspect your head of romaine lettuce and remove any wilted or discolored leaves. These tend to be around the outside of the head of lettuce.

Wash the romaine lettuce thoroughly, using cool running water. Get in between all of the different layers of lettuce leaves.

Place the leaves in a salad spinner and use it to dry the leaves, or lay the wet lettuce leaves between layers of paper towels and allow the moisture to be soaked up.

Tear the leaves with your hands into the size pieces that you desire, or leave the romaine leaves long for dishes such as Caesar salads.

Add dressing to your salad right before serving to prevent the romaine leaves from becoming soggy.

Store your romaine lettuce in the refrigerator; using a perforated plastic bag or vegetable bag can help the lettuce last longer.