Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
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posted
Probably everyone in the whole world has heard of this except me. In case you haven't....
It looks like a good idea for those who eat a lot of salad like I do- but have trouble keeping the lettuces and spinach fresh before you can eat it all. Plus it is ready to go by just pulling it out of the fridge.
Family today, when I asked what they were doing said they were making their lunches for work for the "week". ?? Huh I said? That's how I learned about it. Then they sent me this link.
Love this idea! A cool pre-prepared lunch with friends and family who don't have your same food restrictions.
Posts: 114 | From California | Registered: Jan 2016
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susank
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posted
Sounds great. Will read the link. I am in the process of tossing (out) some salad greens that are not fresh according to my liking.
FWIW I don't like salad greens that come in bags. Whoever (whomever?) shops for me knows to get greens in a (plastic) box. This last one was too big/too much. Such a waste.
I am trying to eat fresh - but daily preparing a salad is tiring.
-------------------- Pos.Bb culture 2012 Labcorp - no bands ever Igenex - Neg. 4 times With overall bands: IGM 18,28,41,66 IND: 23-25,34,39 IGG 41,58 IND: 39 Bart H IGG 40 Posts: 1613 | From Texas | Registered: Aug 2009
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susank
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posted
To add/ask: one can prepare the jars days in advance? The greens stay fresh and crispy in the jars like that for days?
-------------------- Pos.Bb culture 2012 Labcorp - no bands ever Igenex - Neg. 4 times With overall bands: IGM 18,28,41,66 IND: 23-25,34,39 IGG 41,58 IND: 39 Bart H IGG 40 Posts: 1613 | From Texas | Registered: Aug 2009
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me
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 45475
posted
It says it stays fresh for 5 days in the jar . . . I guess one would have to see. Posts: 1431 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2015
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
- Those do look delicious, indeed.
I would never feel safe eating any raw vegetable salad that has not been rinsed just minutes before consuming. [Fermented food would be different, though.]
Those in the photos, I would turn them over when putting in fridge so that the dressing COATS all the food. That way, the dressing has a chance to retard microbial growth, assuming there is something like garlic in it.
But, if the greens sit in dressing, they won't last very long at all, though. Maybe put in the harder veggies and wait on the greens.
Why rinse raw foods as close to meal time as possible?
When the veggies are allowed to sit alone or in water / condensation, all kinds of tricky microbes can grow in the fridge and, over days, the load can grow to cause serious trouble.
See the most recent posts added here a few week ago regarding "pre-washed" veggies -- even if we pre-washed them they need to be rinsed well again close to meal time
- or at least so sooner than the night before for a lunch to take to work, school, etc. Be sure that there is a good cold fridge where it can be placed upon arrival.
Lunch box cold packs may not be cold enough so that would take a little study to be certain, depending upon the exact product.
FOOD POISONING - Reference and Educational Links -
[ 02-15-2016, 09:52 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Had an older waterman tell me last night that isn't a "new" idea. They used mason jars to pack lunches in when going oystering, crabbing and clamming, keeping them in a cooler till ready to eat. If they didn't eat them, they'd be ready for the next day and kept well.
He said they coated the inside contents with the dressings on purpose before hand to make the veggies softer and tastier.
They'd pac homemade potatoe salad, beets, slaw and macaroni salad in them. (Never egg salad- it is bad luck to bring egg salad on a boat.) ??
So I guess this is a newer version of the mason jar salads.
me
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 45475
posted
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Keebler: [QB] -
But, if the greens sit in dressing, they won't last very long at all, though. Maybe put in the harder veggies and wait on the greens.
Why rinse raw foods as close to meal time as possible?
When the veggies are allowed to sit alone or in water / condensation, all kinds of tricky microbes can grow in the fridge and, over days, the load can grow to cause serious trouble.
Good points, Keebler. This would not be a good choice for people who have histamine intolerance.
Posts: 1431 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2015
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me
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posted
I must say I tried one of them, and it was delicious. I didn't do it in a mason jar, though.
Posts: 1431 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2015
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posted
Tin - you'd be surprised at what is considered bad luck on a boat. Watching "Deadliest Catch" some boats consider it very bad luck to bring bananas on board.
-------------------- I have a good time wherever I go! Posts: 665 | From Lost Wages, NV | Registered: May 2006
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
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posted
Me- glad to hear you tried it! Mind sharing which recipe you used? I read thru them again today, went to buy some of the dressing ingredients and HOLY COW! It would have cost me $20 for jars of stuff I only needed 2 T. from.
So I will try making my own dressings, and it won't be as good as the real thing I'm positive of that, but I will be using the mason jars, so maybe that will help the taste?
TX- That's funny!
By any chance were the bananas brought on board by a GIRL? I still believe because a girl- me- brought the egg salad on board that was the reason I was told it was bad luck.
But, I actually wised up and the next time I brought beer and cold cuts for the Captain, so all was well.
me
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Member # 45475
posted
I tried the chopped black bean and corn salad, but changed it a bit--minus the corn and added some Spanish rice. I used salsa for the dressing. Helped me feel like I got a Mexican food fix!!! Yum.
Posts: 1431 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2015
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Tincup
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posted
Hey me... I'm a Mexican food fan too. Love it!
I did try to make the mason jar salads today, but no where near what recipes called for due to budget and too much work involved. (I'm in the cook as little as possible mode now.)
I used cottage cheese, peas, asparagus, garlic, spinach, tiny chopped onions/ red peppers / yellow peppers, avocado, shredded cheese, pickled beets, turkey, boiled eggs, and more. The kitchen looks like a tornado went through!
Tried making my own dressing with fresh limes, garlic, rice vinegar and oil which is going to be so strong I'll pucker up with each bite for sure. Some I just used blue cheese dressing.
But they do look pretty!
I also cooked (sautéed) peppers, onions, mushrooms and garlic and was going to use it too, but it smelled so good I'm going to have it for supper instead.
So much for following a recipe, but then I've never been much at coloring in the lines either! HA!
me
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Member # 45475
posted
Yep, I modified mine due to budget (lack thereof) and energy. The salads provide a great "starting place," and then you can modify as much as your heart desires.
Good for you, TC, for making one of them. Sorry about the natural disaster in your kitchen, though.
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Tincup
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posted
Thanks me. I finally got the kitchen back to normal. Now the goal is that tomorrow I can just open the fridge and eat a salad, no muss or fuss and do the same for 5 days.
Oh, and meant to say the Mexican salad like you made looked really good, but that was the kind I ate several times last week.
But I will try it soon! Sometime after the five or six I just made.
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Just ate my first mason jar salad. VERY good and ice cold (usually I get lettuce, etc from garden so bowl of stuff is room temperature). Dressing was good- I am surprised.
The only problem is that was a LOT of salad! I couldn't eat it all and usually I can eat a nice sized salad.
So maybe don't fill the entire jar unless you can eat a LOT?
Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
On 3rd jar of salads, still very fresh and cold. But, it is WAY too much to eat. Checked with family and they said- oh, we meant the smaller size (didn't really know the difference- duh).
So do be aware it is a LOT of salad packed into a quart jar. I eat part of it for mid-day meal, and most for supper, and have NO room for anything else.
posted
Tincup thanks so much again for sharing this! I've passed it along to a bunch of people.
It helps that I grow a lot of fruits, veggies and herbs so I've been adding seasonal ingredients from the garden/greenhouse!
It's been a great solution for quick healthy meals, outings with friends and an easy thank you meal for friends dropping by for a visit. My husband & I have all these recipes now and go through at least 4 medium size jars a week! Posts: 114 | From California | Registered: Jan 2016
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Tincup
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posted
Labrat! A big howdy! Good to hear you did well with it! They are rather "pretty" looking, and amazingly are still fresh after several days. Good deal!
Blymey- Great to hear! Oh, you are in CA. I was wondering how come you have fresh stuff growing now to use- something I'd LOVE to have too- but that explains it. Sunny California!
This method does encourage us, and allow us, to eat better. Especially when it is as easy to reach in the fridge and grab a jar or pre-made salad as it is to get some ice cream from the freezer.
My BIG problem was packing a quart jar full and thinking that was suppose to be "one serving". Trial and error had me bloated up! Now I know better, thank goodness.
Wishing I could do the lovely variety of things you are doing, sounds great! Soon I hope!
If anyone likes a particular recipe, please lettuce no!
I'll be making some more jars this weekend.
BTW- The lime dressing recipe- too tired to search it out right now- was very good. I thought I'd made it way too tart, but it was just fine.
me
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posted
Muchas Gracias, Tinny!!
-------------------- Just sharing my experiences, opinions, and what I've read and learned. Not medical advice. Posts: 1431 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2015
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Good news!
Since starting the mason jar salads on a regular basis I've lost some weight! Tried many other things to lose, but nothing was working.
I believe having the salads ready to eat when I suddenly feel hungry helps me stay away from easier food to grab that isn't as good for me.
Also found putting a handful of dried cherries (which I'm not fond of when fresh- too tart) and mixtures of different beans makes salads even more interesting.
Also tried raisins in some and that was quite good, even with an overload of garlic.
Next I want to try some flaked coconut, cherries, raisins and chick peas- maybe even some strawberries.
Fun to make a couple a bit different each week.
Having a good supply of jars and doing the shopping the day before making about 5-6 days worth of salads- guess you'd call it a "routine"- oh my, am I that old?- never had a "routine" before! Yikes!
Bartenderbonnie
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posted
You are priceless Tincup !
Love the mason jar salads. Posts: 2977 | From Florida | Registered: Nov 2016
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
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posted
Thought if I am going to do the Mason Jar Salads, which I find very helpful and healthy, I best do it right. I needed a system to cut down the time it takes me to make them.
However, that didn’t really work too well. It took me almost 2 days this time (energy levels aren’t up to par as usual) plus a day to shop and a lot of clean up (no dishwasher and it always seems I get more on the floor than in the jars).
I got a lot of new, different things to put in the salads to prevent getting bored with eating them. So many actually I couldn’t use them all.
(Still have a huge container of strawberries, some blackberries, spinach, etc. left over.)
I had prepared for this by looking up new ideas, reading recipes, made some of my own dressings, made a shopping list, steamed the crunchy veggies- yes, I did it all.
I mistakenly bought three kinds of leafy greens this time- one spinach (LG size box) and 2 lettuces. Ended up with 8 QUART jars full- bigger sized jars were intentional because I use them as a full main meal for the day.
When I went to get the first one out of the fridge it felt like it weighed 5 pounds!
I did notice a problem when I had added all the “extras" to the jars first and only had about 2 inches of space to stuff the lettuce in. And stuff I did.
The greens on top nearly jump out of the jars as I open them.
Seems I need to learn how much to buy, how much of the extras to add each week, and not stuff them so full!
Anyone want a salad? I’ve been eating salad ONLY for 2-3 meals a day for the past three days and still have 5 jars left!
Too much of a good thing! HA!
This is going to be my vegetarian week for sure, planned or not!
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