How to Make Salad in a Jar That Lasts a Week–a Video Debut and FAQ

I‘m not much in the mood to cook this week. I usually feel that way after marathon cooking sessions connected with holidays or parties, even though I love doing it. Just as well. I have something else to share.

I recently put up a new video on You Tube entitled “How to Make Salad in a Jar That Lasts a Week”. This is no great Hollywood production but I hope it will inspire you to give this idea a try if you’ve been curious.

This also seems like a good time to answer questions about making Salad in a Jar in a way that’s easier to read than sifting through the entire comment section. If you still have unanswered questions, leave them in the comments here and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

Frequently Asked Questions about Salad in a Jar

I’ll start with the NUMBER ONE, TOP QUESTION!

1. Can I include other vegetables along with the lettuce?

Yes, but the length of time you can keep the lettuce-filled jars will most likely be shorter (much shorter in some instances) depending on which vegetables you add and how fresh they are in the beginning. Personally, I never add anything to the lettuce for 3 reasons:

• It takes longer to prepare the jars. I don’t want to spend more than 20 minutes–MAX– on a job that loses its novelty after awhile. Don’t misunderstand. 20 minutes of trouble is well worth the benefit– kinda like doing push-ups. But this is a lifestyle for me so it has be sustainable.
• I want my salads to last at least a week or longer.
• I never know what kind of salad I’ll be in the mood for from one day to the next so a simple jar of lettuce gives me a clean slate.

Reader Rick did an experiment adding various veggies to his jars of lettuce.  You can read about it here.

2.  I’ve heard rinsing the lettuce in lemon juice or vinegar will help it stay fresh longer, so maybe I don’t really need this machine.

After a reader suggested this, I did a side-by-side experiment rinsing lettuce with diluted lemon juice compared to vacuum-packed lettuce. The lemon-juice-rinsed and cut lettuce was beginning to turn brown after 3 days. No comparison!

3.  Any suggestions for other ways to use a vacuum-pack machine?

There are too many to count but these are MY current favorites. See comments on the original Salad in a Jar post for other ideas.

• Use jars for rice, flour, oatmeal, granola and other dry pantry items. It’s also good for homemade stir-fry sauce, barbecue sauce or salad dressing stored in the fridge.
• Use the (way too expensive) bags for cheese, leftovers, and meat. (Can you tell I am not compensated in any way by FoodSaver?)

4.  Are the flat lids used to seal the jars reusable?

Yes, until they get bent or they rust. I still use some of the ones I started out with 7 years ago.

5. Do I need an attachment for each jar and where do I buy one?

No. The attachment fits over the opening with a flat lid between the top of the jar and the attachment. Once sealed, the attachment is pulled off. See video.

Large mouth jar attachments are available online.  I’ve never seen them in a store but sightings have been reported.

6.  Which vacuum-pack machine should I buy?

I only know about FoodSavers so I can’t speak about other brands. Look for a machine that has a port for the attachment. I talk about that in the video. You don’t need all the bells and whistles for this project but the really cheap ones don’t have a port, so beware.

7.  I prefer to tear lettuce with my hands or cut it with a plastic knife because it helps keep the edges from browning. Why is that unnecessary with this method? Vacuum-packing removes the oxygen that causes the lettuce to brown. I use a sharp knife so I can chop it fast and in fairly small pieces. Hands and plastic knives are way too slow for me. Remember?!  20 minutes. MAX. That’s all the time I allow.

8. Can I preserve other types of greens in the same way?

I’ve experimented with spinach and spring mix. Neither lasted more than 3-4 days. They’re just too fragile. Although some say it works for them. I can’t recommend it. I’m a hearts-of-Romaine girl.

9. How often do you eat salad in a jar? 

It’s what I take to work for lunch every day– along with a very small serving of something that’s hot i.e. soup or leftovers, just to keep things interesting.  

10. Do you get tired of lettuce?

Honestly, yes. I weary of preparing the jars so I try to do it on the weekends when I’m not tired or rushed like I am at 6 AM getting ready for work. If I get sick of eating salads, I take a break but I’m usually back to them in a day or two because I feel more energetic and my clothes fit better. When I get bored, I switch up the toppings and dressing.

Many thanks to my friend, Caleb Hastings, who shot and edited the video.  I think he did a great job considering what he had to work with.

Here is a sampling of what others are saying about their experience with Salad in a Jar

(We’re talking about vacuum-packed lettuce here– not to be confused with the many versions of a layered salad with dressing and various veggies added to the jar but not vacuum-packed.)

http://blog.rickk.com/food/2010/03/the-great-salad-experiment.html

http://lunchitpunchit.com/2011/07/salad-in-a-jar/

http://www.patchworktimes.com/2011/11/13/salad-in-a-jar-start-to-finish/

http://farmflavor.com/salad-in-a-jar/

http://lifehacker.com/5830602/enjoy-fresh-salads-all-week-with-a-vacuum-sealer-and-mason-jars

http://www.realfoodallergyfree.com/2011/08/salad-in-a-jar/

http://steamykitchen.com/17001-fab-finds.html

http://www.whateverdeedeewants.com/2011/05/salad-in-jar.html

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