Did you know you can vacuum-seal cleaned and chopped lettuce into a Mason jar? You can. It will last anywhere from 7-10 days with no brown edges.
I realize this may not look like the layered salads inside a jar that most people have come to expect. This is a simpler and more sustainable version.
Vacuum-packed lettuce is my healthy fast food. I can grab a jar of prepared lettuce out of the fridge as fast as I can grab a bag of chips. Add some dressing, a variety of seeds or nuts, and whatever leftovers, fruits or veggies I can find in the fridge. My lunch is ready!
After packing lettuce for over ten years, I'll admit to being addicted to these handy salads. This habit has been a huge help in controlling my weight. I'm not making any promises that it will work for you, but it might be worth a try.
Start with the basics for vacuum-packing lettuce.
See discussions about vacuum-sealing lettuce vs. using a plastic knife and other popular methods for keeping chopped lettuce fresh for a longer period of time.
If you need more information, read through the hundreds of comments. Beyond that, I'm only an email away. I can't wait to hear how it goes for you.
Prepare jars of chopped lettuce that stay fresh and crisp for 9-12 days. Avoid the drudgery of making salad everyday. Makes it easy and convenient to eat healthy.
A discussion about adding additional vegetables to vacuum-packed salad in a jar
In a test comparing vacuum-packed cut lettuce with unsealed cut lettuce in a jar topped with a paper towel, I wanted to see which method, preserved cut lettuce the best and for the longest amount of time. You might be surprised at the results.
Trouble-shooting and suggestions for people having difficulty getting lids to seal when vacuum-packing Mason jars
If you’ve been wanting to try “Salad in a Jar” but don’t own a vacuum-pack machine, try this penny-pincher’s method before you invest. I included a video to show you how to do it.
I ran an experiment with Romaine lettuce to see if a plastic knife is a suitable substitute for vacuum-packing lettuce in glass jars
How to use a handheld, portable vacuum-pack machine to seal salad in a jar.
Factors to consider when buying a vacuum-pack machine to make salad in a jar
An experiment to prove that vacuum packed lettuce will stay fresh up to 2 weeks
Ways to dress up a basic salad–particularly suitable for office or situation without a refrigerator.
