Mason Jar Salads

I wish I could claim credit for this fabulous idea, but I saw it on Pinterest and decided to try it.  It's amazing and it really works.  You'll spend less on produce and won't throw away as much.  

Here is the original link where I found the information: http://www.neatpins.com/2012/03/mason-jar-salads.html

Here are a few tips:

• Dressing on the bottom, lettuce on the top. If the two are touching the lettuce will turn to slime.
• So, dressing goes in first. On top of your dressing, use a rather "hearty" vegetable, such as shredded cabbage, pea pods, or julienne carrot matchsticks. They can withstand the acidity of the dressing, and actually get better!
• Pack it in. Use a nice variety of colorful vegetables! 

I did change it up a bit.  I did not follow the recipes from the original site, but simply used what I already had in my fridge to make my own salads. I also did NOT include dressing since our family all has different tastes.  However, I did follow the plan to pack 'hearty' vegetables on the bottom.  It worked perfectly.

Salads will easily stay good for 7-10 days depending on ingredients.  Some of mine lasted longer!  How awesome is that???

They fit perfectly in my crisper drawer.

Of course, you're probably not going to use a case of mason jars just for salads, so I've also included the link to my Pinterest Board JAM IT IN A JAR where you can find a variety of easy uses from pasta meals, room scents, holiday decorations, candles, homemade salad dressing and desserts for the extra jars.  

You can make your own original or favorite salads using all the goodies that you like, or if you want to try something new, creative or just want ideas, below are successful mason jar salad recipes. Ingredients are listed from what goes in first (bottom) to last (on top).

Asian:

-light asian ginger dressing

-peapods

-carrot shreds

-cabbage shreds

-water chestnuts

-green peas

-bean sprouts

-toasted sesame seeds

-lettuce

Seafood:

-dressing

-cabbage shreds

-cherry tomatoes (halved)

-black olives

-celery

-drained canned crab / drained canned salad shrimp

-lettuce

Caesar:

-light Caesar dressing

-carrot shreds

-diced grilled chicken

-celery

-cukes

-lettuce

-parmesan

(add croutons later) ...they get mushy in the jar.