Make Your Next Salad in a Mason Jar

Have you ever heard of making a salad in a Mason jar? It turns out that it's a quick, easy, and convenient way to assemble a salad at home and take it to work or school for lunch.

You might wonder why someone would prefer to make a salad in a Mason jar—especially since a glass jar is potentially breakable and much heavier to transport than lighter plastic containers like Tupperware. Plastic containers are much lighter, but many are discarded instead of recycled or reused.

Why a Mason Jar?

The beautiful ingredients can be seen through the glass container. The Mason jar evokes nostalgia for days long gone, when these containers were used instead of plastic containers. They were also often used as drinking glasses.

Even though most people eat their salad the same day they take it to work, it could stay fresh in a Mason jar much longer. Salads stored this way can stay fresh for up to 5–7 days in the refrigerator.

Keep in mind that even though the salad is made and stored in the jar, it should be transferred to a bowl for easy consumption.

A Mason Jar: An Unusual Container

Most people know about Mason jars and have used them at some point in their lives. Housewives in the South still use them for canning and preserving. So, how is a Mason jar different from any other jar?

The word "Mason" should start with a capital "M" because of its inventor, John Landis Mason. He invented and patented the glass container in 1858 for home canning and preserving food.

The jar comes with a rubber lid and a metal ring to fit over the mouth, creating a hermetic seal. The bands and lids of the jars are sold separately. The bands are reusable, but the lids should be used only once for canning. The glass Mason jars and metal lids are still used today for canning. They are also good containers for holding tea and other beverages.

What Kind of Mason Jar Should You Use?

In the United States, you can purchase Mason jars with two different mouth sizes. It depends on what you are going to use the jar for. The jar is sold in different sizes, including cup, pint, quart, and half-gallon.

There is a reason you don't see Mason printed on the container. Instead, you might see other names printed on some Mason jars or no name at all. Mason jar is the generic term. However, the most common brands in the United States include Ball, Kerr, and Golden Harvest. While Mason invented the glass jar, it was these companies that developed the jars into what they are today.

Why Use a Glass Jar?

The glass jar for salads doesn't require as much attention for canning. It is used as a ready-made container for a salad to be eaten soon after it is made, rather than making it in the summer and canning it for winter.

Now that you know some background about Mason jars and that all types of foods and drinks can be put inside them, let's see how to put a salad in one.

How to Make a Salad in a Mason Jar

When you make the salad in a bowl, you can put the ingredients in the container in any order. When you make a salad in a jar, the ingredients should be put in the jar in a special order.

Make sure the ingredients are layered and not tossed. Put the dressing in first, so the salad won't get soggy when you transport it from your kitchen to your office's refrigerator. Be careful not to turn the jar upside down. When you are ready to eat your salad, you can pour all the ingredients into a bowl, mix it, and eat it with a fork.

Instructions

• First, pour in the salad dressing so it will be on the bottom.
• Add diced chicken breast or any meat to your salad.
• Put in your chosen vegetables.
• If you are using croutons, add them next.
• If you are using cheese, add it next.
• Fill the rest of the jar with your choice of lettuce. Push the lettuce down to pack the jar.
• Sprinkle with salt and ground black pepper to taste.
• Screw on the lid and refrigerate the salad in the container until it is ready to be served.

Now that you have the hang of it, do not hesitate to use a Mason jar as a container for any salad. You can also use Mason jars for fruit salads and layered desserts. Not only are the foods delicious and good to eat, but they are also beautiful when seen through the glass jar.