Mason Jar Meals

I pack my lunch in mason jars almost every day. I will admit, I've seen a bunch of those mason jar salads and I don't understand them, because the jars aren't really big enough to "toss" the salad in. But I will put left overs in them, or my usual cottage cheese or yogurt, and another jar for a cut up apple. I'd suggest getting some of the plastic reusable lids that Ball makes, the metal rings rust really easily.

Salads don't really work to eat from if you fill the jars. I made that mistake and took one to work (out of 10 that I'd premade) and couldn't get it tossed. I ended up bringing a bowl the rest of the days. The others were fine, because I'd made them to eat at home.

So what's the advantage of making the salad in a mason jar? if you have to pour it out? Do the jars keep it fresher?

Jamielynn - over here raising my hand.

From the other thread "words that annoy me", my answer is mason jar meals. I don't understand this desire to eat or drink out of glass canning jar. I have Tupperware, plates, cups etc that work just fine. It doesn't appear it would be easy to pack the jar in a lunch bag nor easy to get a fork in one to eat a salad.   Plus I don't trust myself carrying around a glass jar.  

When I do them, it's not so much about the mason jar as it is prepping the salads so they are easy to access. When life gets hectic I'm more likely to grab something unhealthy, but this makes it effortless to eat well. (I'm at home - I just dump them in a large bowl) The jars do take up less space in the fridge than square storage containers, so that is an advantage. I think there is a "pretty" factor to why some people like them.

That said, I bought some plastic cylindrical gladware-type containers to take salads on our recent road trip and I MUCH prefer those. I'm going to start using them at home too. They are easier to fill and I could eat out of them if I wanted. The salads stayed just as fresh in the plastic containers.

You can pack a mason jar full of whatever and vacuum seal it with a foodsaver with a lid attachment.  Nothing gets crushed, but everything will stay fresh for a couple of weeks.  You can make 1-2 weeks worth of lunches at a time and then just grab one in the morning. 

I have been switching out all my plastic Tupperware for glass because I think it is better to save and reheat foods in glass that has no possibility of plastic leeching into the food. 

I have only done salads and there is nothing gross about them. I was worried at first that the veggies really wouldn't stay fresh. But, they do. I don't add dressing to mine until I dump them out. I want to be able to pick my dressing the day I eat them. I just wash the jar and lid in the dudh washer.