Prepping Salad? Time-Saving Tips?

bananacake · 06-27-2016, 02:13 PM

I like to have salad most nights. Nothing fancy - romaine and maybe spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, any other random veggie we might have, a hard-boiled egg if we have one, fermented sauerkraut and olive oil. The thing that prevents me from doing salads daily is all the chopping. Lettuce is the only thing I think could be prepped for a few days and would stay fresh. Bagged salads are cost-prohibitive.

Any time saving tips on prepping salad?

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esperanza · 06-27-2016, 02:28 PM

We definitely prep veggies when we get them and just keep them in tupperware. Broccoli, zucchini, cucumber, carrots, etc. I am not sure tomatoes would work well but other firmer veggies are fine. I like to chop them up when I get them, otherwise I never get to it. Then they are just in the fridge and easy to open and dump.

---------- Post added at 04:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:24 PM ----------

Peppers could be cut ahead too

charla · 06-27-2016, 02:36 PM

On the advice of one of my friends, I used to tear (not cut with a knife) a head of romaine and a head of leaf lettuce, dry it in a spinner and store for about five days in a good sealing Tupperware bowl in the fridge. The key is not to use any of the rib parts of the lettuce because they go bad so quickly, just use the leaf part.

Now it just seems easier for me to chop up a couple romaine hearts quickly and add the dressing ingredients and other salad ingredients on top and toss.

esperanza · 06-27-2016, 02:52 PM

Oh yes, salad spinners are nice! Cauliflower can also be cut ahead.

2sunshines · 06-27-2016, 03:22 PM

Yeah most salad veggies can be cut up ahead of time and stored effectively in an air tight container in the fridge.

knitlove · 06-27-2016, 04:25 PM

https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...gnwaAgjz8P8HAQ

I have loved this product from the time I was in middle school when it was a start up in Houston. They really work. I can cut up veggies and keep them for a long time. Romaine lettus cut up with a knife will keep a week.

mommylove · 06-27-2016, 05:57 PM

My MIL makes a ginormous bowl of greens every Sunday. I think she adds shredded carrot, celery & possibly peppers to her mix of greens.

In individual containers, she preps wetter veggies like cucumbers, mushrooms, tomatoes, olives, etc. Every night, she sets everything out and people can make their own salads. When an ingredient is out, it's out for the rest of the week.

Aerynne · 06-27-2016, 07:50 PM

Bagged salad is not as expensive at Costco. That being said, I usually don't buy it.

I do buy bags of shredded carrots. They're not expensive and SO much easier!

I also like to add things to salad that aren't produce and are easier to have on hand prepared- canned beans, craisins, canned mandarin oranges, etc.

ECingMama · 03-06-2017, 08:52 PM

Have you tried the salad in a jar idea?

I made four today. Ate two.

(I ran out of greens, so the second one only had homemade dressing, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, and chicken.)

2sunshines · 03-07-2017, 02:55 AM

I know this is an old thread, but since it popped back up just wondering if you found any solutions or if this was still something that you were struggling with?

My first thought when I read the OP again was to use child labour?

Is that an option?

bananacake · 03-07-2017, 05:40 AM

I definitely still need more help in this area. Jarred salads are a GREAT idea for me because I generally weigh and measure my food. Something that holds me back from eating enough veggies these days is I hate to measure all the little bits

If I had a standard recipe I followed, or I did 3-4 jars at once, that would be a perfect solution!

My kids are really not great with knives

But I definitely need to teach them to wash and prep in other ways without using 100 gallons of water each time. That said, my kids actually do a lot of chores already. But so do I, I guess!

Aerynne · 03-07-2017, 12:30 PM

Putting dry paper towels into chopped vegetables keeps them from going bad as fast (especially lettuce or anything else leafy). When the paper towel gets wet, take it out and put in a new one.

ECingMama · 03-07-2017, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bananacake

I definitely still need more help in this area. Jarred salads are a GREAT idea for me because I generally weigh and measure my food. Something that holds me back from eating enough veggies these days is I hate to measure all the little bits

If I had a standard recipe I followed, or I did 3-4 jars at once, that would be a perfect solution!

My kids are really not great with knives

But I definitely need to teach them to wash and prep in other ways without using 100 gallons of water each time. That said, my kids actually do a lot of chores already. But so do I, I guess!

I tried 3 of the 4 THM salads in a jar, and they are fantastic! I will be making 10 every Sunday! (7 for me, 3 for hubby) Really wish I'd tried this last year!

bananacake · 03-07-2017, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aerynne

Putting dry paper towels into chopped vegetables keeps them from going bad as fast (especially lettuce or anything else leafy). When the paper towel gets wet, take it out and put in a new one.

I never would have thought of this because we do not buy paper towels. However at the last freezer meal day I hosted, I warned the ladies I did not have any paper towels and they brought me like 9 rolls

I supposed you could use dish towels as well

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---------- Post added at 03:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:11 PM ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by ECingMama

I tried 3 of the 4 THM salads in a jar, and they are fantastic! I will be making 10 every Sunday! (7 for me, 3 for hubby) Really wish I'd tried this last year!

Are some dairy free?

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ECingMama · 03-07-2017, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bananacake

I never would have thought of this because we do not buy paper towels. However at the last freezer meal day I hosted, I warned the ladies I did not have any paper towels and they brought me like 9 rolls

I supposed you could use dish towels as well

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---------- Post added at 03:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:11 PM ----------

Are some dairy free?

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yep! all of them! I bought some sheep's cheese to use in mine as a garnish though. (Sam's sample)

Do you still have the cookbook? I know it was drama.

http://darciesdishes.blogspot.com/20...dressings.html

Looks like she has a big list here. It's not specific to make-ahead jars, though, so I'll keep looking.

I am doing simple dressing. Oil. Vinegar. Spices. I did do the slim belly jelly one, but I already had it made.

---------- Post added at 01:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:18 PM ----------

http://letslassothemoon.com/2014/12/...n-jar-recipes/

!!

just took out the THM in my searching

06-27-2016, 02:13 PM	#1
bananacake Rose Garden I Am A BananaCake Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northeast US Posts: 25,052	Prepping Salad? Time-Saving Tips? I like to have salad most nights. Nothing fancy - romaine and maybe spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, any other random veggie we might have, a hard-boiled egg if we have one, fermented sauerkraut and olive oil. The thing that prevents me from doing salads daily is all the chopping. Lettuce is the only thing I think could be prepped for a few days and would stay fresh. Bagged salads are cost-prohibitive. Any time saving tips on prepping salad? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ Brenna 3 kiddos (15! 12 3/4 & almost 8) Praying for semi-son, age 34 I live by the motto: seek first to understand. "Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions." Proverbs 18:2

06-27-2016, 02:28 PM	#2
esperanza Rose Garden Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 5,240	Re: Prepping Salad? Time-Saving Tips? We definitely prep veggies when we get them and just keep them in tupperware. Broccoli, zucchini, cucumber, carrots, etc. I am not sure tomatoes would work well but other firmer veggies are fine. I like to chop them up when I get them, otherwise I never get to it. Then they are just in the fridge and easy to open and dump. ---------- Post added at 04:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:24 PM ---------- Peppers could be cut ahead too __________________ Wife to mi amor Mama to my gift from the Lord (07/2013)

06-27-2016, 02:36 PM	#3
charla Moderator in Cookbook and Empty Arms Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 16,511	Re: Prepping Salad? Time-Saving Tips? On the advice of one of my friends, I used to tear (not cut with a knife) a head of romaine and a head of leaf lettuce, dry it in a spinner and store for about five days in a good sealing Tupperware bowl in the fridge. The key is not to use any of the rib parts of the lettuce because they go bad so quickly, just use the leaf part. Now it just seems easier for me to chop up a couple romaine hearts quickly and add the dressing ingredients and other salad ingredients on top and toss. __________________ CHARLA Married to Nick, 30 yrs Mom to Nathan and his wife Abby, and Hope Elizabeth, dancing for eternity with babies: Micah Noel, Grace Anna, Andrew David www.dancingforeternity.org www.irresistiblehope.org Save Save Save Save Save

06-27-2016, 02:52 PM	#4
esperanza Rose Garden Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 5,240	Re: Prepping Salad? Time-Saving Tips? Oh yes, salad spinners are nice! Cauliflower can also be cut ahead. __________________ Wife to mi amor Mama to my gift from the Lord (07/2013)

06-27-2016, 03:22 PM	#5
2sunshines Moderator in Celebrations, Cloth Diapering & EC, Empty Arms, Prayer & Praise, and Swap n' Shop Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 26,962	Re: Prepping Salad? Time-Saving Tips? Yeah most salad veggies can be cut up ahead of time and stored effectively in an air tight container in the fridge. __________________ wife to my beloved and best friend mom to 4 great kids: ds(21) dd(19) dd(16) and ds(13)

06-27-2016, 04:25 PM	#6
knitlove Rose Garden Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle area Posts: 21,152	Re: Prepping Salad? Time-Saving Tips? https://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&ke...gnwaAgjz8P8HAQ I have loved this product from the time I was in middle school when it was a start up in Houston. They really work. I can cut up veggies and keep them for a long time. Romaine lettus cut up with a knife will keep a week. __________________ Wife to a wonderful DH for 19 years. Momma to my 29 weeker Early Bird who is thirteen and my little Wiggle Worm born 33 weeks who is nine. How do I have a teenager?! I don't feel ready for this.

06-27-2016, 05:57 PM	#7
mommylove Rose Garden Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 9,120	Re: Prepping Salad? Time-Saving Tips? My MIL makes a ginormous bowl of greens every Sunday. I think she adds shredded carrot, celery & possibly peppers to her mix of greens. In individual containers, she preps wetter veggies like cucumbers, mushrooms, tomatoes, olives, etc. Every night, she sets everything out and people can make their own salads. When an ingredient is out, it's out for the rest of the week. __________________

06-27-2016, 07:50 PM	#8
Aerynne Rose Garden Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 27,152	Re: Prepping Salad? Time-Saving Tips? Bagged salad is not as expensive at Costco. That being said, I usually don't buy it. I do buy bags of shredded carrots. They're not expensive and SO much easier! I also like to add things to salad that aren't produce and are easier to have on hand prepared- canned beans, craisins, canned mandarin oranges, etc. __________________ Erin born of water and of the Spirit 4/96 married 5/02 Mama to: 2004 2007 2010 2012 2017 2019 And many I hope to hold in heaven one day

03-06-2017, 08:52 PM	#9
ECingMama Rose Garden Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 16,686	Re: Prepping Salad? Time-Saving Tips? Have you tried the salad in a jar idea? I made four today. Ate two. (I ran out of greens, so the second one only had homemade dressing, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, and chicken.) __________________ ENFp Wife who is thankful to be in love....17 years Homeschooling Mom of three....15 DD dancer and 12 DS mountain biker and 5 DD calico critter and dolly mommy 12/2014 8/2015 11/2015 9/2016

03-07-2017, 02:55 AM	#10
2sunshines Moderator in Celebrations, Cloth Diapering & EC, Empty Arms, Prayer & Praise, and Swap n' Shop Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 26,962	Re: Prepping Salad? Time-Saving Tips? I know this is an old thread, but since it popped back up just wondering if you found any solutions or if this was still something that you were struggling with? My first thought when I read the OP again was to use child labour? Is that an option? __________________ wife to my beloved and best friend mom to 4 great kids: ds(21) dd(19) dd(16) and ds(13)

03-07-2017, 05:40 AM	#11
bananacake Rose Garden I Am A BananaCake Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northeast US Posts: 25,052	Re: Prepping Salad? Time-Saving Tips? I definitely still need more help in this area. Jarred salads are a GREAT idea for me because I generally weigh and measure my food. Something that holds me back from eating enough veggies these days is I hate to measure all the little bits If I had a standard recipe I followed, or I did 3-4 jars at once, that would be a perfect solution! My kids are really not great with knives But I definitely need to teach them to wash and prep in other ways without using 100 gallons of water each time. That said, my kids actually do a lot of chores already. But so do I, I guess! __________________ Brenna 3 kiddos (15! 12 3/4 & almost 8) Praying for semi-son, age 34 I live by the motto: seek first to understand. "Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions." Proverbs 18:2

03-07-2017, 12:30 PM	#12
Aerynne Rose Garden Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 27,152	Re: Prepping Salad? Time-Saving Tips? Putting dry paper towels into chopped vegetables keeps them from going bad as fast (especially lettuce or anything else leafy). When the paper towel gets wet, take it out and put in a new one. __________________ Erin born of water and of the Spirit 4/96 married 5/02 Mama to: 2004 2007 2010 2012 2017 2019 And many I hope to hold in heaven one day

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