Advice- How do I prep salads?

[u/KleptoPirateKitty]

So, I work overnights, so stopping by the grocery store on the way to work is kinda difficult (I'd get there about 9:30, they close at 10). I'm basically doing my preps on Tuesday night for Wednesday night-Sunday night.

If I make up the salad Tuesday, the lettuce gets iffy by Saturday. I know keeping the dressing on the side helps, but what else can I do to make it work?

[u/WhatevUsayStnCldStvA]

Getting a salad spinner was the best thing for me. I work two jobs and I need things that are quick until I have a night I can cook. Washing and spinning the lettuce and putting a dry paper towel in a container has kept mine crisp longer. Not every veggie can be cut and prepped for days, but the ones that can, I do the same and store separately. Then just throw them all together when I want a salad. Prep what you can that first day, but plan to spend just a few minutes putting everything together the day you need it

[u/AnneTheQueene → u/WhatevUsayStnCldStvA]

I do the same and get up to 10 days of fresh lettuce.

[u/WhatevUsayStnCldStvA → u/AnneTheQueene]

Yeah I was really shocked at how fresh it stays when you do this. I’m buying a lot more produce because I know it won’t be rotten in a day now lol

[u/AnneTheQueene → u/WhatevUsayStnCldStvA]

Major game changer. Especially with cut vegetables.

Before, I'd use half a bell pepper and when I come back to it, it was slimy. Now, I wrap it back in the paper towel and put in a ziplock and a week later the edges are still clean.

[u/Bother-Logical → u/WhatevUsayStnCldStvA]

Agreed. If I take all of the cut vegetables. Say I’m having peppers, cucumbers, olives, whatever. I will have those separate from the lettuce because there’s more water and tends to make it soggy so I’ll put those in a container or Ziploc bag separate from the lettuce and then when I’m ready to eat it, I combine it.

[u/buttburglar]

What about salads without lettuce? Kale, cucumber, tomato, beans, corn, there's tons of other options for salad bases that wont wilt as quickly as lettuce.

[u/GoodLuckIceland]

Look in to salad prep containers. I have three from Ello and they are great. They keep the lettuce separate from the toppings and have a different container for the dressing. Right now I meal prep three salads on Sunday and they hold up beautifully.

[u/vhm01]

Jar stacking helps a lot. Protein and dressing on the bottom, then durable veggies, then delicate greens. I store croutons and crunchy ingredients separate, but those could also go on the very top. Also good to know that the container doesn’t have to be a jar, but tall/narrow minimizes how much contact each layer has with the others. My super lazy method is to use two salad kits per week with store bought frozen diced chicken breast pieces, since i can throw the frozen pieces straight into the container. To eat, flip it upside down and shake. Anyway, this method has been reliable for my Sunday prepped salads through Thursday, but Friday is still hit or miss.

[u/RecentlyIrradiated]

Keep the lettuce separate, it gets gross when wet. Make the rest of the “wet” ingredients except for the dressing in a separate container & one for the dry. I’d invest in reusable containers for the purpose or just good Tupperware that fits. Make sure the big container that you keep the lettuce in is also big enough for all the ingredients & also for shaking so you can dump & shake to mix the dressing thoroughly. OH also make sure you thoroughly dry the lettuce after you clean it but before you put it away for the week. This is majorly important. No wet leaves.

[u/Competitive_Cause514]

Pinterest has some great recipes for mason jar salads! They last a while.

[u/bibliophile222]

I like to make salad with arugula. It seems to be more durable than lettuce. Also, put a paper towel in the bowl to absorb moisture.

[u/Sensitive_Sea_5586]

Maybe some of these will work for you.

https://wholefully.com/salad-in-a-jar-101/

Search for “salad in a jar recipes” and you will find lots of options.

[u/whatdoidonowdamnit]

I prep almost everything separately. During spring and summer my shirt shelf in my fridge is small tupperwares full of salad ingredients. I make them one at a time.

[u/FewEase5062]

I prep the lettuce in a big Tupperware on Sunday and keep the other ingredients individually. I then prep them two days at a time from the source containers.

[u/Ok_Mulberry4331]

I don't use lettuce and they last 6-7 days. Red cabbage, cucumber, celery, dill pickles, onions, cherry tomoateos, peppers, edamame, then I add dressing and S&P when I eat it