Mason Jar Salad Experiment - 3 weeks later
 

Not exactly survival prep and nothing revolutionary here, but here's some Costco Spring Mix organic salad that was vacuum sealed in 1/2 gallon mason jars. Three weeks ago on a whim (I was sealing dry organic quinoa grain) I chucked some new salad in a mason jar and vacuum sealed it with my foodsaver and mason jar attachment. No oxygen pack used. 21 days later it came out of the fridge pretty fresh and I was pleased. I just ate the salad in the picture after adding a can of tuna, grated beets and a raspberry dressing and it tasted fine and no unusual odor. The dark leaves were ever so slightly wilted, but no black mushy bits. Green leaves looked as fresh as the day I brought the package home. The original container of salad was tossed on the compost 2 weeks ago after it began turning to mush. I'm pretty confident the jar salad would be edible at a month or slightly beyond, but would need to be eaten quickly. I'd reckon home grown, non-warehoused salad could last 1.5 months like this and I'll be experimenting this spring to find out.

I'll report back later on the subsequent food poisoning, stomach convulsions, delirium and near-death experiences. :biggrin:

Re: Mason Jar Salad Experiment - 3 weeks later
 

Foodsaver... never thought lettuce could survive like this, I like it!!

Re: Mason Jar Salad Experiment - 3 weeks later
 

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_imBGDKwAAe...nnedburger.jpg

Re: Mason Jar Salad Experiment - 3 weeks later
 

That lettuce looks good after 21 days.

A different way is to take lettuce and put it in a bowl or container of water (just the base of the plant) and cover it with a plastic bag (use the ones that the store provides for fresh produce). Then place in refrigerator.

It usually lasts about a month or more and the lettuce stays fresh. Everytime take some leaves off to eat, change the water. The outside leaves will wilt and turn black if they touch the plastic too long, but most the inner ones look the day it was harvested.

Re: Mason Jar Salad Experiment - 3 weeks later
 

Is that for real?

Never mind, found it.

http://www.gizmag.com/the-canned-che...lderness/8713/

Google is my friend i love to hate.

Re: Mason Jar Salad Experiment - 3 weeks later
 

Botulism spores "hatch" in the absence of oxygen if the moisture content in high enough. I don't know how long it takes, or if low temperatures will slow them down, but the results of them activating is the release of a powerful neurotoxin. You might want to research this.

Re: Mason Jar Salad Experiment - 3 weeks later
 

Was the jar and salad refrigerated?