Jar Life- Why Glass Is Better Than Plastic w/ Burrito Jar Recipe

Why glass, you ask?

I have been using glass mason jars for storage for more than a decade. I dislike plastic for numerous reasons. Start with petrochemicals, then move to xenoestrogens. You get the idea.

On a more practical level, glass is gorgeous and aesthetically pleasing. Built to last. No stains on glass, no yucky lingering food smells.

Glass is practical. Forget about the struggle to find matching lids. No mystery foods concealed by plastic hiding out in the back of the fridge turning into a science experiment. You can see your food. And my favorite part? Good use of vertical storage space.

Last but not least and possibly most important, glass is cheap –costs much less than plastic.

Top 10 reasons for glass?

1. healthier
2. visible victuals
3. vertical storage space
4. aesthetically appealing
5. easy to clean
6. no stains
7. no flavor trespassing
8. won’t melt in dishwasher
9. matching lids
10. 
    
11. cost effective

Anyhow, I am still replacing my plastic food storage and I am looking at replacing them with one of my absolute favorite glass container of all. That brings us to our first  of many segments of Jar life. This is just to show you all the things you can do with a mason jar. Salads are one of the easiest things to make and store in a Mason jar. This one I like to call The Burrito Jar. Inspired by my love of Mexican food. I often order the burrito bowl when I'm out at restaurants .Mason Jars are old school and easy to find. Mason Jars. They can be found in almost every major supermarket in america. Also known as canning jars. They can also be purchased at stores like Target, Walmart, and craft stores to include Michaels. Not into going to the store? They can also be ordered online here;

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=mason+jars

The Process

You will need: A clean (and dry!) quart sized mason jar or size of choice.

1. 1/4 Cup Salsa
   Avocado Cilantro Salad Dressing- follow the link to get the recipe
   Avocado Cilantro Salad Dressing
   1/2 Cup cherry tomatoes, halved
   1/2 Cup black beans
   1/10 avocado, cubed, add desired amount of salad dressing on top
   1/10 red, green or yellow onion onion, chopped
   1 TBSP fresh cilantro, chopped
   2 Cups romaine, chopped
   4-6 crushed tortilla chips (optional)

How to make:

:: Layer ingredients in jar in this order: salsa, tomatoes, avocado, red onions, beans, corn, cilantro, romaine.
:: Make sure the dressing is not touching the lettuce or it will get soggy.
:: Place lid on jar and store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to eat it.
:: Enjoy deliciously flavorful crispy salads everyday.

Glass food storage keeps the food more safe. “Scientists no longer ask if toxic substances migrate from plastic to food during microwave heating. They ask how much toxins migrate. They ask if you should use plastic to reheat foods for kids, the ill, and the elderly. They ask far too many questions and provide too few reassuring answers, as far as I’m concerned. No doubt scientists will continue to duke it out. In the meantime, I prefer to play it safe and start using strictly glass containers and Mason jars. On another safety note: Glass is cleaner than plastic. Glass’ non-porous surface doesn’t absorb food and germs and it can be safely washed at high temperatures in your dishwasher.” – Using glass rather than plastic significantly reduces landfill. It also saves energy on plastic’s inefficient recycling process. And unlike that metastasizing heap of mismatched plastic containers in your kitchen cupboard, once you invest in glass storage containers, your supply pretty much stays steady. With care, you’ll use your original glass containers almost indefinitely.

If you break a glass container, you can recycle it without guilt:

– Up to 80% of all recycled glass can be reclaimed.
– Recycled glass uses 40% less energy than manufacturing new glass.
– Recycling doesn’t compromise glass’ quality or structure and no toxins are produced in it’s recycling.
– A move to glass storage marks a raised consciousness—arguably glass’ most valuable environmental benefit. Your investment in glass helps you move from a throw-away mind-set to a more sustainable sensibility.

It saves you money. Because glass is usually more expensive than plastic, at first glance, it seems a switch to glass will be more costly. But think about this: Unlike plastic, glass is pretty much a one-time investment. It actually saves you money in the long run. And glass comes in a wide range of prices.– According to some study, most plastic products, from sippy cups to food wraps, can release chemicals that act like the sex hormone estrogen, according to a study in Environmental Health Perspectives. Although consumers should be encouraged that at least some plastic products had no estrogen-like activity. – Source and read more on NPR.ORG

I know that using glass vs. plastic as food containers can be a long debate but it’s good to be aware of these important possibilities.