Some scholars have replaced the "melting pot" term with the "salad bowl theory." The melting pot concept posited that immigrants came to the United States with a multitude of backgrounds, religions, and cultures. Once in the United States, however, they melted together to form an American culture with no single immigrant culture standing out from others. The salad bowl theory, on the other hand, argues that these immigrants came to the United States and retained their cultures. Instead of melting together to create an American culture, each culture remains distinct and noticeable in parts just like how when you look at a salad you see tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, and carrots.The cultures are still recognizable, but they all come together to create the salad - an American culture.