Mason Jars

Mason jars, those typical jars used for home canning, and actually, a lot of other stuff too (A guess the gumball game? Ooh! A home for this fuzzy caterpillar, etc.), come in a variety of sizes. They actually are made for canning, as evidenced by the lids, which once sealed don’t really let anything else in – including air, the poor caterpillar.

Mason jars, named after John L. Mason, who developed the first common canning jar, were once in every home, filled with pickles, peaches or jam. They were ubiquitous. They still come in a variety of sizes. There is only the one color – clear – although there apparently used to be mason jars made out of blue glass. This is supposed to be better because less light will get into your food.

... These facts are what make mason jars so useful for canning and jam making ...

There are two types of lids – those neat wound-up wire tricky lids, and the more typical and probably better sealing screw on lids. These facts are what make mason jars so useful for canning and jam making, so that you can have row upon row of home canned peaches and pears in your cupboards. And you have to admit, a mason jar filled with home canned peaches tastes better than the machine canned tin cans of peaches.

If you do decide to get some mason jars and do your own canning, be careful to find instructions for the specific food you are canning – every food type has slightly different instructions, and you want to end up with something that tastes good in the end. Be sure to seal the mason jars carefully to prevent any bacteria from entering the jars.

... You just need to buy new lids, available in most of the bigger grocery stores ...

Mason jars, once they’ve been used, can be reused and resealed for food. You just need to buy new lids, available in most of the bigger grocery stores and home products stores, or wherever you originally got the jars from.

You cannot reuse the lids, because the lids have a rubber substance around the rim which is how they form the seal, and once they’ve been used, the seal will not reform very well. The replaceable sealant lids are extremely inexpensive.

... Layered, colored bath salts make a great gift and look pretty in a mason jar ...

You can let your children use the old mason jars for arts and crafts.  Layered, colored bath salts make a great gift and look pretty in a mason jar. You yourself could layer all the dry ingredients for cookie dough mix into the mason jar, screw on the lid, then tie on a gingham ribbon and attach instructions for a great cookie mix gift.

Whatever you decide to use them for mason jars are a great investment. They are easy to clean and very affordable.