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The Humble Mason Jar

August 2nd, 2011

Over the last couple years I’ve come to appreciate the humble mason jar. It’s a workhorse, not only in the kitchen but around the house as well. Mason jars have replaced all sorts of things I used to keep around from pitchers to ramekins, which is wonderful since I have a small kitchen. Head on over to the Your Day Blog to read about my love of the mason jar and to share creative ways you use mason jars in your home.

What are some unique ways you use canning jars in and around the home?

11 Comments to “The Humble Mason Jar”
  1. Barefeet In The Kitchen on August 2, 2011 at 3:56 pm

    I absolutely love my mason jars. I use them in countless ways. I especially love my antique blue ones. :)

    Reply to Barefeet In The Kitchen's comment

  2. MAYBELLINE on August 2, 2011 at 5:47 pm

    Exactly right.
    I don’t care for plastic and don’t use it much. Therefore, I don’t use the plastic canning lids. Am I ridiculous?

    Reply to MAYBELLINE's comment

    • Susy on August 2, 2011 at 5:56 pm

      Nope, I don’t much care for them either. We have a store locally that sells metal one piece lids that I use most of the time.

      Reply to Susy's comment

  3. Andrea on August 2, 2011 at 8:04 pm

    Your blog for the day usually comes at the right time!!

    I went to an estate sale this past Saturday. I got some great old, nice pieces of cast iron, which you have inspired me to try and I got a few HUNDRED jars for $6.00. I am like a kid at Christmas!! :)

    Reply to Andrea's comment

  4. Rita Nagle on August 2, 2011 at 10:01 pm

    I really love today’s topic Susy. I actually have begun collecting mason jars, and am continually finding new uses for them. They are under appreciated in today’s throw away society. Glad to know others share my affection for them!

    Reply to Rita Nagle's comment

  5. Diane on August 2, 2011 at 10:54 pm

    I love Mason jars and, like you, watched a mother and grandmother can with them. I’d use them for all food storage if I could. But because I have open shelves in the kitchen and a young grandson who appropriates his own cereal and crackers, I do keep some foods stored in plastic. That way he can’t drop and break the containers. When he’s older, I’ll go back to the Mason jars.

    Reply to Diane's comment

  6. Alissa @ Not Just Apples on August 3, 2011 at 2:05 am

    They are just so pretty – but I still don’t own a single one… I must remedy that!

    Reply to Alissa @ Not Just Apples's comment

  7. Sherri on August 3, 2011 at 2:38 am

    I love Mason jars and am an avid “collector”. Just yesterday, we picked up well over 200 jars from a generous couple who responded to my Freecycle post asking for jars. Can you imagine how great it is to receive what you truly need for free? Do you have a Freecycle network where you live? I am very happy to receive the jars as we have much to “put up” still. I use Mason jars for many of the things you listed, and also for organizing the kids’ art supplies and my sewing supplies, as flower vases, for displaying beach rocks and shells, as candle holders, for steeping herbal infusions, for brewing citrus cleaners… the list goes on. Great post!

    Reply to Sherri's comment

  8. Joanna on August 4, 2011 at 6:31 am

    Thanks for letting me join in! I love your photos and the way you write. I increasingly prefer transparent containers for storage too, especially in the fridge, I find it is easier to remember to use things up if I have a visual prompt when I open the door. We recycle jars and bottles for preserves and cordials and some people always bring them back and ask for more. It’s great when they do that :)

    Reply to Joanna's comment

  9. Nebraska Dave on August 4, 2011 at 9:30 am

    Susy, it seems that I never have nearly enough Mason or Kerr jars. I have discovered that left overs can go into the jars and if heated just a bit before putting on the lid it will seal the jar. I’m not in any way advocating long term storage but it will keep the left overs fresh a bit longer than just plastic containers and I can see what’s in the clear jar without having remove the lid.

    Have a great day in the garden.

    Reply to Nebraska Dave's comment

  10. Rhonda on August 4, 2011 at 3:04 pm

    Yay! Jars! My children have been telling me I have a mason jar addiction. Ha ha. I even buy Classico Spaghetti Sauce because I can use the the jars again (Atlas Canning jar). I also keep the lids from Classico because they can be used for resealing things that don’t need to be canned. I wish I could find some of these auctions people keep talking about! I go to yard sales, estate sales, garage sales, etc. and I can never find jars! I just have to buy mine brand new.

    Something I’ve been trying out are the Tattler re-usable lids. So far so good! Even though I’ve been trying to get rid of the plastic in my life, I still like these Tattler lids because 1. they’re re-usable and 2. food doesn’t really touch the lids as long as the jar is upright.

    Yay Jars!!!

    Reply to Rhonda's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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