8 Mason Jar Food Storage Tips
∙ min read
Mason jars are a convenient, eco-friendly storage solution for your kitchen and pantry. You can use them for pickling, preserving jams and jellies, salads, or general storage around the house, as they are affordable, reusable, and versatile. Here is a list of 8 mason jar food storage tips for your kitchen and home.
1. Shelf-Stable Preserves
When most people think of mason jars, they think of canning and preserving food. If you have a vegetable garden, learning to can food allows you to preserve your harvest for year-round enjoyment. Canning may be a little intimidating if you've never done it before.
Fortunately, there are plenty of resources, such as the Ball Blue Book Guide to Food Preservation, to help you learn the basics. In addition, the Blue Book includes an introduction to the science and safety of home canning, which is essential to ensure that your canned goods are safe to eat.
From sweet jams and jellies to spicy pickles and savory sauces, you can preserve almost anything in a canning jar. So stock up your pantry with canning supplies and homemade canned goods, or share your bounty with friends and family. Ball mason jars provide easy storage for all types of food.
2. Budget-Friendly Bulk Foods
By buying them in bulk, mason jars make it easy to save money on pantry staples, such as beans, rice, and pasta. In addition, by storing dry goods in glass canning jars, you can easily organize your pantry and know when it's time to restock.
Glass jars protect your food and keep it fresh. Open packages attract bugs and mice, and rodents can chew through cardboard boxes and plastic bags. Glass mason jars with lids give you peace of mind that your pantry is secure from pests.
3. Loose-Leaf Teas
If you're an avid tea drinker, loose-leaf tea is more cost-effective than bagged tea, and you can customize every cup to suit your preferences. In addition, storing tea in mason jars preserves flavor and freshness and makes it easy to keep a variety on hand for every occasion. You can even create a jar of your personalized tea blend.
4. Herbs and Spices
Is your spice rack getting out of hand? Try storing your dried herbs and spices in mason jars instead. Like tea and dry goods, spices can be purchased in bulk. While spices do not generally go bad, they can lose their potency over time. Glass containers keep them fresh and flavorful, so you don't need to use them as much.
Small mason jars fit easily in your cupboard or on your shelf. The 4 oz. jelly jars also fit nicely in most kitchen drawers. Use a plastic lid and write the name of the spice on the top, and you'll never have to rifle through an overcrowded cabinet to find the seasoning you need.
5. Fresh Herbs
Many recipes call for fresh herbs. If you have an herb garden, you can cut a fresh leaf of basil or sprig of thyme every time you need one. Otherwise, you must buy your fresh herbs from the store or farmer's market, and they may wither before you can use them all.Fortunately, you can prolong the life of fresh herbs by placing them in water in a mason jar. Then, just like a bouquet, the herbs will stay fresh longer.
6. DIY Baking Mix
This storage solution also makes a great gift! Measure out the dry ingredients for your favorite cake, brownie, or cookie recipe and layer them in a mason jar. Attach a label listing the additional ingredients, such as oil or eggs, and instructions for baking.
Cake or cookie mix in a wide-mouth mason jar is a fun and practical homemade gift, and it's easy and inexpensive to make. These jars are also handy in the pantry when you want to whip up a quick dessert with minimal effort and mess.
7. Frozen Soups and Sauces
Many people are understandably wary of freezing glass jars. However, with appropriate precautions, mason jars are sturdy enough to withstand freezing. You can prep a large batch of soup or sauce and freeze it in jars for later use.When freezing food, always use a wide-mouth jar and leave room at the top because the food will expand as it freezes. Sudden temperature changes can break the jar, so always let hot food cool before putting it in the freezer and thaw it in the fridge before reheating.
8. Refreshing Beverages
Large jars are convenient for cold-brew iced tea or coffee and other refreshing beverages. The glass jar and screw top keep your drinks fresh longer than a plastic jug or pitcher. Also, unlike plastic, glass won't scratch, stain or retain odors and flavors, making it a safer and more convenient choice for repeated use.
You can even use a mason jar to stay hydrated throughout the day. Replace your plastic water bottle with a wide-mouth mason jar with a lid made for drinking; the measurements on the jar make it easy to keep track of your water intake.
Choose the best food storage containers for your home
With so many sizes, mason jars are one of the most versatile tools for organizing your kitchen. Ball jars are a great option whether you use them for canning, storing, or just decorating, such as a mason jar centerpiece. Explore our selection here at Max Warehouse to find the perfect solution for your food storage needs.
