21 Weird Mason Jar Recipes You Must Try (2024)

FAQs

How old is the oldest mason jar? ›

In 1858, a Vineland, New Jersey, tinsmith named John Landis Mason (1832–1902) invented and patented a screw threaded glass jar or bottle that became known as the Mason jar (U.S. Patent No. 22,186.) From 1857, when it was first patented, to the present, Mason jars have had hundreds of variations in shape and cap design.

Perhaps the most infamous valuable antique mason jar is the Upside-Down Ball jar. Created to be sat on the lid instead of the glass top, this whacky design is popular with glass collectors.

If layered properly, salads in a jar will stay fresh for up to 4-5 days. Just keep in mind that different ingredients will stay fresh for different periods of time. So, if you're preparing for the week, plan on eating your salad jars before other items.

Yes, newer mason jars have a microwave-safe symbol on them. It is important to keep in mind that glass mason jars are non-reactive but still become very hot to the touch. For this reason, it's best not to package anything that requires long periods of microwave heating in mason jars.

Interestingly, Ball Corporation no longer manufactures Ball branded Mason jars, but has expanded and grown into a worldwide company that makes everything from metal containers to aerospace parts.

1996. Ball exits the glass jar business for which it is widely known.

Those blue mason jars were mass-produced until 1937 using sand from around Lake Michigan. It was that sand that gave the glass its blue hue.

On November 30th, 1858, Mason had his invention patented and stated that it was an “Improvement in screw-neck bottles.” This “Mason's Patent Nov. 30th 1858” copy was to be embossed on glass jars for the next seventy-five or so years.

The pandemic has inspired many people to grow gardens and/or can their own foods, which has significantly increased demand for jars, rings & lids. As far as shortages, the stores I've shopped at in my area (Pacific NW) still have an ample supply, so it's probably not everywhere.

Because of the unique way of layering the salad vertically, it preserves the freshness of the salad for longer. Depending on the ingredients added, a make-ahead mason jar salad can last for up to 5 days. That means you can have lunch ready for the week ahead!

Do mason jar vacuum sealers work? ›

The answer is yes you can! Vacuum sealing a mason jar is an easy and quick way to meal prep, or preserve any fruits or vegetables from your garden. Please keep in mind that this is not a substitute for canning, and anything that is perishable will still need to be stored in the fridge or freezer.

Mason jars were made to make that happen. The downside? After a few hours, watery veggies and salad dressing mix to create a mess of mushy, wilted greens. Bec Dickinson, author of Love Your Lunches, saves the day with this eight-step plan that'll keep your jarred salads fresh until you're ready to eat them.

Can I Pour Boiling Water Into a Mason Jar? Yes, you can pour boiling water into your Mason jars, and you can also insert them into a pan full of boiling water for sterilization. However, make sure your Mason jars are at least room temperature before placing them into the water.

You may find colored jars—blue, green, and purple—made for home food preservation; the colored glass may distort the appearance of the food in the jar. Other colored jars, such as yellow ones, are designed for craft projects.

Mason jars freeze just fine as long as some space (about an inch) is left at the top for the liquid in the jar to expand when it freezes. It is also best to use the straight-sided, wide-mouth pint jars. The “shoulder” on regular-mouth jars can interfere with the expansion of liquid in the jar.

Check to see if your jar has the early BBGMC logo, block letters, or the script Ball logo to get a general idea about the age. Pay attention to how the letters connect and if there is an underscore. Look for other identifying words like “improved” or “perfect” to narrow down the year, or use the jar's color to date it.

The Mason jar was first invented by John Landis Mason. He created and patented a glass jar to be used in home canning and food preservation. That was back in 1858. His jars, like the jars of today, had a screw thread mouth that accepted a metal band and a lid that featured a rubber ring on its underside.

Mason Canning Jars

Mason glass jars are designed to be reused. Canning jars have a life expectancy of 10 to 13 years. You will discover more breakage after that because of the wear and tear of normal use. Each time a jar is used and exposed to heat, it is subject to stress.

Vintage Knox {K inside a Keystone} Mason - Clear Quart Fruit Jar - Circa 1930's to 1940's. Vintage clear fruit jar from sometime between the 30's and 40's.