Recently, one of my long-ago former co-workers mentioned on the Food in Jars Facebook page that what she really wanted to see was a visual guide to available jars out there. So earlier, after I’d met all my deadlines for the day, I raced around my apartment, hunting down examples of all the easily available jars currently in production in the hopes that I’d have them all. Amazingly, I did.
Before we dig into the jars, you should know that all standard canning jars sold in the U.S. are made by a company called Jarden Home Brands. They own Ball, Kerr and Bernardin (that’s their Canadian brand). So though it appears that there are multiple brands of jars out there, they’re all made by the same manufacturer.
The first group is the available regular mouth Ball jars. They come in quart, pint and half pint sizes. These jars are the ones most commonly found on the east coast. These shapes and sizes can also be found with the Kerr marker, but only out west. I prefer the Kerr jars to Ball, because they have a smooth back (it’s perfect for labels) but they’re nearly impossible to get where I live.
The next group is the wide mouth Kerr assortment. These come in quart, pint and half pint sizes. Of all available jars, the wide mouth half pint is my very favorite jar currently in production. Sadly, it’s one that’s very hard to track down here in the Philadelphia area. I either drive to the Good’s Store in Lancaster or I mail order them. It kills me every time I visit my mom in Portland, OR and see stacks of this size/shape at her local grocery store.
Here’s the Ball brand wide mouth assortment. They have these in half gallon, quart and pint. As far as I know, they don’t currently make a half gallon jar under the Kerr label (feel free to correct me in the comments if you’ve seen them in stores recently). Jarden doesn’t currently make the wide mouth half pint under the Ball brand, though I have one floating around my apartment, so at one time they did.
Here’s the quilted line-up. These jars come in 4, 8 (half pint) and 12 ounce varieties. I don’t love the looks of them (I much prefer a smooth-sided jar), but these are such handy sizes (I love the 12 ounce jar for pickling asparagus because it’s a bit taller than the available pint jars) that I put aside my aesthetic concerns and use them.
Lastly, there’s the Collection Elite line. This consists of just two jars, a pint and a half pint. Unlike the rest of the canning jars featured* which come in cases of 12, these jars are sold in four packs. I love the shape of them, but often forgo them for the less expensive jars.
You will often come across other sizes and shapes in thrift and antique stores, but to my knowledge, these are the only ones currently available for purchase new.
One last thing before I sign off. Remember last year when I mentioned that a new brand of canning jars was coming to market? Sadly, it’s not to be. Jarden Home Brands bought Penley and put the kibosh on that plan.
*Half gallon jars are sold in cases of six.
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I keep praying for them to bring back asparagus jars!! I have collected 6 from various estate sales but would love love love to be able to buy them from the store!
Lacy, I am so with you! I adore those old pint and a half jars and I so wish they’d bring them back. I have a bunch that I’ve collected over the years, but I hate to can in them, because I’m terrified of breaking them.
I recently scored a case (12) of the 1-1/2 pint jars from my parents’ garage. Big plans for fermented asparagus and dilly beans this year!
I went to my local hardware store and had them order me the quilted 12 oz jars for 10 dollars and some change a case. maybe you can do the same.
agreed- i hoard them and don’t use them for canning! perfect for iced coffee in the summers.
If you are interested in Weck jars (scroll down for more detailed info about them), they make jars perfect for asparagus.
My take on Weck, as a fairly new canner, is that they work just as well as Ball/Kerr overall. (I think if you were doing massive amounts then it becomes an issue, but for small batches, I find them great.) On the cost issue, I use them for my personal canning, and give away Ball jars containing goodies freely.
Nothing beats finding a great old jar at a tag sale or thrift store though.
Thanks for the rundown! It was very interesting. I regularly patrol the local second hand stores in my area for jars. Goodwill here in Oregon sells any size canning jar for just 29 cents! My favorites are the 4 oz jars and the Elite collection and I’m able to find them from time to time at second hand stores. I give them a run through the dishwasher on the sterilize cycle and they are good to go! Once I even found some jars with old labels on them which was really interesting. My two favorite labels were Strawberry-Banana Jam and Fireweed Jelly. It would be great to know the story behind those types of jars when I find them.
Wow! That’s a great price! I’ve seen a Goodwill and Savers here in San Jose, CA sells quart jars for .99.
I’m very curious about the stylish clamp lid glass I’ve been seeing around. No metal hinge, just 2-4 clamps (with rubber gasket). Like this one.
Margaret, that’s a Weck jar. They’re a European style of canning jar.
Weck jars are manufactured in Illinois not even 10 miles from my home, I love them and they are actually available online (LOVE the cylindrical asparagus jars!).
http://weckcanning.com/products.php
Crate and Barrel currently carries Weck jars in their stores. I used them this summer for preserves and have come to love them for storing things in my kitchen!
I’m so intrigued by the total monopoly on glass mason jars safe for canning. Especially now that Ball bought Penley… is there a reason for this?
Just thinking out loud, not expecting a real answer. But opinions are always welcome.
And Ball, can we PLEASE have some smooth-sided 4 oz jars? Pretty please? Maybe even smooth-sided 12 oz asparagus jars too!
From what I know, Jarden bought Penley in order to prevent them from challenging their monopoly. I think the lack of competition is in part due to the fact that while canning is currently gaining in popularity, it’s still not the widely held practice that it once was. So there might not be enough market share for anyone else to make a go of it. Penley was trying, but I guess Jarden made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.
And yes, I’d love to see those 4 and 12 ounce jars available with smooth sides.
I have used the jars you are referring to from Walmart because they cost less and they are smooth all around, but they are not made in USA. Right before Thanksgiving when I really needed jars for gifts Walmart was completely out of all brands they stocked. I had to go to Ace and Kroger which always cost more.
I like Kerr jars for their mostly-smooth sides. I don’t know why Ball insists on putting all that raised lettering and design on theirs. They are really hard to stick a label on and, personally, I’d just like to focus on what’s in the jars rather than some useless measurements. Kerr just looks a little more old-fashioned which I like, too.
Happy New Year everyone!
Do you ever use Weck jars? I have a few kicking around from (the now sadly departed) Telltale Preserve Co., but I’ve never put anything up in them. They come in all manner of gorgeous sizes and shapes, but I’m just so used to the Ball/Kerr jars that I haven’t explored using Weck jars.
Nevermind, answered my own question: http://www.foodinjars.com/2011/03/canning-101-how-to-can-using-weck-jars-giveaway/
I’ve used them on occasion (here’s a whole post about them), but they’re so darn expensive, that I’m only able to use them sparingly. I’ve also found that they can be a little fussy when it comes to getting a dependable seal.
The Kerr smooth side half-pint is my favorite, as well. I can’t get them here, I have to drive to Northern CA. Boo.
What about the smooth round canning jars that Wal-mart sells in a white box with blue writing. They are the Wal-mart brand. I have also seen these smooth round canning jars on a site called specialty bottle. http://www.specialtybottle.com/ecomasonjarsmi.aspx
None of the Wal-mart stores in my area stock canning supplies (or if they do, they’re seasonal and I’ve missed them), so I’ve not been able to check out their offerings. I didn’t include special order jars in this round-up. I was just doing the Ball/Kerr lines of jars.
I’m in Jersey, so I’ll consider myself in your area, and the Wal-Marts around me only carry canning jars from about May to mid-August. By the beginning of September ALL of the canning stuff is on clearance. Jars included.
I live in Florida & there is one place in my town that sells Kerr & that’s ace hardware, but they ARE NOT cheap. My Winn dixie also sells the asparagus jars but those aren’t particularly cheap either. Lol. I’ve been around a ton of stores, lookin fr any kind of canning equip, & jut happened to have stumbled on those nice little finds.
thanx for the education lesson. Happy new year!
Does anyone have a Lowe’s hardware store close to them? If so they have been selling all their canning jars and stuff dirt cheap. You might want to go online and choose your local Lowe’s store and see what they have to offer.
Oh my, that was fast, thank you!!
And you’ll either kick yourself or be pleased (or both) to know that Fante’s always has Kerr wide mouth half-pints now. I know they’re not the cheapest game in town, but the owner, Mariella, affirmed that she will be keeping canning supplies in stock year-round.
Kerr makes a non-quilted 4 oz jar. I’ve gotten them at Walmart here in N. CA and at the hardware store. I love them for little thank you gifts.
Here in Canada we have a third jar lid size – GEM. I get a lot of used Gem jars from freecycle. Gem is a bit bigger than Standard and smaller than widemouthed. I have two gallon GEM jars, gallon, quart, half quart, even 1 cup gem jars. the screw lid part is deeper, but in Canada we can buy the lids and screw tops at our local grocer. I love the big huge jars as they are so perfect for legumes, and we have glass lids and rubber rims that make the whole sealing perfect for dry storage. but I do a lot of ‘real’ canning in GEM jars since I have them.
Dear Marisa,
thank you so much for this. It even makes me mooooooore jealous, not to be able to buy these here in Germany! They look so damn beautiful….. Especially the quilted ones!
Well I use Weck Jars, which I like very much too!
But as you wrote in one of your answers, you do have the same problems as me with them?
I noticed at the grocery store a while back that one of the boxes of jars was also listed as freezer safe. I want to say it was the quilted jars, but I’m not sure, so don’t take my word for it, but it might be worth checking out if you want freezable jars.
Target sells both Ball and Kerr jars. Some sizes are available in stores only and others are available online. I picked up a dozen quart Kerr jars a few months ago at my local Target for $9.99.
I live in Indiana, original home to the Ball family who used to make Ball jars. You can pretty much only get Ball jars here, no Kerr. Goodwill sells used canning jars for 99 cents. WalMart had a line of jars for sale made by Better Homes and Gardens. They are closer in shape to the Ball Elite jars, but can be found in larger sizes (Quart? Pint? I don’t know.) as well as around 8 ounce size. I thought they were so absolutely adorable but I was eaten alive on an online forum for saying so, as they are made in China. The BH&G jars have a white band and a red and white checked lid.
I have never seen the WM brand jars in the store, they are always sold out/understocked so i don’t know what they look like. Someone handier than me can probably find a link about the BH&G jars, but I only saw them one time, so I don’t know what’s up with that.
By the way, I graduated from Ball State University in Muncie, IN, founded also by the Ball family, of course!
Ha! I’m in BSU grad school now and pass by the Jarden building in Daleville every time I drive into Muncie. I’d always wondered what that business was all about.
Killiqn’s Hardware in Chestnut Hill stocks the wide mouth half pints
And they stock canning supplies year round!
and by Killiqn’s, I mean Killian’s. My fingers are not fit for typing first thing in the morning
I’ve used some of the Better Homes & Gardens jars sold at Wal Mart, but I really don’t like them. They’re not as heavy, and in my (limited) experience the seals fail much more often than with Ball brand jars.
love this post marisa. i mean, what better way to start the day than reading a bit of jar love.
Thanks tigress! Yay for jars!
Wish Ball would come out with a BPA free lid! I have used the Tattler, but for each batch, at least two do not seal!
I have the same problem with Tattler lids! I find it really helps to screw them down tight as soon as you take them out of the canner, but yes, they are more fussy than the regular disposables. When I teach canning, I often suggest rookies start with the metal lids just to help guarantee seals.
Oh, me too, Judi! I would love to use only BPA-free lids. I have a couple of boxes of the Tattlers but they’re so expensive. For freezing, or just refrigerating an open jar of jam or sauce, I use a BPA-free all-in-one white lid made by Ball, labeled plastic storage caps. They’re not for processing of course, but great for storing food in freezer + refrigerators…
Given the response to this post, wouldn’t it be amazing if Ball finally came out with a BPA lid? It’s such a great lid system, it’s too bad it’s not toxin free. I’d even be willing to pay more, since I’m already having to pay more by using Weck jars…
That would be wonderful.
The last time I needed to buy jars I looked at both the Better Homes & Gardens and Mainstays brands at Wal-Mart. They were definitely less expensive than then Ball and Kerr jars, but I decided to go with Ball/Kerr anyway since they are still made in America. It seems like it’s been harder to find the half-pint jars lately, which is what I use the most.
The half-pints are definitely harder to find and sometimes, they are more expensive than the pint jars! Even crazier is that the 4-ounce jars cost even more than the half-pint jars.
What about the Golden Harvest brand jars, who makes those? I have a ton of Golden Harvest jars
I find Golden Harvest jars at Big Lots/Odd Lots stores here in Ohio. They’re another imprint of Jarden.
Rachel, I live in Ohio, too, and in the spring when Big Lots gets their first couple of pallets in stock, it’s a race to the store! In my neck of the woods, lots of “home-business soy candle makers” compete with canners for these jars. I would love to encounter one of these candle-makers and explain to them all the other faux-canning-jar options they have (like the Flower Factory for China-made cheap glass), so that they would leave canning glass for canners to purchase!
Amy, I totally forgot about the Golden Harvest jars! I never see them in my area, but they are out there. Where do you live? I wonder if they’re more common in certain areas of the country.
I live in Denver
I am in Ohio and I have some Golden Harvest jars….though I couldn’t tell you where I bought them. Actually, maybe Dollar General ?
Wal-Mart & Shop-rite sell them in New Jersey
I love the half pint wide mouth jars! They are great for using as snack bowls for my kids. Or storing little bits of leftovers like mashed potatoes, peas, or corn…without taking up lots of space. They also stack nicely. They were the first jars I bought (quite a few years ago) and haven’t been able to find them anywhere in my area (MA) since. My half pints are “Ball” brand. I think I may have to place an online order soon to get some more. I have never seen the half gallon in my area either, but I could find lots of uses for those too!
I too love the 1/2 pint wide mouth, but couldn’t find them anywhere locally. You CAN buy them off of Amazon, which is what I did eventually. (they are great for homemade hand and udder salves!)
Great post! We’ve mostly Ball jars here, but I’m able to special order the Kerr wide-mouth half-pints through my local Ace Hardware store — pick up is at the store, no shipping charge.
When is Jarden going to come out with a BPA-free lid?
A great article! I love jars too and didn’t realize the variety. I pick up what I can from yard sales and get empties from gifts and keep recycling. Thanks for the information article! I guess I’m lucky to live on the West Coast. Sometimes we take little things for granted. Happy New Year!
I too LOVE the Kerr wide half pints. They sell them at a local hardware store by me, but are often out of stock. I guess we’re not the only ones
Really great roundup Marisa! I am able to order in bulk and I use a company called Fillmore Container. The smooth 4 oz jars that I get are made in Korea, but Arkansas Glass Company and Leon make an 8 oz smooth jelly jar and I believe you can order in cases of 12 directly from Fillmore (I order pallets for the business). Both of these 8 oz jars are made in the USA and I always feel better about supporting American companies. The standard Ball jar tops fit these jars.
Great discussion!!! Wendy and Marissa – hi! I’ve explored (and will continue to explore) alternatives to Jardin jars. I was interested in your impression of Fillmore. Over the years I’ve had several discussions with their reps, and LOVE the fact that they offer a well-built American jar, but the last time we spoke they still said that their jars were not to be used under pressure… They said their glass was appropriate for “turning over” (not a method we will use), and water bath. From what I can figure out, it seems that some glass companies deem canning jars as “Ball-shaped” glass jars that you put food in, and then either refrigerate, freeze, or maybe water bath. But canning glass companies (i.e., Jardin), make a jar that is actually for canning in. Whose walls are thick and tempered enough to withstand over 20 psi.
So what about pressure? I’ve just been sent some “made in China” jars from a Tennessee rep, and now that the holiday business is slowing, I’m interested in taking these jars for a test drive under pressure. Any thoughts?
Thanks, Marisa, for the update. When you answered me back about the Penley company being bought out by Jarden, I realized that Jarden has attempted/is managing to keep their monopoly going. As long as this is the situation, we won’t likely find the variety or the price we would see if there were competitors. As far as I can tell, Wal-Mart is phasing out their jars too. While I don’t shop Wal-Mart (I prefer locals and independents whenever I have a choice), I checked them out anyway. For over a year now, our large Atlanta store has been winding them down – to where there are only a few accessory items but no more jars (not Mainstays or Better Homes & Gardens which they carried). And you can’t get them on-line from Wal-Mart now either, which has finally convinced me that this avenue for jars has pretty much closed. But, as another noted on this site, I wouldn’t buy from them anyway and they are made in China.
Here’s what I do that may help you and I’m suggesting three variations on this idea = all having to do with buying from Ace. I can a lot so price is critical for me. FYI, Ace is national and I think available in all 50 states. 1) Buy at the store – ask your owner/manager if he/she will discount if you buy in quantity. Since these are locally owned and operated, they are greatly interested in doing business with the local community!.Mine is giving me 10% off and I can buy as little or lot at one time as long as I am buying all my jars from them – a great deal so I don’t have to plunk down a lot of cash at one time (an 8 oz jar at $9.49/case of 12 would be 79cents in this store, and with the discount is 71cents – the best deal I’ve found for new jars anywhere!). 2) Order online and have them ship to your store. There is no charge for any online purchase shipped to store by Ace. Therefore that jar above costs 79cents each – not bad! 3)If your Ace doesn’t stock these jars or doesn’t stock enough for you to find them when you need them, ask if he’ll stock a few sizes you will use regularly – and offer to get your friends to start buying them there. That will increase his market and he’ll be helping you out too. Over time, I’ll bet he’ll add to the variety of jars stocked when the word gets out. Also, may I add that if an Ace isn’t very close to you – think of getting a large quantity at one time for your canning needs so that the trip can be justified and the lower price helps with your gas!
One final note: None of this situation is going to change as, Marisa noted, as canning is still not yet in the mainstream. But it’s on its way – especially if you realize what has happened to green markets – and canning is such a logical next step! We are all good ambassadors for canning and this is going to help improve our resources in the long run!
Lyn, it sounds like you’ve figured out a terrific way to get affordable jars! Thanks for sharing your tip that the store owners are giving you 10% off!
Twice I’ve gotten groupons (or living social, I can’t remember) for Ace Hardware. $10 for $20 of merchandice makes their jars and lids even more affordable. My Ace carries canning supplies year round while the local Target is only seasonal.
For my wedding we made pies in jars as seating tags/favors and my Ace hardware very willingly and helpfully special ordered me 10 cases of wide-mouth half pint jars and discounted them for me a bit. A case of 12 came to $9.59.
The brand available @ Wal-Mart is an all-over smooth jar, which in nice for labeling. It’s also about 20% less expensive. A case of pint jars goes for about $6.50 Weight seems to be the same. So far I have only seen them in pint and quart sizes. Last year I put the word out that I needed canning jars and my friends went to work. I got jars from thrift stores, basements and yard sales (about 5 dozen are still in my garage needing cleaning- oh for more storage). The best part was looking at all of the old jars by makers that I guess are no longer in business or were gobbled up by other manufacturers. My fav is Atlas, a sort of boxy jar.
Laura, Atlas are also my favorite. “Strong Shoulders” always makes me smile.
I just got a great deal on a 4th burner pot. Are the wide mouth 1/2 pt jars a good fit for that? I’m excited to try some small batch canning!
Diana, you can easily get two of the wide mouth half pint jars into the 4th burner pot. I do it all the time.
Lowe’s was selling canning supplies over the past year, at least near me in central NJ. They still had some supplies — lids, pectin and such — on New Year’s Eve on mega-clearance. A box of 10 regular lids was 41 cents, and the wide-mouth ones were (I believe) 59 cents. And while I bought a bunch of lids, I didn’t clear them out.
I just had a conversation with my mom about Kerr vs. Ball. My mom prefers Ball jars and thinks they are a better known brand. I have always liked Kerr – for the reason you stated – the smooth back works great for stick on labels. We are from the Pacific Northwest and I find both brands easily. I can’t wait to tell my mom that they are both made by the same company! Thanks for a very fun and interesting post.
Awesome write up! There are a few small, locally owned hardware stores around here that sell all types and sizes of jar. I’ve been known to hoard.
Those Elite Collection jars are charming, but problematic. For starters, they don’t stack, and given their large footprint that makes it hard to keep them in a pantry. I’ve also had some issues with seal on the half-pints.
There is a store in northeast Ohio (Northfield) called Leeners. They have a web page. They sell canning supplies among lots of other things. Their jars are smooth all over and reasonably priced. I don’t know what brand they are but they are not Ball.
I’ve used both Ball and Kerr jars interchangeably, using wide mouth quarts for storing dehydrated goods/dry goods/grains-beans, but I prefer the regular mouth pints, either Ball or Kerr. I just like the look of them better. I’ve even used the “Atlas Mason” jars that some spagetti sauces come in, and though they are neither a quart nor a pint (24 oz.) I have canned with them nicely, just tweaking the processing time. Where I live there are also canning jars from Italy available, but I haven’t used them since they are way too expensive and I can A LOT.
Hey Marisa…nice post! I can get you the Kerr half pint from my local Agway. If you want some, let me know and I’ll see what I can do. Just got my first case of them and put your sweet and sour pickled red onions in them. Thought they’d be wonderful to bake in!
I believe my local Giant had the straight sided wide mouth pints as well. I was using them for drinking glasses for a while, but have used them to can in, too. Like them better than regular pint jars simply because they seem easier to get product out of them.
As I write this, I’m making blackberry jam in the half pint Ball Elite jars…they’re for that ‘special something’ for those ‘special someones’!
I must live in a canning stronghold here in Alaska. A local hardware store and two other warehouse type stores (one local, and one a NW chain) carry canning jars all year. In a town of 5000 people. Sizes get a little sparse around Christmas, but you can usually find what you need. Maybe it’s because so many people can fish here? And I do have 2 jars of Fireweed jelly in my pantry right now that were a Christmas gift. (Along with shelves full of my own canning–including a couple of leftover jars of the Ruhbarb Cranberry Chutney I made for holiday gifts.)
What’s fireweed jelly?
For Southern CA peeps – Smart and Final has the smooth side regular mouth Kerr jars in pints and half pints year around at very decent prices. OSH carries the Ball versions, both regular and wide mouth, with a larger size selection, but unless they are having a sale, they are pricier than S&F.
Thanks for the tip. I never would have thought of S&F. I visitedy local one yesterday and they do stock the basic Kerr sizes year ’round. Pack of 12 regular lids was $2.08 which seems a decent price.
I like anything with a strait profile—regular halfpint, wide pint/quart. And I love the 12 ouncers. Like you, I prefer a flat surface, but for some reason the quilted jars go on sale in my area so I have a lot of them- being able to put food in the jar is more important than my personal preference!
Isn’t that odd; my favorite jars are the quilted ones! I hoard them and won’t give them as gifts. My local thrift store sells canning jars for $0.25 each, but it’s not often I find any. My Walmart sells their brand, Ball, and Better Homes and Garden jars, the main sizes you mentioned. I live in GA and don’t recall ever seeing Kerr for sale here. Most of my Kerr jars are second hand.
OMG, I thought I was the only one–preferring Kerr jars for the smooth side to accommodate my label. I see now that I am not alone.
I’ve purchased the 1/4 pint jars from Fillmore, same reason, smooth side for the label–plus, they are just too cute.
Here in SE Texas, Golden Harvest jars/lids/bands are sold @ Dollar General. The lids work well for me and I stock up on them annually. I have heard others say that they fail to seal sometimes.
My local Wally World stocks canning supplies year round. I’ve seen Mainstays, BH&G, Kerr & Ball all in stock.
I use my wide-mouth half-pints with the white storage lids for puddings. Great for portion control and toting along with a lunch.
I also scope out the charity shops.
So have you noticed a difference in sizing amount the wide mouth quart jars? (Ball to be specific). Some of them will actually hold a quart, but some of them are shy. It drives me batty! The difference is in the height and the width of the bottles. It is slight, but it is there.
I am very lucky to have a large collection of the Blue ball jars, quite old, but I use them for dry goods all the same, many of them still have their metal lids with the ceramic interior. I love the jars you can get in the states. Because we run a sustainable farm we use glass all the time, I do a lot of bottling (canning) so i am endlessly trolling for more and thank you for this run down.. cecilia.. PS I am making your marmalade tomorrow!
Better Homes & Gardens came out with a quilted pint and 1/2 pint this year. I live in Des Moines, Meredith Publishing’s home town. I don’t know if they were only available locally or if they have a bigger range. I got them at Wally World. I have to say, the rings are painted white and the color started coming off on the first boil. The lids have red and white gingham “print” so it makes them difficult to read if you do what I do for labels, label the lid with a permanent marker with product and date.
I have several of the 1/2 gallon jars BUT, I am Leary about using them as I cannot seem to find information as to canning time length in a water bath or infor for pressure canning. I could see using them for whole chickens or stew or pickled eggs etc. any information you or anyone else may have please let me know.
Tammy, those half gallon jars are only approved for canning juices. I use mine for food storage mostly, because I rarely have the need to can half gallons of juice.
Thank you Marisa! I didn’t know what they were used for but I could imagin many possibilities for their uses.
I use the half-gallon jars for making fruit-infused vodkas (picture lemon peel soaking in vodka for 6 weeks) and things like that where you want a non-reactive container like glass. I don’t actually can in them though. ACE Hardware sells them for about $12 for a dozen.
I also use them for infusing booze, as well as fermenting: sauerkraut, kimchi, salsa, etc.
I’m so glad to read how many people are looking at where jars are made. I’m reading more and more articles and blogs and comments about people wanting to buy American. This is so important! Money spent in the US is money that stays in the US. This is something tangible we call all do to boost the economy. Personally I’m willing to pay a bit more to invest in American companies. It’s the difference between cost and value.
I’d also encourage everyone to let companies know why you aren’t buying their foreign-made merchandise. I’m in the habit of saying “okay, thanks anyway” instead of saying “thanks but it’s important to me to buy American made products so my money stays here”. I don’t to have to be rude but I can at least try to give feedback.
Beti, I think you’ve found a graceful, polite way of informing merchants that a few cents isn’t worth a few jobs. Way to go!
Couple things – I also really like the size and shape of these Italian jars from Sur la Table – http://www.surlatable.com/product/PRO-603076/Bormioli-Rocco-Quattro-Stagioni-Jars They seal like a champ.
Also, just bought but have not yet used these Super Sealers from GEM Cultures http://www.gemcultures.com/kitchen.htm. I feel like I thought they were BPA-free, but now I don’t see that on their website. They are non-corrosive, which is a great thing for keeping pickles in the fridge. Note that these are not for canning, but for fridge or freezer storage.
Marisa, great post as always! And congrats on your crowning as Queen of Vegetables….:>
Really neat information here! I have a couple of the half gallon Kerr jars… they’re perfect for fruit-infused liqueurs.
It makes me sad to think of the random brands or shapes/sizes we’ve all picked up here or there that are no longer in production, but pretty neat to own and use a piece of history too.
I love Good’s. It is the place I go for all things canning!
The way to tell which (Ball/Kerr) jars are suitable for freezing is to look at the sides. Straight sides are suitable for the freezer. Any (Ball/Kerr) jar with a “shoulder” cannot be put in the freezer safely but is a appropriate for canning.
I rather like my Ball jars and the quilted jars, no matter the jar is not smooth. On the other hand, I have 12 oz quilted jars that I just hate. I don’t know why. I have drank from two or three of them. The rest are still in the plastic wrapping, undisturbed. Maybe I will rethink my attitude.
“have drunk….”
Exceptional post! I’ve even read each and every comment which is rare. Great information.
Fascinating and informative post – and the comments are awesome, too!
[...] What I love the most about making jam is that it’s actually amazingly easy. Throw some fruit, spices and sugar (and pectin, if necessary) in a pot, boil, cool, eat. This recipe is for a refrigerator jam, which means that I just store it in the fridge rather than actually canning it for a longer-term storage. I use 1/2 pint (8 oz.) Ball jars. Read more about jars here. [...]
I get my jars at Dollar general and my lids at the local grocery store! The jars from dollar general come with ring and lids but the lids are not good one and i dont trust them to seal.
Oooh—what an incredibly useful post. I feel very inspired…off to browse ebay!
xx
Looks like the pint and a half jars are back in production!
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM6661887002P?sid=IDx20070921x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=SPM6676359302#desc