Does brand of mason jar matter?
Mason Jar Brands We Recommend
The safest bet is to buy brand name, like Masontops, Ball, Kerr or Bernardin, and stay away from unlabeled decorative jars that may not be intended for kitchen use. Following this rule will also ensure the lids come with two separate pieces: a screw band and fitted lid.
All Mason jars are not created equal. They are remarkably similar to commercially used jars, but the biggest difference is that real Mason jars have a wider rim that gives them a better sealing surface.
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.
Mayonnaise-type jars are not recommended for use with foods to be processed in a pressure canner because of excessive jar breakage. Other commercial jars with mouths that cannot be sealed with two-piece canning lids are not recommended for use in canning any food at home.
ANTIQUE/VINTAGE JARS
Canning jars have a life expectancy of 10–13 years. After that, you will experience more breakage because of the wear and tear of normal use.
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.
Vintage Glass Color
Like other types of antique and vintage glass, color can indicate the year of production. Most vintage Mason Jar glass was made in deeper aqua blue or “Ball Blue”. The sand used to make the “Ball Blue” color was from the Hoosier Slide sand dune on Lake Michigan.
According to Collectors Weekly, clear glass and aqua jars are quite common, but the following colors are rarer and more valuable: Amber. Green. Purple.
Yes, always wash your canning or candle jars before using them – whether they are bulk canning jars or ones in retail packaging.
In 1884, Ball Corporation began manufacturing glass home-canning jars, the product that established Ball as a household name and licensed Mason's design. There are few everyday objects more iconic than the Ball Mason jar.
When did Kerr stop making mason jars?
End of an Era, 1996
Until 1996, the company was a leading manufacturing of home canning supplies, through its consumer products business division, with an estimated 45 percent market share, continuing the work originally started by A. H. Kerr in 1903.
Nothing is cooler than a blue Ball® glass jar, right? 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.
“As more consumers prepare their meals at home, Ball brand canning products and the entire canning industry have experienced an unprecedented demand. The demand has resulted in supply constraints, extended lead times and recently limited product availability at stores and online.”
Ball Corporation brands
Ball Corp. acquired certain Kerr assets, including factories, in 1992 and the Kerr brand of glass home canning jars was absorbed into Alltrista in 1996. Alltrista was renamed Jarden Corporation in 2002.
- Thrift stores. You will be amazed at how many canning jars you can find at thrift stores, often times for as little as a quarter. ...
- Online classifieds. ...
- Garage sales. ...
- Your own recycling bin. ...
- Dollar stores. ...
- ASK!
The 1915 date is a patent date (not the date the jar was made) and was marked on many Kerr jars for a long time after 1915.
Inversion Canning
Once secured, the jar is inverted (flipped upside down) and left to cool for several minutes before placed right side up. The thought behind the method is the hot food will sterilize the seal while creating a vacuum by allowing air to escape.
"What did Classico's page say (before it was taken down) regarding "Can I reuse the Classico jar for home canning?" No. A coating is applied at the glass plant to reduce scratching and scuffing. If scratched, the jar becomes weaker at this point and can more easily break.
Some home canners still feel comfortable using these older, heavier Classico Atlas Mason jars for water-bath canning in a pinch.
You can reuse glass canning jars, but don't be tempted to reuse canning lids, she advises. The gasket compound in used lids may fail to seal on jars, resulting in unsafe food. When jars are processed, the gasket on new lids softens and flows slightly to cover the jar-sealing surface.
Why do mason jars turn purple?
Solarization of Glass
It is a photochemical phenomenon that is not yet perfectly understood. It is generally accepted that the ultra-violet light initiates an electron exchange between the manganese and iron ions. This changes the manganese compound into a form that causes the glass to turn purple.
Before beginning any canning recipe, prepare jars and lids as directed by the manufacturer. Ball recommends the following: “it is no longer necessary to pre-warm lids before use. If you desire, it is still safe to simmer your lids before use, however, you should never boil 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.
What jars/lids do you recommend? We can only recommend the jars that have the 2 piece lids, like Ball, Kerr, or Leifheit to name the major brands. They are the only type of jars recommended by the USDA. No other jars or lids (including the Tattler lids) are approved by the USDA for canning in the US.
A little rust on the outside of your rings isn't a bad thing. However, you do want to stay away from the rings that become distorted or have rust on the inside or any part that will be in contact with your lid or the jar.
Interest in mason jars has fallen 40 percent since its 2015 peak; and pallet art interest has dropped 56 percent from its 2015 high. Instead, move toward minimal with cleaner-lined cylinder vases, and art that shows a lot of canvas and puts the emphasis on negative space.
Atlas mason jar values vary between $10 to around $60 depending on a number of factors including the age, color, and condition. The older amber-colored E-Z Seal Atlas mason jars, which were made around 1910, are among the more valuable.
A “rounded square” jar was embossed “KNOX / {K in a keystone} / MASON, made in the 1930s to 1940s (Roller 1983:186).
What's the price of canning jars? The current cost of an 8 oz jar in 2022 averages around $1.00 each.
The two most common and popular mason jar sizes tend to be 8 and 16-ounces. Bulk packaging prices for both jars and lids help control costs and increase profit margins. Jams and jellies in 12-ounce mason jars fit neatly inside of refrigerator doors.
Is there a market for old mason jars?
The smaller and more common vintage jars usually sell for less than $20. However, the vintage green jars or those with special wire carriers can sell in excess of $300.
Sterilizing is a crucial part of preserving to remove any bacteria, yeasts or fungi thus protecting the food you put into the jar. Dirty or jars not correctly cleaned will infect the food inside, and it will spoil very quickly. Sterilizing is a quick and easy process so therefore should never be omitted.
Place lids on jars, screw on rings and lower jars back into the pot of boiling water. The water should cover the jars; if not, add more. Boil jars for 10 minutes. Transfer jars to a folded towel and allow to cool for 12 hours; you should hear them making a pinging sound as they seal.
While the old guidelines recommended dropping the lids in hot, simmering water before pulling them out and immediately sealing jars, Jarden now says it's not necessary to heat the lids in order to achieve a good seal. Instead, you can simply wash the lids and use them at room temperature.
1996. Ball exits the glass jar business for which it is widely known.
...
Ball Corporation.
| Type | Public company |
|---|---|
| Net income | US$719 million (2022) |
| Total assets | US$19.91 billion (2022) |
| Total equity | US$3.53 billion (2022) |
Blue glass Ball jars were produced in the late 1890s and early 1900s, but the company stopped producing these in 1937. There were also some brown amber jars produced in the 1950s, but most of the jars produced after the 1940s were made of clear glass.
In 1858, a 26-year-old Mason patented threaded screw-top jars “such as are intended to be air and water-tight.” The earliest mason jars were made from transparent aqua glass, and are often referred to by collectors as “Crowleytown Jars,” as many believe they were first produced in the New Jersey village of Crowleytown.
The Ball Brothers Glass Manufacturing Company opened in 1884 with a $200 loan. The five Ball brothers started the company in Buffalo, New York, so jars with the original logo are now called “Buffalo Jars”. These are the oldest and some of the most rare jars to be found.
All Mason jars are not created equal. They are remarkably similar to commercially used jars, but the biggest difference is that real Mason jars have a wider rim that gives them a better sealing surface.
Are Kerr and Ball the same company?
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.
Breakage can occur for several reasons: Using commercial food jars rather than jars manufactured for home canning Using jars that have hairline cracks Putting jars directly on bottom of canner instead of on a rack Putting hot foods in cold jars Putting jars of raw of unheated food directly into boiling water in the ...
Glass is non-toxic, free from potentially harmful chemicals and generally not associated with a negative impact to your health. It is less porous than plastic. It also has a high resistance to leeching into your product even when contained for long periods of time.
In 1884, Ball Corporation began manufacturing glass home-canning jars, the product that established Ball as a household name and licensed Mason's design. There are few everyday objects more iconic than the Ball Mason jar.
You want to make sure you are using a Mason-type jar. According the National Center for Home Food Preservation, a Mason-type jar is specifically designed for home canning and is the best option. Commercial mayonnaise jars may not seal and may break, especially in a pressure canner.
Only Mason jars manufactured for canning should be used. Canning jars are best because they have been specially tempered to withstand the heat necessary in the home-canning process. in canning any food at home. I personally have used repurposed spaghetti jars for canning and for the first time had breakage.
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. Those blue jars are not rare.
Mason Canning Jars
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. Over time this stress may create hairpin cracks that will weaken the glass.
ANTIQUE/VINTAGE JARS
Canning jars have a life expectancy of 10–13 years. After that, you will experience more breakage because of the wear and tear of normal use.
Regular Mouth work best with pourable foods such as jams, jellies, salsas, sauces, pie fillings, and vegetables. Wide Mouth allows for easier filling and works best with whole fruits and vegetables. It's best practice to refer to the recipe when it comes to selecting the perfect size jar for your application.
Can you use old spaghetti sauce jars for canning?
Grocery store jars that once held spaghetti sauce, pickles and other foods should not be reused for home canning. The glass is usually not as thick and this makes them more likely to shatter or explode when heated.
Some home canners still feel comfortable using these older, heavier Classico Atlas Mason jars for water-bath canning in a pinch.
A little rust on the outside of your rings isn't a bad thing. However, you do want to stay away from the rings that become distorted or have rust on the inside or any part that will be in contact with your lid or the jar.