What if we told you one of our favorite kitchen tools costs less than $1.00?

And you probably have one in YOUR house right now – it has been around for over a hundred years…

…it’s a mason jar!  Yes, a simple mason jar!

If you don’t have these jars in your kitchen, we highly recommend getting some soon!  They are, of course, great for canning, but they can be used for so many other things! Everything from mixing dressings to storing leftovers.  And they are perfect for on-the-go salads and breakfasts.  And even REAL food desserts!

Mason jars, as we all know, have been around for many years. When it all began, there were several variations and, in 1858, John Landis Mason patented the concept of the screw-on lid which is so popular today. He unfortunately never capitalized on his success because he assigned his patent rights to another company. But his invention helped spark the home-canning revolution and this is also why you may see “Mason” on many jars today.  The most common brands of glass mason jars are Ball and Kerr.  Be on the lookout for the cobalt blue ones – they may be worth some money!

The most common sizes

Mason jars come in several sizes.  Wide mouth jars can be easier to fill, layer ingredients, and clean. Regular mouth jars are great for liquids and pantry staples. Here are the most popular sizes:

Quarter pint (4 oz, or 1/2 cup). These “mini jars” are great for sauces, salad dressings, jams, and small-portion desserts.

Half pint (8 oz, or 1 cup).  This is our go-to for salad dressings, dips and sauces (like pesto).  Also good for freezing small portions of sauces or broth.

Pint (16 oz, or 2 cups).  Ideal for quick pickled veggies, overnight oats, smoothies and soups.

Quart (32 oz, or 4 cups).  We love these for salads, storing produce like asparagus, and storing whole grains or dried beans in the pantry.

Half gallon (64 oz, or 8 cups).  Can be useful for fermentation projects (like sauerkraut) and making tea.

Here are some ideas on what you can do with these handy little jars:

Homemade Dressings!

Our favorite “go-to” dressing is a simple balsamic vinaigrette, which we call “the 2-1-1.” Even when our kids were young, they knew exactly what “the 2-1-1” was and how to make it.  It only takes seconds to make and is just a combination of 2 Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil + 1 Tbsp of balsamic vinegar + 1 Tbsp Dijon mustard.  Add these to a small mason jar, shake and your homemade dressing is ready! 

The Dijon adds great flavor and helps emulsify the oil and vinegar (preventing the oil and vinegar from separating, which they tend to do without an emulsifier).  Of course, you can customize the ratios to your preference. For example, you could do a “2-2-1” that includes equal amounts of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar, plus the Dijon mustard.

While the Eat REAL America website has over 200 different salad dressings, you can find our top 50 favorites here – many of which can be quickly made in a mason jar!

Overnight Oats!

This is one of our favorite uses of mason jars!  Especially when we have busy mornings where we need something to just grab and go.  It is super-easy to put them together the night before. And then simply grab a spoon in the morning and you are out the door to start your day with a delicious breakfast in hand!

A few Eat REAL America member favorites are the Black Forest Overnight Oats, Carrot Cake Overnight Oats and the Neapolitan Overnight Oats! 

Read more in our coaching tip “Success Does Not Happen Overnight, But Oatmeal Does!”

Quick Pickle!

It is super-easy and all you need is vinegar, water, salt and sugar.  And, of course, some mason jars and a refrigerator!  It’s a fantastic way to enjoy fresh in-season fruits and vegetables.  And it is a great way to effortlessly add some vibrant crunch, color, and delicious tang to almost any meal.  No special canning equipment or processing required.  It is as simple as adding your vegetables or fruits to the mason jars, and then add your choice of herbs and seasonings on top. 

Once your liquid is ready, pour the liquid into the jars and allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.  Seal the jar with an air-tight lid, shake it to evenly distribute the liquid and seasonings and store the jars in the fridge! 

Read more in “Use This Simple Formula to Transform Your Veggies!”

Mason Jar Salads!

This is a great way to make on-the-go salads, like this delicious Mason Jar Chicken Pasta Salad!  And it is a wonderful way to meal prep – make up several and enjoy them throughout the week.  While you could eat the salad straight from the jar, we find it much easier to grab a bowl (and of course, a fork), and then transfer the salad to the bowl before eating!

Since the dressing will typically go at the bottom of the jar, it is important to remember that whatever ingredient you put at the bottom. Make it an ingredient that will stand up to your dressing and not get soggy — for example, chicken, chickpeas or beans.  Quart size jars work great and give you a good-sized salad, and the wide mouth jars are much easier to work with!

Get creative – the combinations of ingredients are endless!

Creamy and Dreamy!

Mason jars are also ideal for puddings, yogurt parfaits, and whipped cream.  You can create the perfect portion using half-pint (8 oz) jars or you could even use the 4 oz jars for mini servings.  They also provide an attractive way to serve dessert for a crowd.  You can’t go wrong with pudding topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit – served up in a mason jar!  Try the Berry Chia Seed Pudding, the Bananas Foster Pudding Cups, or the Berry and Raw Brownie Parfait.  And don’t forget about our coaching tip on whipped cream.

Fewer Plastics and Chemicals!

We love using mason jars to store ingredients and leftovers.  They are a great alternative to plastic storage containers and they’re BPA-free and won’t leach chemicals into your food. 

We use them for everything from asparagus to homemade applesauce to roasted nuts.  And they even make your pantry and fridge look more organized!

Gift Ideas!

A creative idea that works great for friends, co-workers and teachers is to give homemade gifts, or better yet, homemade granola in a mason jar.

Add some ribbon and a festive tag or get really creative and paint the lid with chalkboard paint…and then write a special message!

What kind of lids should you use?

This is personal preference.  Some people prefer the plastic one-piece lids instead of the two-part metal rings and lids.  Keep in mind, you can re-use the metal lids, except when using the jars for canning.  When canning, you need to use new lids to get a good air-tight seal.

Recycle!  Some plastic peanut butter lids will even fit mason jars!

Can you put mason jars in the oven?

The best recommendation is “no.”  Most mason jars are made using glass that is not tempered for oven use. 

Admittedly, we have done this a few times in the past, taking certain precautions like keeping the temperature at or below 375 degrees and avoiding rapid temperature changes.  We never had any issues.  However, weighing the risk and reward, we now only use oven-safe baking dishes, ramekins or our cast iron skillet for things like omelets, fruit crisps, and baked oatmeals.

Can you freeze mason jars?

We have heard stories about – and have personally experienced – mason jars shattering in the freezer.  As we learned in science class, liquid expands when it is frozen.  There are ways to safely store mason jars and their contents in the freezer.

Here are some tips:

• Use straight-sided mason jars if possible (instead of the jars that have tapered “shoulders”).
• Leave 1″ to 2″ of space at the top of the jars (or below the “shoulders”) to allow room for the liquid to expand.
• Completely cool your contents before freezing.  You can even put them in the fridge overnight, and then transfer to the freezer the next day.
• When moving to the freezer, don’t fully tighten the lid until the contents are frozen.
• To defrost your contents, do it slowly (in the fridge or in a bowl of water that you change out every 30 minutes or so).

Following these tips will increase your chances of a shatter-proof experience!

Even more great ways to use these handy little jars:

Store pasta, beans, rice, farro, coffee, tea or other dry ingredients

Store soups, or divide leftovers and store them in the fridge or freezer

Store your homemade chicken or vegetable broth

Snacks such as hummus or dips with raw veggies on top – you can even use snack cup containers on wide mouth jars for the dip!

Salsa…such as the Simple Salsa Fresca

Smoothies (some mason jars may even fit directly on the base of your blender)

We guarantee you will get way more than $1 of benefit out of one of these jars!  Consider adding some mason jars to your kitchen – the possibilities are endless! 

What are YOUR favorite ways to use mason jars?