What Is a Mason Jar? All you need to know[2024 Updated]

A Mason jar is a handy and classical piece of household equipment that you can rely on. Named after its inventor, John Landis Mason, this primary glass container has been used in homes since the 19th century. You can use these jars for storage and preservation, but today, they serve several purposes. Thanks to their longevity and traditional construction, you will appreciate them if you love DIY projects or have your own home. Whether you're preserving fruits and vegetables in the summer, making candles, or organizing your kitchen staples, Mason jars are incredibly versatile.

Table of Content

1. History of the Mason Jar

2. Types of Mason Jars

3. Uses of Mason Jars

4. Exciting Facts About Mason Jars

5. Are Mason Jars freezer safe?

6. Mason Jars and Microwave Safety

7. Heat Resistance of Mason Jars

8. Glass Mason Jars Wholesale

History of the Mason Jar

To dive into the history and origin of the mason jar, you need to turn the clock back to the mid-19th century. John Landis Mason, a tinsmith born in Philadelphia, PA, got his glass jar patent number on November 30, 1858. The mason jar included a screwed-on top that ensured it did not let air in, thus making it ideal for sealing food items. This was quite an innovation because it provided for safe and reliable storage of perishable commodities, a luxury before the invention of the modern fridge.

Mason jars can quickly gain widespread use and have already become an iconic part of America's kitchen. People use them to preserve their fruits, vegetables, and homemade jams. Thus, the Mason jar contributed significantly to maintaining the shelf life of food, particularly during the days when refrigeration was not in use.

It was in 1884 that the Ball Corporation began producing glass home-canning jars, which set the tone for the Ball brand in the market aptly. The Ball Mason jar is one of America's best-known products, and its visual appearance has changed very little in modern times.

Types of Mason Jars

Mason jars are available in different shapes, sizes, and colors, which makes these jars even more special and versatile. The most well-known models are the Regular Mouth and Wide Mouth jars, based on the lid opening size. One has a smaller opening, referred to as the Regular Mouth, and the other has a larger opening, the Wide Mouth, and is best suited for pickling and other large food products.

Some jars are almost reminiscent of retro style: Blue and Green Heritage Collection jars. A quart container is for large items and storage, a pint for medium items, and a half-pint for small items. To some extent, it gets more interesting with some jars coming with handles, which makes them be used as Mason jar mugs.

Glass candle jars are not just containers but vessels of warmth and tranquillity. Their transparent walls surround the dancing fires and create a beautiful light and shade dance. The soothing smell fills the room as the wax slowly melts, making it a relaxing place. These glass candle jars can turn any room into a peaceful haven, whether decorated with beautiful patterns or simple, clean lines. Let the magic happen as you enjoy their soft glow.

Horizontal jars like the Elite Collection and spiral jars are also available for a more decorative look. There is always a suitable Mason jar, whether it's for picking vegetables, preserving fruits, or using them in different home projects.

Uses of Mason Jars

Mason jars are also handy in everyday applications used in all aspects of human life.

1.In the kitchen, you will primarily use them for canning and preserving foods because of their airtight locking system. They are especially suitable for homemade jams, pickles, sauces, and practically any kind of relish. However, their use is not limited to just storing foods.
2.You can also use Mason jars for crafting activities and do-it-yourself projects. Reuse them as candle holders, dispensers for soap, or vases for flowers to give a rustic look. Today, you will find them primarily used as jars for gift-giving, such as for baked goods or spa kits.
3.Mason jars have become popular in the zero-waste movement. You can use them for bulk shopping as they are eco-friendly and help avoid plastic bags. They are also great for storing leftover foods or packing your meals on the go.
4.In the garden, you can use Mason jars to germinate seeds, make small greenhouses, or create terrariums. You can also transform them into lanterns for outdoor lighting.
5.Interestingly, from simple cooking to arts and crafts, Mason jars are versatile objects in most homes and have become symbols of sustainable living.

Exciting Facts About Mason Jars

Invention and Development: The mason jar was credited to John Landis Mason, a tinsmith, in 1858 in the town of Vineland in New Jersey. He designed the cap and screw collar lid top before they produced the jar to suit the top.
Versatile Uses That is why more and more people frequently use Mason jars in many aspects of their lives. It can be observed in fridges, cupboards, and lunch bags in households and offices around the globe for different uses. It is widely employed in several domains, such as for the preservation of food in cans, as bins for storing dry foods, in crafting various handmade accessories, as glasses for serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, and recently as the new modern and chic glasses for cocktails and desserts.
Historical Significance: Mason jars are the material that benefited home canning and shifted the way food was preserved. Before the invention of home canning, some food items were sealed with hard wax ladled on top, and candles and/or corks were added and sealed with wax. As to the lid, John Landis Mason’s threaded screw top was considered to be more effective and better than the regular lid for food preservation.
Evolution of Brands: Several companies have manufactured mason jars over time, and the following are a few in the current world. Kerr products were bought over by Ball in 1992, and the name Kerr was included in Alltrista in 1996. Alltrista was renamed the Jarden Corporation in 2002, and Newell Brands bought this firm in 2016. It can be defined that Newell has canning jars in Ball, Bernardin, Golden Harvest, and Kerr.
Popularity and Cultural Impact: Finally, Mason jars have become part of American culture, and retro motifs are popular nowadays. It is commonly connected to such positive characteristics as ordinary appearance, authenticity, and desire for communication with ancestors. They are aesthetically appealing, long-lasting, and associated with nature and sustainability, so crafters, DIY enthusiasts, or even hipsters became interested in them.
World War II: During World War II, they were used to store and transport blood plasma for the military in mason jars.

Are Mason Jars freezer safe?

Regular mason jars are durable enough to be put into a cold fridge or freezer. While mason jars can be frozen successfully, the foods that go into these jars must be frozen in upright jars that do not have shoulders, meaning they should not be jars that curve just under the neck. Flocculation occurs when the food is frozen, which may pressure the jar, leading to cracks.

The final tip is to leave all the jars slightly open because the size of the food typically increases once it is frozen. Thus, when filling the jars, it will be good to leave enough space as the jars can easily stay together.

Mason Jars and Microwave Safety

Usually, it is safe to place a mason jar in a microwave. Nevertheless, one should be cautious about doing so. It is also important to remember that mason jars handle temperature change poorly; thus, one could easily break in a microwave.

Quick tip here: Please put a carry lid on the Mason jar. The microwave should not be done. It is advisable to remove anything you find in the Mason jar, including food or jars, before warming the Mason jar in the microwave.

Heat Resistance of Mason Jars

Soda-lime glass is the type of glass used to make Mason jars. Mason jars are thoroughly heat-safe up to the temperature of 392F. However, it will take a long time to heat them to that temperature. In this process, the mason jars may require washing in warm or hot water, depending on where they are taken or moved.

Mason jars can withstand heat but are not endurable to temperature shocks. This means that they can crack or break when there are fluctuating temperatures, which can be pretty dreadful, especially during winter. They can easily crack if at all they are heated to extreme temperatures.

Mason jars have a long history and were initially used only for preserving food, but they gradually became a popular and famous home accessory. Due to their simplicity and endless possibilities, the pretty and elegant items remain very popular among pragmatic, old-fashioned homemakers and artistic souls. In the case of home use, whether you are using them in canning or general storage or as some form of a lamp, the Glass Mason jars exude a certain kind of comfort that can only be described as rustic.

Glass Mason Jars Wholesale

If you're looking to purchase glass Mason jars in bulk, Feemio offers a wide selection of glass Mason jars at wholesale prices. Whether planning a wedding, hosting a party, or simply wanting to stock up on these versatile containers, Feemio has you covered. Visit the website to explore a range of glass Mason jars: Glass Mason Jars.