Canning Season is winding to a close, save for the bushel or so of apples I still need to put up before winter. My shelves are lined, my winter prepared for, but if you are like me and have some empty jars lying around, they should be put to good use. Mason jars work as EXCELLENT storage receptacles. Everything from lining your counter with your flour, sugar and oats to packing lunches with a plastic alternative container for condiments and dressings.
I have learned, through much trial and error, that when not sealed with a pressure canner or hot water bath those lovely 2 piece ring and lids don’t secure tightly enough for the rough and tumble some storage requires (think laying a jar of liquid on its side in your refrigerator only to find homemade syrup spilled all over the shelves). Enter in Mason jar accessories. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the plastic white caps for sealing up everything from salad dressing in a jar to chicken salad in a lunchbox. I always have plenty of mason jars in all manner of sizes so they are a perfect accoutrement to stored food, even if not long term storage. I use the mason jars to store rice, beans, and all manner of dry goods as well. The best part about the lids? They are SUPER cheap and durable too.
Unfortunately, I found that there are not only mason jar screw top lids but so many other accessories you can purchase to repurpose your mason jars, oh boy. There are screen type lids for straining, there are wire lids for flower arranging, there are hole top lids for drinking, you name it and someone has thought of it!
I bet our grandmothers would have loved some of these handy gadgets to use. I also find that when I break the seal on a much love labored jar of my home-canned goods and the entire jar is not used (applesauce for example) using the plastic lids seals the air out better which means longer storage life in the refrigerator. I write directly on the plastic lid with a black sharpie so that I can have the date handy that the item was opened and subsequently stored in the refrigerator, this is so much easier than dealing with peel and stick labels and the best part? The sharpie washes off when you are ready and the lids are all dishwasher safe!
Alrighty, get to storin’ (just don’t forget to get yourself both wide mouth and regular sized lids so that you can use all your jars for storage!)
I have learned, through much trial and error, that when not sealed with a pressure canner or hot water bath those lovely 2 piece ring and lids don’t secure tightly enough for the rough and tumble some storage requires (think laying a jar of liquid on its side in your refrigerator only to find homemade syrup spilled all over the shelves). Enter in Mason jar accessories. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the plastic white caps for sealing up everything from salad dressing in a jar to chicken salad in a lunchbox. I always have plenty of mason jars in all manner of sizes so they are a perfect accoutrement to stored food, even if not long term storage. I use the mason jars to store rice, beans, and all manner of dry goods as well. The best part about the lids? They are SUPER cheap and durable too.
Unfortunately, I found that there are not only mason jar screw top lids but so many other accessories you can purchase to repurpose your mason jars, oh boy. There are screen type lids for straining, there are wire lids for flower arranging, there are hole top lids for drinking, you name it and someone has thought of it!
I bet our grandmothers would have loved some of these handy gadgets to use. I also find that when I break the seal on a much love labored jar of my home-canned goods and the entire jar is not used (applesauce for example) using the plastic lids seals the air out better which means longer storage life in the refrigerator. I write directly on the plastic lid with a black sharpie so that I can have the date handy that the item was opened and subsequently stored in the refrigerator, this is so much easier than dealing with peel and stick labels and the best part? The sharpie washes off when you are ready and the lids are all dishwasher safe!
Alrighty, get to storin’ (just don’t forget to get yourself both wide mouth and regular sized lids so that you can use all your jars for storage!)
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