Quart and half gallon jars are great for things like crackers, pretzels, mashed potato flakes (I powder them to reduce space), trail mix, pancake mix, dehydrated fruits/vegetables, etc.. I put everything that comes in a box into a jar to keep critters out and to keep the food fresh. It also makes my pantry more organized.
I use more pints than quarts for the same reason. I do not want to refrigerate an open jar of veggies for an extended period. They are closer in size to store bought canned veggies. I use the qt size for marinara sauce because I will use the sauce in several recipes. For salsa, relishes, and mustards I use the smaller 1/2 pint jar.
I do use the qt and half gallon for dry goods more than canning
Check out Forjars.com, or Forjars.ca N of the 49th..come in a box of 100 for way way less than Bernardins, which are breaching $.70/each in BC. That said I have reused lids for over 50 years & the old ones were 3x thicker than the new ones. Great work Marjorie..
Being a great believer in hard assets I have a question: how does one access their crypto with a hard wallet when the grid is down ???
You don't access your crypto when the grid is down. that's why you have jars! LOL. more seriously that's why you have silver.. stored food, water filtration, defense tools..
I believe the grid will always be here in some fashion. Yes, access may get spotty, but it's here. It's a new nervous system for the planet.
Thanx Marjorie... I have all of the above in more than adequate amounts. When a neighbour woman was busted for dope growing her wisecrack: If I have to do time I want to do it in Karl's pantry..
If you prep seeds you would be crazy not to prep jars to store your fresh foods. Also salt and vinegar go along way with your preps. I scope out garage sales for mason jars, you can find good deals.
Over the years, I've done my best to try and have a good amount of as much as possible. And I have refrained from buying more jars when I saw I was low on something else. And there is always something else!
Sigh, that is a challenge. to know when you have enough. But it's a good practise to only take what you think you need.
It's a very basic principle of wildcrafting - don't take more than you need, and don't take more than the stand can tolerate without being damaged.
So 500? tha'ts a good amount. 1,000 is OK. ha, ha they do make great trade items. and gift boxes as I mentioned.
Having more than 200 mason jars is great, until you move 450 miles from a farm acreage to a smaller house in town. I don’t think my kids appreciated moving so many jars. And I gave half of them away.
Years ago the red seal part of the lids changed. A new recipe? That's when they started to say don't boil the lids, just heat them in very warm water. Before that, the lids were brought to a boil so they definitely are made different today. Makes me wonder if the seal material is really made weaker so that foods can't be on the pantry shelf for as long.
Another good reason to use quart size jars, you can remove the air from the jar using a vacuum sealer and have the lid seal - far easier with a quart size jar/lid than with a regular size jar and lid.
To get the jar to seal with a regular size lid, you can use 2 lids on top of one another, and then remove the second unneeded lid. But far easier just to stick to quart size jars and lids.
Canning jars are fantastic, no exaggeration. I favor pints because I don't use a quart of anything quickly enough by myself. Great post.
Quart and half gallon jars are great for things like crackers, pretzels, mashed potato flakes (I powder them to reduce space), trail mix, pancake mix, dehydrated fruits/vegetables, etc.. I put everything that comes in a box into a jar to keep critters out and to keep the food fresh. It also makes my pantry more organized.
The only drawback is that the jars are heavy.
I use more pints than quarts for the same reason. I do not want to refrigerate an open jar of veggies for an extended period. They are closer in size to store bought canned veggies. I use the qt size for marinara sauce because I will use the sauce in several recipes. For salsa, relishes, and mustards I use the smaller 1/2 pint jar.
I do use the qt and half gallon for dry goods more than canning
How do you know when you have enough mason jars? When you've died and your family thinks you lost your mind.
Until then, keep getting more as needed. I try to pick up 2-3 cases whenever I go to the hardware store.
Love this!
hah my family is pretty sure I lost my mind a long time ago.
A running joke in my family... They no longer ask what I want for holidays and birthday. Just gift wrap me a case of jars and a couple hundred lids.
What’s a bad thing about Mason jars? NOTHING!
Thank Marjorie for this eye opener
I'm a Mason jar nerd. I can't have enough.
G R E A T post 👍👍👍
Many thanks to you and "the team" ...
Big scare over BPA a few years ago I believe that's when the lid seal material changed
I also have some of the plastic lids
those of you that think you're gonna bury a mason jar in the backyard oughta realize how fast that thin steel lid is gonna rust out
so true.
Check out Forjars.com, or Forjars.ca N of the 49th..come in a box of 100 for way way less than Bernardins, which are breaching $.70/each in BC. That said I have reused lids for over 50 years & the old ones were 3x thicker than the new ones. Great work Marjorie..
Being a great believer in hard assets I have a question: how does one access their crypto with a hard wallet when the grid is down ???
You don't access your crypto when the grid is down. that's why you have jars! LOL. more seriously that's why you have silver.. stored food, water filtration, defense tools..
I believe the grid will always be here in some fashion. Yes, access may get spotty, but it's here. It's a new nervous system for the planet.
Thanx Marjorie... I have all of the above in more than adequate amounts. When a neighbour woman was busted for dope growing her wisecrack: If I have to do time I want to do it in Karl's pantry..
I’ve wondered the same thing.
If you prep seeds you would be crazy not to prep jars to store your fresh foods. Also salt and vinegar go along way with your preps. I scope out garage sales for mason jars, you can find good deals.
thanks Brenda, i forgot toe mention the garage sale idea. and estate sales. from departed kindred souls. their family clueless to the value!
Can you have enough? My husband thinks so apparently…lol
nah... never! LOL
Over the years, I've done my best to try and have a good amount of as much as possible. And I have refrained from buying more jars when I saw I was low on something else. And there is always something else!
Sigh, that is a challenge. to know when you have enough. But it's a good practise to only take what you think you need.
It's a very basic principle of wildcrafting - don't take more than you need, and don't take more than the stand can tolerate without being damaged.
So 500? tha'ts a good amount. 1,000 is OK. ha, ha they do make great trade items. and gift boxes as I mentioned.
Having more than 200 mason jars is great, until you move 450 miles from a farm acreage to a smaller house in town. I don’t think my kids appreciated moving so many jars. And I gave half of them away.
ha, ha don't talk to me about moving! yikes...
comforting to have them though !
I give them away occasionally to people that are having a rough time with the intention of getting the jars back
I seem to have more rings than jars and I got a lot of jars
yes, the rings seem to replicate or something... if I could figure out how to separate the males from the females it might help! LOL
Hadn't heard of Tattler lids. Thanks for the info Marjory!
They are great. And a fantastic addition to your preps
when it goes down you don't get your crypto
true. and when the grid comes back, if you have it in your private wallet, it will be there.
Years ago the red seal part of the lids changed. A new recipe? That's when they started to say don't boil the lids, just heat them in very warm water. Before that, the lids were brought to a boil so they definitely are made different today. Makes me wonder if the seal material is really made weaker so that foods can't be on the pantry shelf for as long.
possibly... we live in a world where they are trying to make it difficult to live.
Love your tips! Thank you!
Another good reason to use quart size jars, you can remove the air from the jar using a vacuum sealer and have the lid seal - far easier with a quart size jar/lid than with a regular size jar and lid.
To get the jar to seal with a regular size lid, you can use 2 lids on top of one another, and then remove the second unneeded lid. But far easier just to stick to quart size jars and lids.
ah! i haven't done vacuum sealing (yet). thanks for this.