Mason jars are designed for home canning and come in various sizes and styles. Wide-mouth jars are best for larger products, while regular-mouth jars are more versatile. Sizes include pint, quart, and half-gallon, with jelly jars available in smaller sizes. Some jars are suitable for both canning and freezing.
Mason jars come in a range of sizes and styles designed especially for home canning. There are several types of canning jars available, with their appropriate use determined by the method used and the foods being stored. All glass jars are suitable for use in pressure cookers and boiling water and are generally reusable. Some jars are even labeled as suitable for preserves and ice cream. Glass jars used for commercially manufactured products should not be used in home canning, as such jars are intended for single use.
Mason jars are available in wide-mouth or regular-mouth designs. Wide-mouth canning jars are used for canning larger products and to ensure easier access to the contents after canning. Wide-mouth jars are straighter and more uniformly shaped, while regular-mouth jars taper inward at the top. Plain mouth jars are best suited for sliced products, syrups and jams. Canning jars are usually categorized by size and intended use, and not all types come in wide-mouth and regular-mouth varieties.
Wide-mouth jars in the United States are commonly sold in three sizes suitable for home canning: pint (16 ounces / 473 milliliters), quart (32 ounces / 946 milliliters), and half-gallon (64 ounces / 1.9 liters) ; preserved mason jars sold in Europe and elsewhere use metric measurements and are similar in size to US pint, liter, and half gallon jars without being directly equivalent. Wide mouth pint jars are commonly used for storing salsa, fruit butters, condiments and foods that will remain in the jar until fully consumed. Wide-mouth quart jars are designed for storing whole or halved fruits and vegetables. The wider opening allows larger foods to fit easily and offers better access. Half-gallon jars are less common and are designed for preserving grape or apple juice; they are typically not recommended for use with other foods.
Regular-mouth mason jars are more versatile and come in a wider variety of sizes in the United States and elsewhere. Jelly jars are available in 4 oz, 8 oz, and 12 oz in the United States and are used for canning jelly, jam, marmalade, preserves, relishes, and similar foods. The smaller jars are suitable for storing smaller quantities to avoid waste. Most jelly jars are decorated with external ridges or designs and can be attractively packaged by home cannons for gift giving. Half pint (8 oz) jars can also be used to store fruit jellies, sauces and syrups.
Regular mouth pint jars are as commonly used as wide mouth pint jars. They are also used to stuff pie fillings and small amounts of sliced fruit to store smaller portions. The quart size jars are designed for sliced or chopped fruits and vegetables, fruit sauces, soups and similar foods. Only those marked “freezer safe” are suitable for both canning and freezing. Freezer-safe sizes and types include regular-mouth half-pint jelly jars, as well as wide-mouth pint jars.
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