Canning Jar usage....

[RevJammer]

I have read several posts about storing flour, sugar, water, etc; in unused canning jars (this in order to keep mice/bugs out). Is there any special process that needs to be used or just put the stuff in and screw the lids on?

I don't see the need for any special process but I wanted to check and be sure!

[tomato204]

Nope, nothing special. In fact if they're not bent I use the lids that have already been used for canning jelly for the storage jars. I usually mark an "X" on the lids that are "once used" so's I don't forget and can with them in a pinch.

[patience]

Flour will keep a VERY long time if you can come up with one of the vacuum sealer units to pull a vacuum on the canning jars. I know the local Bass Pro Shop has the fittings for that, where I got ours. We use good lids, and seal up dry beans this way and no problems. Without air, bugs can't live in it.

[Aseries]

You can also take your used lids and use them to vacum seel the Jars, put dry goods in the jar, tighten lids and rings, and water bath them for 10 or 15 min, you will end up sealing the Jars. Its a great way to use old lids, and you dont have to worry about bacteria because your just sealing dried goods like beans and flour etc... You can seal just about anything you want. I use them for Rice, or put smaller amounts of stuff in the Jars, and keep the bulk of it in larger containers...

So what does everyone else put in there Canning Jars...

[Mom5farmboys]

We use canning jars in leiu of water bottles. 2 quarts are great for around the farm if you know you can't get back for awhile for more water. Otherwise water in a quart jar with a used lid and ring, the added benefit is no plastic to leach chemicals into the water.

I also put some boiling water into a quart jar with a green tea bag right before I go to bed in the evening and in the morning I have my tea all brewed and ready to go. I like it at room temp so for me its just perfect.

We also use canning jars that are chipped or nicked for drinking glasses. When my husband is out in the field working I fill a canning jar with whatever beverage I have on hand and bring it to him with his lunch. I have also put his food in a quart jar to deliver out to the field to him as well, such as soups, casserols, etc.

[NCLee]

Canning jars make good refrigerator storage jars, too. Either use the ring and lid or the plastic caps (from Ball) that are made for this purpose. Good use for jars that are nicked and can't be used for canning.

Those with straight sides can be used for freezer storage, too. Just don't over fill and leave the lid loose until the contents freeze. Be careful with them as they are brittle when frozen. Don't bang them on anything. Set on a towel when you take from the freezer to prevent breakage from rapid temp change. Don't try it with the regular style canning jars. Don't ask me how I know that. :sad:

Canning jars make good candle style lanterns/lamps. Put sand, pebbles, marbles, etc in the jar to support the candle. A wire hanger can be made, if you want to hang the "lantern".

Canning jars make great gift containers, especially for people who can themselves. The gift that keeps on giving. Use the nicked ones for those who don't can, when you package up your "Gift in a Jar" mixture.

I use them in the shop to store paints and solvents. After opening and using most of a gallon of paint, put the remainder in a canning jar. It will keep longer as there's less air space for that surface film to form. And, there's no rusty, leaking, cans taking up excess space.

Many solvents will EAT some plastic containers. When I open a gallon of mineral spirits, I pour the amount I need into a quart canning jar. That keeps the remainder of the gallon from becoming contaminated. For some situations, the amount in the canning jar can be 'decanted' for reuse, after the contaminates have settled to the bottom of the jar. Easy to see, since it's in glass.

Think about using them all through the house. Put a quart jar of baking soda in the bathroom for soaking in the bathtub. And/or to use when cleaning. A jelly jar is just right for toothbrushing quantity.

Put canning jars in baskets to hold water for flower arrangements. A canning jar of wild flowers doesn't need anything more, unless you want to add a ribbon, little twine for raffa for decoration.

Store buttons, zippers and other bits and pieces from clothing that goes to the rag bin. Size the jar for the item. Safety pins store well in jelly jars after opening that bubble plastic original container. Many hobby and self-reliant activities have small bits and pieces. Whether it's sewing or oil lamp wicks, stored in glass, they're better protected, IMHO, than anything plastic. (Just don't drop it. :wink: )

Jars, unusable for canning, can protect small young plants from frost in early spring. Just remember to take them off early in the morning.

In closing, the next time you reach for a plastic storage container, stop and think. Can you use a canning jar instead? FWIW, I'm trying to get as far away as possible from so much reliance on plastic. My Grandma didn't use it back in the early 1900's. Why do I *need* it today?

Lee

[KarenBC]

Well Lee...I had to think mighty hard of something for canning jars that you hadn't already covered...baby chick warmers!

Fill jar with really hot water, put on seal & ring...cover in a big wool sock and put in with baby chicks. Works for when the power has gone out and the heat lamps are kaput. This is assuming you have a way to heat water without electricity. But being BWH folks - I know you do!

[NCLee]

Thanks, Karen. That's a great good-to-know, if/when the need arises.

Plus, I can *see* other uses for your idea, too. Our toy poodle gets chilled easily. Now I have another way to help keep her warm, especially during the night, if the power fails.

BWH folks should have at least a 1/2 dozen ways to heat water. :)

Lee

[Travis]

New to this so forgive me if this sounds like a dumb question.


The canning jars I have seen are only a couple quarts, so how many jars does it take to store stuff like flour, sugar or rice. To me it seems it would take alot of jars to store say 25 pounds of flour.


Again if you have empty jars taking up space they take up the same amount empty or full I get that. Just curious at how many jars it takes.

[Aamylf]

I admit for stuff like sugar in storage (as opposed to my daily pantry) I don't use jars -- I took NCLee's idea of 2 litre soda bottles to heart. The folks I work with bring them in for me as we don't drink soda and I wash, sterilize, drrrrrrrrrrry and then fill with sugar. I put flour in sealed bags and then into a clean 5 gallon 'bucket' with lid. '

I do use the nice square canning jars for my daily/weekly use stuff -- pastas, rice, sugar, corn meal, etc. Keeps the bugs out, looks homey when I open my cupboards and is usually enough for a week or two.

[NCLee]

Travis, that's a good question.

The answer is another "depends" one. Depends on the quantity that you need to store of an item and your personal storage situation.

As to flour, I don't know how many canning jars, as I store mine in lard stands (same premise as holiday popcorn tins, just larger). One is just the right size for a 25 lb bag of flour. I find them at local feed/farm/hardware type stores. Check around for best pricing.
http://www.lehmans.com/store/Kitchen___Home_Butchering___Butchering_Supplies___ Tin_Lard_Cans___H605344?Args=

The reason why I like these is that they are vermin proof. Periodically we get invaded with field mice, especially when the weather gets cold. They can't get to flour stored in these.

As Aamylf, said, I also use a lot of 2 liter soda bottles for storage. I've stored: rice, popcorn, sugar, and all types of beans in them. The advantage is that they don't take up much more space than a quart jar, but hold a whole lot more.

As the quantity of an item is scaled down, the more likely it's a good candidate for canning jar storage. These jars can range from 1/2 gallon down to the small jelly jars. Some things that work well in canning jars are:
Dried fruits
Dried herbs and spices (jelly jars for spices)
Pre-made dry recipe mixes (1 jar = 1 meal, or amount to be used before it expires)

Canning jars work well when using from bulk storage. Open the bulk container, fill appropriately sized canning jar, then re-seal the bulk container, as applicable to that container. For example, if you store dried beans in a bucket, transfer a quart or half gallon into a jar, as needed. Cuts down the number of times the bulk container has to be opened. Thus, reducing the exposure of the bulk quantity to things that can go wrong over time.

If your storage conditions are less than ideal, as in a damp basement, for example, use canning jars to replace original packaging. Boxes of elbow macroni, won't store long there. Transfer to a half gallon jar with a plastic storage lid and it'll keep for a L-O-N-G time. Dried pasta has a 30 year storage life. Consider transferring to glass any food or other item that will deteriorate quickly in it's original package. Dry laundry detergent, salt, baking soda, seed packets, hard candy, and instant non-fat dry milk are some examples.

Hope this helps.
Lee

[TEX]

Lee I might add - nothing that comes in a cardboard box such as pasta or crackers stays in that box when it gets into my house. Bugs are a never ending problem here and this time of year so are mice looking for warmer digs. As soon as I get a box of pasta or crackers home from the store it goes into a canning jar - same with things like powdered sugar and brown sugar, instant rice or instant mashed potatoes, etc. If it needs a recipie like instant mashed potatoes, I cut that part off the box and tape it to the outside of the jar. A big box of minute rice fits into about 4 quart jars and there are 4 "minute rice" decals on a box so I cut those off and tape one to each jar so we know it's minute rice and not regular rice - hard to tell the difference in the looks sometimes.

Also putting things like crackers into a glass jar vs leaving them in the package - they stay fresher way longer - crackers and high humidity do not mix well together.

[Travis]

Thank you for the great info. We do have a mice problem here and I can see how those can as well as glass jars would deter those little critters.

[Nancymw]

Hate to see an unused canning jar! Got lots at yard sales. My garden was pretty much a bust this year with no rain. So in goes my staples!
Giant size (commemorate Ball one) I put spagetti in. I use the quarts for everything- bread crumbs,cereal, rice,beans, baking mix. Anything I am using in my cupboard (I really hate mice and ants!) I use pints and half pints for dehydrated foods (carrots celery etc. for on hand for soups/stews)
I usually freeze all my beans and rice for 2-3 days first before I put them in the jars - extra safety from bugs. Sugar and flour I try to find other larger glass jars. Finding a place to put the jars inside, now that is a problem! I label the outside with label with contents and cooking times. Very handy.

[paqcrewmama]

I've seen lamps made out of them with collections of buttons in the bottom or sea shells.

I have two of my Great Gram's blue jars and they're filled with her button collection (that woman was a Depression Era wife-nothing left the house that could have any possible use).