I love using mason jars! There are several sizes in my cupboard right now.
Mason jars have been around for over 100 years, and while they were originally used for canning and preserving food, over the past few decades the uses for these versatile jars have taken a creative spin.
From gift containers to wedding decorations, Mason jars are on thousands of Pinterest boards for one reason or another.
You can make meals in a jar, use mason jars as gifts, and even test your soil composition. They make a size for any occasion. I also like to make salad in a jar, which I learn from this website.
They keep for five days in the refrigerator and are a great way to easily add fresh salad to your meal plans. Just spend an hour chopping and setting it up and them enjoy a salad a day.
Chopped Chicken Salad
Ingredients:
// Dressing of choice
// Cherry tomatoes
// Broccoli florets
// Shredded carrots
// Diced red onion
// Chopped grilled chicken
// Lettuce or other greens
Instructions: Layer the ingredients in your Mason jar in the order listed, with the dressing on the bottom and the greens on top. Make any salad you want! The key is to keep the dressing and wet ingredients on the bottom. The salad will stay fresh in the Mason jar for four or five days.
I probably own 100 different canning jars but I want to get a set of these! There is something about the color that I love. They have them in green and purple too.
Mason Jar Gardens
Mason jar gardens are both beautiful and stylish. You can make terrariums or grow succulents and fresh tabletop herbs. To make your own Mason jar herb gardens, use a large jar.
If possible, plant herbs in an early stage so they have room to grow two to three times bigger. Use organic potting soil and be sure not to overwater; there isn’t a place for drainage.
Herbs such as rosemary, sage, and dill like direct sun, do not need a lot of watering, and prefer to be deep watered when a bit dry.
Herbs like basil, thyme, oregano, and parsley like to be kept moist, but they don’t like overwatering or direct sun.
Mason Jar Crafts
Mason jar crafts are everywhere on Pinterest. You can paint them, stencil them, and drill into them. You can turn them into lanterns and lights or even wine glasses and soap dispensers. For the holidays, you can paint them a patriotic red, white, and blue or white, yellow, and orange to turn them into candy corn for Halloween. Since they are inexpensive and easy to come by you have nothing to lose by upcycling Mason jars on your next project.
Mason Jar Soap Dispenser
Materials:
// Mason jar,
// Drill,
// Soap dispenser
Instructions: Drill a hole in the center of the Mason jar lid large enough to fit your soap dispenser and insert the dispenser. Fill your jar with your favorite liquid soap or dishwashing soap, and screw the lid on tightly.
As you can see, the repurposing and upcycling possibilities for Mason jars are exciting and numerous! I hope you are inspired to put your own creative spin on the timeless canning jar. Be sure and check out our Meal-in-a-Jar Pinterest board for more ideas.
Source: Fix.com
“old” mason jars are produced by the hundreds of thousands each year for their quality for use in high temp. high pressure home canning. The uses you describe could make use of the thousands of “free” jars that go to the landfills ever year.
Do someone a favor by taking your mason jars to the farmers at the market, because they rarely sell all they grow and save there excess in old and new mason jars. New cost is about a dollar each. Maybe they will give you a discount or just a good feeling in using things to their best use.
Great ideas Bill, there’s no way I’d ever throw away a Mason jar! I use them for everything.