Saving jars

[Fat Guy]

We generally save glass jars from preserves, etc., to use in our cabinets as storage containers. Of course less and less stuff comes in glass these days, and lids are often not designed for long-term survivability. I also just had an experience where I couldn't get the pickle smell out of a plastic-lined lid.

Anyway, would love to get your input on jars, the best ones (I sometimes will make a close product purchasing decision based on the reusability of the jar), how to deal with them, stories, wit, wisdom, etc.

[butterscotch]

Did you try a paste of baking powder for the pickle smell?

[Fat Guy]

No. What's the procedure?

[butterscotch]

No. What's the procedure?

Just make a ittle paste, rub it in the lid. Leave overnight. You might have to do it a few times, but I have had it freshen plastic up after leaving in citrus juice and getting an off smell. So, theoretically....

[Fat Guy]

I'll try it right now. I still have the lid sitting here.

[butterscotch]

Well I'll have to come back tommorrow and see how it goes. I just made a thick emulsion and shook it over the course of two days.

A good container is hard to part with!

[Fat Guy]

Baking powder not baking soda right?

[butterscotch]

OMGosh, you are right- it was soda! So sorry Steve.

[butterscotch]

No wonder my soda bread was dreck. I can picture you in the kitchen, thinking baking powder.... hmm that girl is nuts!

Hope it helps.

Edited May 11, 2011 by butterscotch (log)

[Fat Guy]

The experiment is in progress.

[butterscotch]

If it works it will then become one of your favorite jars. You'll enjoy the small trimumph each time you use it.

Fingers crossed!

[Mjx]

I save jars, but I'm selective; I only keep those for which I have a fairly definite use in mind. And I've definitely had my purchasing decisions influenced by the projected usefulness of the jar (also acquired two small glass prep bowls this way, which originally contained custard, and a ceramic baking dish, which originally contained a sort of country pâté).

[Jenni]

Honey jars are always useful - nice size and don't have a pickle smell! I have a friend who always gives me her honey jars because we don't eat much honey in our house.

Incidentally, I keep separate lids for savoury preserves (read: pickle) and sweet preserves/ghee. That way no risk of pickle smell in my jam/syrup/ghee!

[weinoo]

You all have Insane Kitchen Hoarding disorder, of course...

Be that as it may, I save jars that are truly Bell or Mason jars. That way, a new lid is all I need, and I keep a supply of those on hand. A lot of the "artisanl" stuff I buy comes in said jars. Other jars, like peanut butter or jellies and the like get rinsed and go right into the recycling bag.

[Kerry Beal]

Current favourite jar to save.

[patris]

Current favourite jar to save.

That is not only my favorite reusable container, it also contains some of my favorite contents.

[DanM]

I have seen replacement lids from Ball to replace the band and disc lid on open jars. I'm sure they are on Amazon if you search for them.

[Lindacakes]

Jar fetish here. I have an arsenal of the blue mason jars with zinc lids from my grandmother, and I have the Le Parfait French canning jars. I also save jars from products that I use, if I like them.

There's a nocino bottle I like and it's the devil getting the label off but worth it. Makes an excellent infused liqueur gift bottle.

The current jones is for Trader Joe's olive oil. Comes in a squat square bottle, carries no odor. I'm going for one for every kind of oil and every kind of vinegar so I'll have a real OC set. They have a thick cork stopper. The olive oil itself is not the best, not the worst, cheap.

[andiesenji]

I save some jars, often it depends on my mood when the jar is emptied. For some reason I have taken to the squatty, wide jars in which some jams and jellies are sold.

Here are two candidates:

I save any jar that will accept either the regular or wide mouth plastic lids made by Ball, Bernadin or Jarden.

I save a lot of bottles because I give away a lot of vinegar.

Any jar or bottle that has a wire bail and cap closure is fair game and some are quite attractive.

Odd shaped jars and bottles. I recently found a fish-shaped bottle (at Marshall's) that held some kind of sauce that I didn't want. It was 99¢ so I bought it, emptied the stuff down the drain and have a decorative bottle for less that a similar empty bottle would have cost ($2.99 at a local candle store).

I save the tall cylindrical jars in which some fancy olives are packed.

I do use the baking soda slurry after putting the jar and cap through the dishwasher.

For extremely resistant odors, a few drops of ammonia in the lid - lid sealed in small plastic bag (or in a small plastic sealable container) and left over night, usually does the trick.

Edited May 11, 2011 by andiesenji (log)

[DanM]

Just a follow up on my previous post... Here are the lids I was referring to...

[heidih]

I love glass in general so repurposing jars is a natural for me. I don't buy many items that come in glass anymore but my dad saves their jars for me. I don't like the plastic lids for aesthetic reasons, so mayo jars and the like are not saved. Salsa jars are discarded while pickle jars are allowed. The salsa smell is so distinct while the pickle smell is generally vinegary so I reuse them, as Jenni does, for pickled items.

However, I have never tried the baking soda paste mentioned earlier. I will give that a try. I had been soaking the lids in straight plain white vinegar and that generally takes care of odors.

Here is my jar drawer

And here is a sampling of the repurposed jars in use

My favorites are the several ones where the mouth is as wide as the base. These were from Trader Joe salsa and bean dips years ago. I am almost tempted to see if they still use them and pick up some even though I do not want the product. I also pick up the Ball jars with the zinc lids at flea markets. Though the blue ones are more coveted, I prefer clear.

[Fat Guy]

The pickle smell is too resilient. Baking soda didn't do the trick. I think this jar is not a keeper.

[Kerry Beal]

The pickle smell is too resilient. Baking soda didn't do the trick. I think this jar is not a keeper.

Unless you use it for pickles!

[bague25]

A few cedar balls in the can closed?

Edited May 12, 2011 by bague25 (log)

[Lindacakes]

The jars with plastic lids comment reminded me: Fluff jars. I have a large amount of Fluff jars because they say "Fluff" in the glass and have nice red plastic lids. I don't use them for food -- I use them for hardware and various art supplies.

They do have one drawback. Sometimes over time the jar lids disintegrate and come apart. This doesn't happen to all of them and has nothing to do with wear and tear. It just happens.

Shame. Because they are funny.