- There will be a large number on the bottom of your jar.
- This is the mold number, and unfortunately also has no relation to the manufacture date.
- These charts tell you the approximate decade in which your Ball jar was made.
Thus, How can you tell how old a Mason jar is? To date an old Ball mason jar, look at the logo on the jar. If the logo is an insignia made up of the letters BBGMC, the jar was made between 1885 and 1886. If the logo is written using block letters, the jar was likely made between 1892 and 1896.
Additionally What are old blue mason jars worth? Nowadays, you can even buy a big flat of Mason jars for pretty cheap at your local craft or household goods store — but the older ones can fetch much higher prices. Typically, the smaller or more common antique jars can go for about $20 apiece, but the more rare versions can sell for as much as $300.
Are old Mason jars safe to use? Canning jars have a life expectancy of 10–13 years. After that, you will experience more breakage because of the wear and tear of normal use. Because of this, it is not recommended to use vintage or antique canning jars for food preservation.
Why are old Mason jars blue? Feeling Blue Those blue mason jars were mass produced until 1937 using sand from around Lake Michigan. It was that sand that gave the glass its blue hue.
Are Golden Harvest Mason jars valuable?
Golden Harvest brand Mason jars for home canning are a lower-priced line of Mason jars sold by the Newell Corporation, which also owns Ball, Bernardin and Kerr jars. The jars are sold in Canada and the U.S. The Golden Harvest jars are considered of quite good quality by most people.
Do mason jars expire?
The official recommendation for how long to store jars of food is one year, and you’re recommended to eat it within 2 years. It’s a quality issue. After that first year, the food is not necessarily bad, so don’t throw it away just yet.
Are blue mason jars safe to use?
Newer Blue Glass Ball Jar: 61 ppm lead (+/- 16 ppm). Considered safe by all standards.
Why are some Mason jars green?
Well, collectors and enthusiasts most certainly already know that the pale blue coloration is characteristic of vintage jars. According to Wikipedia, colored jars were considered better for canning use, as they block some light from reaching the food, which helps to retain flavor and nutritional value longer.
Is Ball jars going out of business?
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The company that makes Ball Mason jars will soon close its factory in Muncie, Indiana. Manufacturing operations are scheduled to stop in the summer of 2019. Company officials say the decision was made after reviewing necessary upgrades and improvements.
Are Mason jars in demand?
On the long list of consumer product shortages in 2020 is the humble Mason jar. But unlike the shortages of yeast, desks, bicycles and other hot products this year, the surge in Mason jar demand is not unique to 2020.
Why are there no Mason jar lids?
It all began last year when the pandemic hit in early 2020. Stuck at home, people picked up gardening, then canning their harvest. “That led to a supply shortage of canning lids,” said Suzanne Driessen, University of Minnesota Extension food safety educator.
When did Ball stop making Mason jars?
Ball’s “Ideal” canning jar, which first appeared around 1915 and was discontinued in 1962, is one of the company’s best-known jars and is popular among collectors. Most antique jars that are not colorless are aqua or “Ball blue,” a blue-green shade that was named for the Ball Corporation, a prevalent jar manufacturer.
Are Kerr and Ball the same company?
If the Kerr jars and their packaging looks eerily similar to that of Ball jars, it’s because they’re basically the same: Both Ball and Kerr brands are now owned and manufactured by the parent company Jarden.
What does a Mason jar symbolize?
Though the Mason jar has become a symbol of hipness, it started as a necessity. In 1858, John Landis Mason found a way to preserve fruits, vegetables and other perishables when he devised a lid that screwed to the threaded-glass lip of a jar over a rubber ring that sealed previously boiled contents.
Why is there a jar shortage?
When the 2020 pandemic created a huge demand for canning supplies, Newell Brands decided it would not try to sell Ball and Kerr products at every store handling canning supplies as in the past, but only through online giant Amazon and select major chains such as Walmart and Ace Hardware stores.
Is there a market for Mason jars?
Nowadays, you can even buy a big flat of Mason jars for pretty cheap at your local craft or household goods store — but the older ones can fetch much higher prices. Typically, the smaller or more common antique jars can go for about $20 apiece, but the more rare versions can sell for as much as $300.
Is there a Mason jar shortage?
The global pandemic has both increased interest in home canning and led to smaller production lines at manufacturers such as Newell Brands, makers of Ball and Kerr mason jars and canning products. These factors have resulted in a shortage of canning rings and lids, leaving many would-be canners frustrated.
Why are canning jars so expensive?
Even single-use lids are going for outrageous prices. “With the shortage, they have gone up to like 75 cents apiece,” Moore said, “which makes canning expensive and defeats the whole purpose of trying to save money.” Moore says hunting season could also be playing a factor as people prepare to sell new products.
Do canning lids go bad?
If you have canning lids that you’ve already used, is it safe to reuse them again? The simple answer is no: Canning lids are designed for one-time use. Using them more than once may result in your jars not sealing properly. These lids have a special sealing compound around the rim that is only good for one use.
What can I use instead of a mason jar lid?
An easy way to make your own plastic lids for canning jars is to take a look around your pantry. I’ve found that the lid from an 18 oz jar of peanut butter and the lid from a jar of mayonnaise, both fit nicely onto regular mouth sized canning jars.
Are old mason jars safe to use?
Canning jars have a life expectancy of 10–13 years. After that, you will experience more breakage because of the wear and tear of normal use. Because of this, it is not recommended to use vintage or antique canning jars for food preservation.
What kind of jars can I use for canning?
You want to make sure you are using a Mason-type jar. According the National Center for Home Food Preservation, a Mason-type jar is specifically designed for home canning and is the best option. Commercial mayonnaise jars may not seal and may break, especially in a pressure canner.
How do you make your own lid?
Can I use old pickle jars for canning?
Grocery store jars that once held spaghetti sauce, pickles and other foods should not be reused for home canning. The glass is usually not as thick and this makes them more likely to shatter or explode when heated.
What does the number on the bottom of a Mason jar mean?
Many Ball mason jars have a number printed on the bottom of the jar, but this is a mold number that does not indicate the year of production. Rather, the mold number tells you where the jar was positioned on the glass-making machine that was used to produce it.
Why are old mason jars blue?
Feeling Blue Those blue mason jars were mass produced until 1937 using sand from around Lake Michigan. It was that sand that gave the glass its blue hue.
