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Great ways to reuse canning jars around the kitchen!
Got lots of extra mason jars on hand? They can be used for many other purposes besides holding home preserved food!
For years, we have added a box of quart jars to our cold room when they are on sale, when we find them for a very good deal.
Over the years, we have a surplus and we manage to find ourselves all kinds of different ways to reuse canning jars here on our homestead.
So, what to do with extra empty mason jars? The possible uses for canning jars are endless.
From dry food storage to crafts to workshop storage, here are some ways to reuse canning jars for other purposes. A few ideas are food related, the rest are not.
10 Great Ways to Reuse Canning Jars
- Store foods that do not need processing, such as baking needs and pastas, in quart size canning jars. This is particularly helpful if ants and bugs are a problem. It is also decorative; farmhouse style kitchens often have jars of dried goods on display. The jars can be stacked easily.
- Use them when making gifts in jars, such as dessert and soup mixes. Tie a square or circle of fabric to the ring with ribbon or twine, and add an ingredient list and instructions for preparing the dessert or meal.
- Fill a couple of jars with candy, tie a bow around the lids, and place them on the counter during the holiday season. Put them on lace doily’s and place one to each side of a centerpiece.
Or, set one at each place setting on your holiday table and let guests take them home as a thoughtful party favor.
4. Start filling one with buttons, like grandma used to do. If you glue a ball of batting covered with fabric to the lid, you can then use that as your pin cushion. Just unscrew the lid when you need a button.
More Ways to Reuse Canning Jars
5. Large jars can be used to store pet food. Cats, for instance, can be pretty creative in figuring out how to get into food bags and other containers.
- Small jars can be used to store dried herbs. Place them in a dark cupboard or in the refrigerator for storing, depending on the herb. Then use all winter long in cooking and baking recipes.
- Use wide-mouthed canning jars to store coffee beans or tea bags, as well as creamers and sweeteners. This works especially great on camping trips.
- Canning jars are also great for storing scraps from a craft hobby, such as ribbon lengths, stickers and beads. Just cut a hole in the lid and feed your craft ribbon through it.
- Small jars without lids can be placed in a desk drawer to organize items such as paper clips, rubber bands and staples. Lids and rings are not required for these. This method can also be used within a junk drawer.
- The small jars might also be used to store things like screws, nuts and bolts out in the garage or workshop.
Reuse Canning Jars in 10 Different Ways
As you can see, there are many ways to reuse canning jars. Think about the items in your home that need to be organized. How can you use these jars to help with your home and kitchen organization?
Want to Learn About Home Canning?
Canning Tips – all kinds of great ways to make home canning easier and efficient.
How and Where to Store Home Canned Food – including light requirements and whether to remove canning rings before storage.
Canning Supplies you Really do NEED – keep this list of items on hand and you’re good to go.
Canning Checklist – ’cause it’s always good to know what you have on hand.
4 Different Ways to Preserve Food – it’s not always about canning!
Get over your Fear of Using a Pressure Canner – once you do, you can can all kinds of meat, fish, stews and more.
Everything you need to Start Water Bath Canning – what you need and what you don’t.
How to Use Tattler Lids and Seals – these are great, but you need to do this!
Finally, want to see all our Canning and Preserving recipes in one place? Here it is!