Getting More Out of the Mason Jar

Whenever possible, I try to use less plastic in my kitchen and reuse containers as many times as I can. Mason jars are a great alternative when storing food. These glass beauties bring a vintage feel to the kitchen, plus they are environmentally friendly and can hold just about anything! Mason jars can also be a bit limiting, though. Just the other day, I cracked open a jar of Cherry Bounce I made over the summer (more on this soon!) and I really struggled with the jar’s pouring ability. Sure, the regular canning lid is perfect for the initial bottling of goods, but ultimately you need a bit more functionality.

Enter the reCAP, a line of jar lids with all kinds of different functions and possibilities. Founder Karen Rzepecki came up with the idea when she needed a pouring receptacle for her homemade salad dressing. So far, you can buy reCAPs for pouring, spraying and pumping. There’s even a version with a slit in the lid to make an adorable coin bank out of a mason jar.

Right now, the Mason Jars Company has a Kickstarter to raise money to produce a new lid for their line, the reCAP Flip Cap. This one is a flip lid that makes it easy to reach inside the jar for things like candy and jam, then reseal it for safe-keeping. The Flip Cap also comes with a screen to make your own shaker. I know I would use this lid to shake out flour, powdered sugar or cinnamon when I’m baking.

These jars have endless possibilities. You could definitely take them beyond the kitchen for storing anything that will fit! Nails, Legos, bobby pins, paper clips — you name it. These products transform Mason jars into multi-purpose, reusable, sustainable containers. And the best part? They come in several sizes to fit on the jars already in our kitchens. Yes, please. // susannah

(Photos // The Mason Jar Company)