Thrifted Mason Jar Haul
This thrifted mason jar haul made it for a great day finding good deals on glass jars at second-hand stores.
I can’t tell you how this thrifted mason jar haul made me so happy. I scored a crate full of glass jars and tons of ball jars still left on the shelf.
As I spent a beautiful day with my daughters & grandson, they accompanied me to some local thrift stores, where I found tons of ball mason; some even had the metal lid; I wasn’t too concerned with that because I have tons of new lids. New jars tend to be a bit pricey, but I was surprised to find tons of quart-size jars at the thrift store.
Why the obsession with mason jars?
Well, if you have been following me for a while now, you know that I don’t just use them for canning or fermenting; I also find that it is a great way of storing dry goods, leftovers, and so much more. I have been using jars for a long time for pretty much everything.
Whenever I hit garage sales, yard sales & antique stores, they are one of the first things to look for on my list. In fact, canning jars are always so much cheaper than the grocery store. So whenever I have jars included in my thrifted mason jar haul, I am one happy gal!
Usually, the ones I find are the wide-mouth jars and jam jars. But I was ecstatic to find a box lot of regular mouth jars with two-piece lids. Typically, I do not reuse the seals that came on the jars because if I do, however, find them in the thrift store, I have no idea if they were used already for canning by the previous owner, and I don’t want to rake any chances of my jars not sealing correctly.
One of my absolute favorite glass jars is the blue mason jar with glass lids that I find on my thrift hauls. They are harder to find, but I always hope to find them. Most times, you will only find the jar without the lid, so if you do find a blues jar with the glass lid still intact, you have a good find, and they can be the perfect jars for home decor.
You will find that there are several brands of mason jars that have similar styles, but only a few, such as Ball, Anchor Hocking, Kerr, Golden Harvest & Atlas, have stood the test of time.
When selecting your jars for canning or using them for food storage, you want to be mindful of the glass jars you choose because some other brands may crack in a canner or pressure canner due to the high pressure of the heat. Also, the significant difference is that Mason jars also have a broader rim that gives them a better sealing surface.
Where can you get new mason jars?
You will be surprised that sometimes you can find new jars at your local thrift store, but if that is not your thing, you can find them at Walmart, Ace Hardware, Target, and your local grocery store.
How much should you pay for a thrifted mason jar haul?
The current cost in 2022 for an 8 oz jar averages about $1.00 each, and for a 16 oz jar, about $1.25 each. Now, these are the going prices right now in the thrift store. For a vintage or antique mason jars, you can find them to be as low as $6 or even high as $32. Full disclosure, this is the going rate for the local thrift & antique stores in my area.
Are Dollar General Mason jars good?
These jars are very popular for being multifunctional and BPA-free. Furthermore, mason jars have various uses, such as storing pantry goods and leftovers, DIY projects, and used for table display decor. I use mason jars for storing dry goods and my morning smoothies, but the possibilities are endless!
What can I put in my mason jars?
- Use for Storing crafts.
- Use for dry goods
- Overnight Oatmeal
- Use for your beverages
- Leftovers from dinner
- homemade baby food
The uses for mason jars are endless. For more ideas for what to use in mason jars, you can view more here.
Do Ball mason jars have BPA?
All Ball and Bernardin branded lids that were made as of 2015 and onwards will be BPA-free.
The next time you are out & about looking for a variety of sizes of mason jars, make a trip to your local thrift store first. You will likely find pint jars; however, occasionally, you may be lucky and score some quart-size jars. It’s unlikely that you will discover half-gallon jars, but you never know if it will be your lucky day!
Bonus Tip: Before purchasing used jars, look at them to ensure there are no cracks or chips. Run your finger around the rim to ensure no chips or imperfections. The last thing you want after spending hours prepping can not seal properly.
I hope this inspires you to check out your local thrift stores for mason jars before going to retail stores. Have you got lucky with an abundance of mason jars? Let me know in the comments!
Until next time y’all 🙂
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Great haul! It never occurred to me to use mason jars for leftovers. Mind blown. Great post!
Good find. And they look great too. I even put my tobacco in them to keep it fresh. Thanks again