11 Mason Jar Baking Recipe Gifts (2024)

FAQs

Is it safe to bake in Mason jars? ›

Canning jars are intended for use in hot water baths or pressure canners. They are not designed to withstand the thermal stresses that occur with dry oven heat. Therefore, Clemson Extension strongly discourages consumers from canning cakes and breads in jars.

We do not recommend baking in any size or shape of Ball or Kerr canning jars. The glass used for Ball and Kerr canning jars is not tempered for oven use and is not meant to be used as bakeware.

But as adorable as baking in Mason jars may seem, it's actually incredibly dangerous to do so. Cooking in Mason jars is nothing new. Oven-canning (as opposed to water bath-canning or pressure cooking) began in the 1920s but has since been proven to be an unsafe technique.

“Never sterilize, heat or process Mason jars in an oven. Glass is a poor conductor of heat and therefore heats unevenly by dry oven air. Mason jars are not “Pyrex” glass, fluctuations in oven heat can weaken them and possibly result in breakage.

Boiling removes the oxygen remaining in the jar, which helps to form a tight seal between the lid and the rim. The heat used for this method of canning is sufficient to kill vegetative bacterial cells found in the food. Only high-acid food with a pH of 4.6 or less can be processed using the boiling water bath method.

Nowadays, there are several other companies that sell canning jars for home use. They are remarkably similar to commercially used jars, but the biggest difference is that real Mason jars have a wider rim that gives them a better sealing surface.

The style of jar is occasionally referred to by common brand names such as Ball jar (in the eastern US) or Kerr jar (in the western US) even if the individual jar is not that brand. In early 20th-century America, Mason jars became useful to those who lived in areas with short growing seasons.

The Ball company says that this iconic blue shade was actually created by accident when the minerals in the sand mixed and formed this gorgeous hue! This sand was also used by glass companies such as Pittsburgh Plate Glass and Hemingray Glass Co.

The pandemic has inspired many people to grow gardens and/or can their own foods, which has significantly increased demand for jars, rings & lids. As far as shortages, the stores I've shopped at in my area (Pacific NW) still have an ample supply, so it's probably not everywhere.

Are colored mason jars food safe? ›

Blue, green and purple jars have been made for home food preservation. However, there are other colored jars, such as yellow, available for craft projects, but are not recommended for food preservation.

Yes, newer mason jars have a microwave-safe symbol on them. It is important to keep in mind that glass mason jars are non-reactive but still become very hot to the touch. For this reason, it's best not to package anything that requires long periods of microwave heating in mason jars.

Check to see if there is a marked "Oven-Safe" symbol underneath the piece. Glass bowls made of borosilicate or tempered glass and marked as oven-safe can go in the oven and withstand high temperatures. Those made of non-tempered glass may not be suitable with heat resistance and withstanding temperature changes.

To know whether or not your glass cookware is oven safe, look on the bottom of the dish for a Pyrex symbol or other notation that the glass is safe to put into the oven. If you cannot find a definitive marking, consult the manufacturer. Pyrex Vs. Anchor Hocking: Are They Different?

In order to try and ensure that the glass doesn't crack you'd have to both gradually heat the jars up and then very gradually step the oven temperature back down to room temperature. If you want to use glass, your best bet would be to use something like Pyrex.