About Mason Jars #

Mason jars are glass containers for preserving fruits and vegetables at home. Jars are available in several standard sizes. Mason jars are an old invention, but they remain the most reliable containers for food canned in the home.

“A Mason jar, also known as a canning jar or fruit jar, is a glass jar used in home canning to preserve food. It was named after American tinsmith John Landis Mason, who patented it in 1858. The jar’s mouth has a screw thread on its outer perimeter to accept a metal ring or “band”. The band, when screwed down, presses a separate stamped steel disc-shaped lid against the jar’s rim.

Mason lost his patent for the jars and numerous other companies started manufacturing similar jars. Over the years, the brand name Mason became the genericized trademark for that style of glass home canning jar, and the word “Mason” can be seen on many Ball and Kerr brand jars. 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 isn’t that brand."¹