The 5 Best Mason Jars For Salads
Mason jars are experiencing a resurgence as of late. They are often used as a design component for home décor.
They seem to be everywhere, which is understandable. After all, they look great and they add a lot of character to a place.
That said, it always comes as a surprise to most that mason jars have a practical purpose in the kitchen as well. Don’t forget that they are used for canning, storage, and making salads. For this guide, we’ll be focusing on the last part.
So, what are the best mason jars for a salad? As long as they feature a well-sealing lid and sturdy glass material, the best mason jars for salads just need to be large enough to fit your needs. A larger size or set of multiple is recommended for varied uses, but not necessary.
This guide runs down 5 of the best mason jars for salads. We’ll be taking a look at some of the most popular mason jars around to see how well they can do their job.
That said, we’ll also delve into the different things you need to consider when looking at mason jars. This way, you can choose which one suits your needs best.
Mason Jar Overview
It may come as a surprise that the Mason jar has been around for a while – more than a century!
Named after its inventor, John Landis Mason, the jar is made from molded glass. It was designed to be used for home canning and preserving food as its lid helps create a hermetic seal to keep the jar’s contents fresh.
Of course, as you probably know, its popularity eventually waned as other commercial canning methods became the norm.
That said, home canning is coming back along with the resurgent popularity of the mason jar. Listed below are some of the many things people like to store in their mason jars:
- Coffee Beans
- Flax Seeds
- Spices
- Sugar
- Salt
- Flour
- Pickled Vegetables
In terms of effectively keeping things fresh, the mason jar is unparalleled.
That is why it makes sense that you’d want to use them to store your ready-made salads. Aside from dividing them into batches to avoid food waste, doing so will mean that you’ll always have salad on-hand.
Different Types of Mason Jars
At first glance, mason jars may look the same. However, it is worth mentioning that there are several different types based on size and type of mouth.
Before we look at the best mason jars for salads, we’ll also delve into the explanation as to what sets these jars apart from one another. This way, you’ll have a better idea of what to look for.
Mason Jar Sizes
Mason Jars come in all shapes and sizes.
That may seem obvious enough but this differentiation is crucial especially when you are looking to use a jar for a specific purpose. After all, as the jar size increases, so does its capacity.
Listed below are the different sizes of Mason Jars:
- 4 oz. also known as Quarter-Pint Mason Jars
- 8 oz. also known as Half-Pint Mason Jars
- 12 oz. also known as Three-Quarters Pint Jars
- 14 oz.
- 16 oz. also known as Pint Mason Jars
- 24 oz. also known as Pint-and-a-Half Mason Jars
- 28 oz. / Pint-and-Three-Quarters Mason Jars
- 32 oz. or Quart Mason Jars
- 38 oz.
- 64 oz. or Half-Gallon Mason Jars
- 128 oz. also known as Gallon Mason Jars
Needless to say, this is something you need to consider. After all, you have to make the most of your jar’s capacity to avoid being wasteful.
For instance, if you get a mason jar that is simply too small for your intended purpose, then you might need to consider getting a bigger one.
On the other hand, if your jar is too big then you’ll end up under-utilizing its capacity. It is also worth noting that making enormous batches of salads is ill-advised, especially if you are unsure whether or not you can finish all of it.
That is why we recommend that you stick to using Quart Mason Jars and smaller for this specific purpose.
Mason Jar Openings
Another important way to differentiate mason jars is through their mouth openings. While it may seem like a purely aesthetic matter, the jar’s mouth can also affect the way it functions and the things you can store in them.
- Regular mouth Mason Jars – Regular mouth Mason jars have a noticeably smaller opening. You can also tell them apart based on the narrow neck. Again, this serves a practical purpose as the neck ensures that the fruits/vegetables you put in there are kept below the liquid. This makes them perfect for pickling vegetables and the like.
- Wide mouth Mason Jars – This kind of mason jars, as its name suggests, have a wide opening. They also do not have the distinctive neck design of the regular mouth jars. This means that it is perfect if you are stuffing whole and chunky ingredients into the jar.
Best Mason Jars for Salads
Now, that we have established the different types of Mason Jars you could use, it is time that we delve into some of our recommendations.
Rank | Product | Key Features |
---|---|---|
1. | Paksh Glass Mason Jars (16oz) | Regular mouth, screw lid (12pk) |
2. | Ball Mason Jar (32oz) | Wide mouth, screw lid (4pk) |
3. | Kilner Glass Container (34oz) | Regular mouth, cap lid (1 ct) |
4. | KAMOTA Mason Jars (16oz) | Regular mouth, cap lid, labels (12pk) |
5. | Paksh Glass Mason Jars (8oz) | Wide mouth, cap lid (6pk) |
Listed below are the best mason jars for salads. Be sure to check them out to see which is best for your kitchen.
1. Paksh Glass Mason Jar (16 Oz/1 Pint, 12-Pack)
First, we have these 16-ounce glass Mason Jar 12-Pack from Paksh. Sporting an airtight metal lid, each 1-pint jar is made from high-quality soda-lime glass that is highly durable and resistant to cracks and breakage.
With 12 of these bad boys, you can practically prep salads for the whole office. They’re also dishwasher-safe, making clean-up that much more convenient and hassle-free.
We picked this one because it is simply perfect if you are looking to use it for making salads. It is crafted in a way that makes the entire process of putting in and taking out the vegetables that much more intuitive and simple.
Moreover, its airtight lid effectively seals in everything and ensures that your salad is kept as fresh as possible.
2. Ball Mason Jar Glass Wide Mouth (32 oz, 4-Pack)
Next, we have the 32-ounce Ball Mason jar set of four.
Made by one of the most well-known manufacturers of Mason Jars, this set lives up to the hype and has earned its place as one of the best mason jars out there today.
Sporting a wide mouth design, this mason jar is ideal if you are looking to make a quart of salad. It’s great for prepping and packing in bulk.
This is perfect if you want to prepare a salad for your dinner date beforehand. That said, the Ball Mason jar also has a simple yet classic design that makes preparation and usage that much simpler and easier.
3. Kilner Glass Container (34 oz)
Next, we have the “Food On the Go Jar”, which is really just a Mason jar under a cute name that points out just how useful this jar is.
With a secure Lid and 34-ounce capacity, this Mason Jar is undeniably unique as it puts a functional spin on an otherwise classic design. More importantly, it stands as proof that there is still room for innovation today.
It features an integrated stainless steel cup under the jar’s lid. This cup is designed to hold wet ingredients. This seemingly minor design choice makes this jar more portable and convenient to use, wherever you are.
For salad lovers, this means that you can now keep your dressing separate from your greens until you are ready to eat. We know, we’re excited, too.
This means that you no longer have to deal with soppy salads. Instead, your greens are kept crispy and firm for the longest possible time.
4. KAMOTA Mason Jars (16 oz, 12-Pack)
Next, we have the 16-ounce KAMOTA Mason jar set of 12. Featuring regular lids and bands, these Mason Jars feature an elegantly designed and highly-durable glass body.
It brings to mind the classic look of the first mason jars but integrated with additional features that increase storage security and ease of use.
Incredibly versatile, these mason jars can be utilized in so many ways, including storage for your salads. Its tight seal effectively prevents leaks and ensures that your vegetables are kept safe and well-preserved.
5. Paksh Glass Mason Jars (8 oz, 6-Pack)
Finally, we have another set of glass, wide mouth Mason jars from Paksh, this time with an 8-ounce capacity. As you may have noticed, this is the smallest mason jar among our recommendations.
Don’t let its size fool you, however, this mason jar is incredibly useful and versatile in the kitchen.
It is the perfect tool if you are looking to prepare meals ahead of time. After all, some people are uncomfortable with the idea of mixing the salad’s different components beforehand. And sometimes you just want a little side salad anyway.
However, the need to keep these ingredients as fresh as possible is a serious concern that needs to be addressed. Luckily, these mason jars are designed to do just that.
If you want to enjoy salads on-the-go or if you just like making things beforehand, then Mason Jars are the perfect tool for you.
That said, not all mason jars are made alike. Be sure to check our list of the best mason jars for salads to see which one you like best.