Are all glass storage containers the same?

[pengyou]

Next summer, when I am home I am going to start garage saling for glass food containers, Mason jars only being one kind of them. Are all glass containers useful for food storage? I know that the seal is obviously important to check out.

 

[Dani]

Standard lids and rings will only fit some of the glass jars you find at the grocery. I would take a ring with you to try them out. Some are very close, but close isn't good enough when canning.

 

[Brent S]

I have a guy that drinks a lot of the one gallon jugs of wine from grocery stores. He gives me all the glass jugs they come in. The jugs are great, with a handle and heavy glass. I make wine from grapes I grow so I store it in them when it's done. The only weak part are the lids. They aren't the sturdiest so I add plastic wrap to the lid to make sure it seals. I do have some rubber corks that fit and will do the job as well. Glass may be fragile when dropped, but is very cleanable and one of my favorites for food storage.

 

[jimLE]

any 2 jars could be the same,when it comes to the threads on them..but then again.they could be different as,day and night..so i suggest,going with what danil suggested.take 2 canning rings with ya to the sales.1 for regular mouth jars.and 1 for large mouth jars..also look for chips on the threads and mouth of the jars,and also look for cracks in them..also,(if i figure right) some jam and jelly jars at least look some what similar to the canning jars for vegetables,soups and all..so you might wanna be careful about that as well..

 

[pengyou]

Thanks! I appreciate the heads-up on the Mason jars but am I especially looking for repurposing glass containers, especially free ones

 

[jimLE]

i dont see anything wrong with re-purposing any glass container..even the ones with messed up threads might have a purpose.like storing screws/nails/bolt.and other small items..good luck with it..

 

[Brent S]

Thanks! I appreciate the heads-up on the Mason jars but am I especially looking for repurposing glass containers, especially free ones

I just don't like plastics as much as glass. They can't always be cleaned as well, pollute, and can leech chemicals into your food stored in them. Stainless steel is a good option too, and possibly ceramics as well. For now though the mason jars are pretty economical and have multiple uses.

 

[Dani]

I reuse my old coffee cans to put dried beans in to along with the old card board tubes that oatmeal come in. Reuse and repurposed as much as possible. Old time are great storage along with baskets. Both can normally be found at garage sells pretty easily. Good luck and be creative!