| Before refrigerators became widely available, | | | | help keep the contents of the jar from going |
| one of the most common methods for preserving | | | | all over your cupboards or pantry.The third |
| food was canning. Oddly enough, when most | | | | piece to the mason jar is the metal center |
| people say they can foods at home, they | | | | cap. This cap is ringed with a sort of rubber |
| actually mean that they're preserving food in | | | | sealing compound which is what actually seals |
| jars. The type of jar most often used in | | | | the jar and keeps the food inside from |
| canning is the mason jar.People have been | | | | spoiling. Again, this piece is what seals the |
| using canning jars since the 1850's. The term | | | | jar. The metal ring is there just to protect |
| "mason jar" comes from the inventor of such | | | | the center lid. People store their jars |
| jars, John L. Mason. Mason didn't invent the | | | | without that ring because it can hide a bad |
| glass jar, of course. What he did was design | | | | seal and they're prone to corroding. By |
| and patent the metal screw-on lid for such | | | | storing your jars with the ring off, you can |
| jars, which made preserving food in them | | | | quickly ascertain the integrity of the |
| possible.Mason jars used for canning have | | | | seal.If you ever have any doubt as to whether |
| three parts. First is the glass jar itself. | | | | or not the seal's been broken, throw out the |
| They typically come in one of two styles: | | | | jar of food. It's best to not risk it. There |
| regular and widemouth. The glass jar is | | | | is plenty of information available to assist |
| usually clear, but they've been manufactured | | | | you in determining if a seal is broken, but |
| in other colors as well. Another common color | | | | the advice you're going to hear and read |
| is aqua. However they can also be found in | | | | again and again is, "When in doubt, throw it |
| pretty much any color. It may surprise you to | | | | out."Another popular lid for the mason jars |
| learn that there are collectors who | | | | is the bail closure. While not the most |
| specialize in collecting antique mason jars. | | | | common form of lid, it's still fairly common. |
| The colored ones are the most valuable as | | | | The bail closure uses a strong somewhat |
| they are the rarest kind.The second part to | | | | spring metal wire clip which when closed |
| the canning jar is the metal screw-on ring. | | | | forces the lid down and holds it shut.Mason |
| This ring is not as important as you might | | | | jars aren't just for drinking out of! Many |
| think. In fact, many experienced canners | | | | people use them for preserving food. That's |
| store their jars with the rings off. The main | | | | what they're intended for, but they can also |
| purpose of the ring has nothing to do with | | | | be used as decoration, especially the |
| sealing the jar. It's just there to protect | | | | valuable colored ones.Gregg Hall is an author |
| the center portion from being knocked off. | | | | living in Navarre Florida. |
| Also, if the seal breaks, the metal ring will | | | | |