Hey earth muffins! If you have been following this blog for a while now, you will know that I have quite the mason jar collection. It is super easy to opt for glass containers in the kitchen to avoid pesky plastics. When I tell people that I store food in the freezer in mason jars, they are often surprised that you can do that. And you definitely can! In today’s post I will be sharing all the secrets on how to successfully freeze food in glass!
Can You Actually Freeze in Glass Jars??
Yes! As I mentioned above, I have very few non-glass containers in my kitchen. Mason jars are a great tool to prevent food waste in the kitchen by popping leftovers into the freezer. Unlike plastic, glass can crack (and even shatter) if it goes from hot to cold or cold to hot too quickly. While you can obviously freeze glass jars, it is important to follow these tips to ensure none of your jars break.
How to Freeze in Glass
Pick glass jars that won’t crack as much. Avoid containers with a narrow neck and use wide mouth jars instead. These are easier to fill with food as well! Some jars are also made with thicker glass. Anything that is boiled in the jar (such as jam jars from the grocery store) is typically thicker glassed. Opt for these when picking jars to pop into the freezer!
Don’t fill to the very top! Liquids expand when they freeze, which is why you need to give a little wiggle room for your food. For wide mouth jars, fill to the top of the widest part of the jar; leave the rest of the tapering top empty to ensure your food has room to expand. If you are freezing just a liquid (like veggie stock, etc.), I would recommend leaving even more space.
Let the food cool completely before popping into the freezer. Again, you are trying to avoid a quick change in temperature. I fill my mason jars and let them sit on the counter without the lids on for an hour or so. Once the jar is warm or cool to the touch it is ready for the freezer!
Don’t hit the jars with utensils too much! I like to freeze things like diced onions to add into meals as I cook. Sometimes I’ll use a knife to dislodge a few pieces to add into the dish… But be careful when you do this! A frozen jar is much easier to crack; if you use too much force you may accidentally break the glass.
When defrosting, put into the fridge (or a bowl of cold water) so that it warms up slowly. This will ensure that you don’t cause any issues in the defrosting process.
A great way to reduce food waste is to utilize your freezer, and I highly recommend freezing in glass! As long as you take care to follow these tips, you shouldn’t have any issues with your jars breaking in the freezer. Glass is infinitely better than plastic, so stick to those mason jars and freeze food the sustainable way. What do you like to store in the freezer? Comment below and let me know your experience with freezing in glass!
Love,
Jenna ♥
These are such helpful tips. Thank you! I always learn so much from your posts.