A Mason jar is a glass jar made up of glass with screw tights made up of metals that could be used for preserving foods, like jams, or salsa.
These tightly sealed jars were a hit in the 19th century, a revolutionary technique to keep fresh food preserved for a longer time.
Now, it’s back in trend, and they are used for the look they have, a mason jar could be perfect with three things, mainly a grooved lip, a flat metal lid, and a screw-on metal ring that presses the lid to the jar, which makes it is a perfect fit for all, who likes to preserve the food they are nicely kept in these jars.
You can easily use a Mason Jar for preserving your age-old sourdough starter, or you can store your pickle in a mason jar, and you are good to go.
Designers are known for making mason jars not only for storing but also for reheating food, so here we will learn a lot about Mason jars.
Most of the jars are made up of material that is made up of Pyrex glass, which is thinner in the middle so that the glass does not shatter when being heated.
It’s better to always be safe than sorry, and you should never put a mason jar into a microwave, right after it was taken out of the freezer as it will make the jar burst into the air.
I have tried to gather some information about mason jars and you might get some interesting details regarding it here in this article.
Can You Microwave Mason Jars?
Contents
The latest jars could have a microwave-approved symbol on them but still might get superheated. Mason jars might be non-reactive but it’s not a wise idea to keep anything inside these jars for a long time that would require extra heating time.
Mason jars may come with the following parts-
- Tempered glass jar
- Metal band
- Self-Sealing lid
Moreover, you should understand the type of material from which they are made up. New
kinds of mason jars are good to be used in the microwave but always look for the labels, if they are microwave friendly or not.
Understand The Material
Using a microwave to heat your food increases the temperature of the air surrounding it. As a result of heating, the air expands.
This heated air could easily escape from the microwave as it is not designed to be airtight.Sealing a Mason jar while you’re heating your food could turn out to be a disastrous event.
Making it airtight or sealing it up with a lid would prevent air from escaping and pressure would increase which might result in a blast of the Mason jar and ultimately ruin an amazing experience.
What About Mason Jar Lids?
Why Not?
As you know the lids are made up of metal, and It should be kept in mind that the Mason jars do not have microwave-approved metal rings or caps.
Are there Microwavable Mason Jar Lids?
No, there are no such microwave-friendly lids available in mason jars as of now, but you should not put something closed lid Inside a microwave, it’s super risky to use.
Why Microwaving A Closed Mason Jar Lid A Bad Idea?
Look what happens when you cook in a microwave with a mason jar but with its lid closed, there is high-pressure buildup due to heat, as there is no escape for the heat to get out.
Eventually, this could be a disaster for you and there will be a blast for sure, likewise, if this happens but in average temperature then, this won’t happen but this does happen.
When Is Microwaving Mason Jars Not Okay?
Using a mason jar is safe most of the time but you should always take care of a few things before you put your mason jar Into a microwave. Always look out for the” microwave safe oven ” label before you use your mason jar.
It’s just not worth getting all the issues it cares about, not that you want to harm your favorite appliance or yourself, so go for the label.
Don't Microwave One That Doesn't Have The "Microwave-Safe" Label
It’s not suitable for anyone to take up that level of risk for anyone to cook with a mason jar that doesn’t have a microwave-safe label on it.
Just use a mason jar for reheating the food you are already having, not for cooking as in a microwave you can’t evenly cook food in a mason jar and it makes the food raw in some places and some overcooked, so we should avoid using mason jars for cooking.
Are All Mason Jar Companies Microwave-Safe?
Most companies make mason jars that are microwave safe but you should always be aware to look for the label before you buy.
If you are buying online then you should not get those cheap ones that are available and a few bucks, that aren’t the best quality Mason jars in the market.
Just look around who has a microwave-safe label on it. Most of the new mason jars are designed in such a way that it does have a symbol on them, so look for those new, beautiful mason jars.
“Microwave-Safe” Labels to Look For
There are a few points that you need to know before you buy a mason Jar that is microwave friendly-
- A symbol of Microwave
- Three wavy lines
If you see such symbols, you are good to go and can easily use these jars in a microwave.
Look at these labels before you go shopping for a mason jar, don’t buy cheap quality Mason jars online as they won’t have a good quality material used in the making of the jar.
Tips For Microwaving Mason Jars
The following easy tips could be followed for microwaving mason jars-
Choose A High-Quality Mason Jar
As high heat can break a thin glass mason jar when Microwaved. Use a jar that is durable and made from good, thick quality
Glass, which is essential for a great Mason Jar to be. As we will have a mason jar with high-quality glass and lid, you will have a great deal and quality for a longer tenure, so be thoughtful of that.Never Fill The Jar Fully With Food
Always remember to fill the Mason jar with half of its space as filling it to the top will make the food inside the jar spill out and cause a lot of mess inside the microwave, so keep this tip in mind before you go for microwaving something inside a Mason jar.
Use A Foil
Quarter fold a foil and place it on the lid of a Mason jar, screw it tightly on the lid, and keep room for some steam to escape while it is heating up in a microwave.
This step is very vital when it comes to cooking safely in a microwave with a mason jar.Time Rue Of 3-4 MInutes Of Cooking
Once you put your food on a 3-minute timer just be cautious and check your food if it’s okay or not once you have done that and if you see that the food is overcooked or burnt, then you will know how to use a lesser amount of time.
The next time you cook in a mason jar, you can put a timer of 2 minutes and your food will be ready; just remember that you should not open a mason jar right after, it’s been heated up in a microwave, wait for few minutes and then open the jar, so that you don’t burn yourself while handling the food.
Are Mason Jars Safe?
It’s safe to say that if a jar is made up of tempered glass then it is designed for withstanding heat, if not then it is better that you don’t use it in a microwave.
For anything which is not certified oven-friendly then you should not use any glass which isn’t that is not suitable for being inside an oven, as a high temperature of 350° F will be a high risk of shattering Inside the oven itself.
Conclusion
Mason jars are microwave friendly and are good for being used with their lid off as these mason jars are designed well and of good quality with new designs and materials being used so that people have a better experience when using them.
Always look for the important symbols which signify that these jars are microwave friendly, if not then you should avoid using such jars for cooking inside a microwave.
It’s good to have simple cold food than have a burnt-up horror movie scene, straight inside your home. Remember to look for such mason jars which are of good quality and might serve the purpose.