If you’ve ever wondered how to freeze food in mason jars without cracking or breaking them, you’re not alone. This is a very common question. In this blog I’m sharing all of my tried-and-true tips so you can confidently freeze food in glass jars.
Freezing food in mason jars has been part of my kitchen routine for years. It helps me save money, reduce waste, and keep our grocery budget incredibly low. We spend just $135 per person per month for our household. Freezing meals is part of my batch cooking routine and glass jars are something that I always have on hand and they work well for freezing.
Why Freeze Food in Mason Jars?
Freezing food in mason jars is a simple and practical way to store homemade meals, soups, sauces, and stocks. Freezing in glass makes it easy to see what is inside the jars so nothing gets forgotten. It helps if you are taking inventory or planning meals, you can see exactly what you have. Make sure you label your jars with sharpie, you can see how to easily remove that in this video. Using jars makes it easier to keep your freezer organized. Items are all similar in size and shape so you can organize them neatly in your freezer. I also have plenty of jars on hand for storing produce so it’s easy to use them for other purposes.
Choose the Right Jar Size for Freezing
Before freezing anything, think about how much you’ll need when you thaw it. Once you thaw the food you only have a couple of days to enjoy it so portioning correctly prevents waste. I have found that pint jars work well for single lunches for myself as well as things like broth. Mike prefers pint and a half jar portion sizes for his lunches. For bigger quantities, I use quart jars for sauces and meals that more than one person will be eating.
If you are shopping for jars or already use jars then you are probably wondering about wide mouth vs. regular mouth jars. I prefer to use wide mouth jars because they have a smaller shoulder which makes them less likely to crack. I also find them easier to fill and clean. Also, once you have an entire collection of wide mouth jars, all lids and rings interchange, making storage much simpler.
No matter what type of jar you use, you need to leave head space. This is empty space between the top of the food item and the top of the jar.
Important Steps for Freezing Food in Mason Jars
One of the most important steps in how to freeze food in mason jars safely is temperature control. You should never put hot food directly into the freezer. I recommend putting the jars in the refrigerator overnight. This will allow them to fully cool before you move them into the freezer. Doing this also reduces the risk of your jars breaking due to the sudden drop in temperature.
It is also important to leave the proper headspace, or room at the top of the jar. This is needed because food expands as it freezes and when it expands it can break the glass. In wide-mouth jars it is recommended to leave at least 1 inch of headspace. In regular mouth jars it is recommended to leave 1 1⁄2 to 2 inches of headspace. Most wide-mouth jars have a freezing line marked right on the glass. Look for that line and make sure to not fill it over that glass.
Another important step is to not fully tighten the rings on the lids until the items are fully frozen. This comes back to the idea of expansion and it allows pressure to escape during the freezing process. Once the item is fully frozen, the ring can be tightened on the jar.
The Best Foods to Freeze in Mason Jars
Anything that you want to freeze can be frozen in a mason jar. I make a year's worth of spaghetti sauce at a time and freeze it in jars to take out as needed throughout the year. I also use mason jars for items like soups and stews. Chicken stock and beef stock freezes well in mason jars and then depending on how much you use in your recipe you can store the remaining stock in your fridge in the jar.
Another money saving tip, if you don’t use a full jar of store-bought sauce, freeze the rest! It only lasts 5–7 days in the fridge once it is opened but will last for months in the freezer.
How to Thaw Frozen Mason Jars Safely
When it’s time to defrost the food in the mason jars you should place the jar in cool water in the sink. After about an hour the food will begin to loosen in the jar and you should be able to dump it out. You also could allow the jar to defrost in the refrigerator. It is important to avoid hot water or sudden changes in temperature. This can cause the jar to break.
Save Money By Freezing Food
Once you understand how to freeze food in mason jars, it becomes one of the easiest ways to keep your freezer organized, eat well, and save money on groceries. Choosing the right jar and filling it correctly is important. Once you learn these skills they are easy to apply and you can confidently freeze even more food.
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