You may not know this about me but I’m a bit of an organizing fanatic. Whether it’s keeping the aesthetic of this website clean and user-friendly, or storing leftovers in my refrigerator, I like my surroundings to be very orderly.
One of my favorite organizing tools is glass mason jars. I’ve been a mason jar devotee since the early 1990’s when I took my Ayurvedic training in New York City. Back then we were taught the principles of healthy cooking and food storage and those have stayed with me over the years. I’m still a total enthusiast when it come to glass. The first thing they often say when they walk in my kitchen is, “Why do you have so many glass jars?!” Here you’ll find out why glass is better than plastic!
1. Glass is Healthier than Plastic
I avoid plastic as much as possible for a number of reasons. First, plastic is made of petrochemicals that are full of toxic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC’s) known as xeno-estrogens. These chemicals can leach into your food and then your body.
2. Glass is Cheaper
Plastic containers cost a pretty penny. Glass on the other hand is cheaper and a better investment. This sturdy material lasts much longer than plastic. If you don’t want to buy glass jars, you can collect them. It still blows my mind that every time we finish a jar of almond butter or coconut oil, a beautiful piece of glass remains. Save for a year and you’ll have an entire matching set!
3. Easy to Organize
Glass containers are super easy to organize. Your struggle to find matching lids for plastic containers will be a thing of the past when you switch to glass.
4. Easy to Clean
Because of its solid and sturdy surface glass is a breeze to clean. You won’t scrub away at glass until it deteriorates and leaches into your food!
5. Won’t Melt in Dishwasher
Unlike plastic, glass can be safely washed at high temperatures.
6. Doesn’t Stain
Glass doesn’t stain. Unlike plastic, this sturdy material does not absorb oils and spices. I love that I can drink a Golden Turmeric Latte out of a mason jar, then place it in the dishwasher, and pull it out looking brand new!
7. No Flavor Trespassing
Plastic is not a durable substance. Its pliability makes it absorb and retain odor. I wouldn’t want to store my Mustard Lime Chicken in a plastic container. The plastic would smell like the savory mustard and chili in this recipe no matter how much I washed it. Who needs lingering food odors in their storage containers? Everything tastes better in glass.
8. Mystery Food in the Back of the Fridge? No Thanks!
I like to see what’s in my fridge. Visibility makes that space so much easier to maintain. Who wants mystery foods concealed by plastic hiding out in the back of the fridge, turning into a science experiment?! Not me.
9. Saves Space
Glass is fantastic when it comes to using vertical storage space. Tall mason jars fill my fridge shelves and pantry taking up less horizontal real estate by occupying the vertical spaces in our fridge, pantry, and cabinets.
10. Glass is Beautiful
Yes, glass is beautiful. Glass is gorgeous and aesthetically pleasing. Our fridge looks like a work of art when I’m done cleaning it out and organizing it.
Buy Glass for Your Kitchen
These are my favorite jars for storage!
And here are some great pieces that can go from fridge to oven to table!
This post is an oldie but goodie from the archives, I first published it in 2008.
AmyRuth says
I’m all about the visual and the economic justification. The health reasons must just be a bonus, right? Really great photo. I still have a long way to go, though.
Thank you
AmyRuth
Elana says
AmyRuth, you’re welcome :-)
Emily says
Good evening Miss Elana!
As we can afford, I am slowly getting rid of everything plastic (and aluminum!) in our home. I found some great mason jars at a shop nearby and purchased them but they are still waiting to be opened because I am concerned about their seal. These are the 2-piece type; they have cover and a screw on band. Are they the same as you use? Do you find that they create an airtight seal? I have been freezing leftovers in a few old mason jars I already had with the 2 part lids and I’m a bit worried they don’t fully seal. I wouldn’t want food to go off because of it not sealing properly or something like nut milk leaking.
Also- I see your comment on storing your lettuce and greens. Do you find this works well with kale too? Do you chops and de-vine the greens or leave them whole? What size Ziploc bags work best? (The shelves in our fridge are made of plastic!!! This is a battle my husband will not let me win as he does not understand purchasing a new fridge when the one we have works perfectly fine) What do you store fruits in?
I am also proud to say I have gone through less than 1 box of Ziploc bags in the past 6 months or so (ever since I learned about the effects of plastic)! I like to freeze fruit wrapped in parchment paper first, then placed in Ziploc freezer bags. I found that freezing fruit in mason jars results in one big frozen chunk and then you have to defrost the entire thing and use it all at once.
Thanks for your input! As always, I appreciate your patience with all my questions. I love learning all about healthy living and wish I had learned these things long ago! :-)
Elana says
Emily, thanks for your questions! I use BPA-free lids for our mason jars that seal very effectively. For more on how I store greens you’ll want to check out this post:
https://elanaspantry.com/mckale/
Enjoy!
Elana
Stacy says
I just found your site from Sew, Mama, Sew and have been busy reading the whole thing the past few days. I love all of the recipes and am going to try out a few in the near future (when I can squeeze in some more cooking/baking!). I am dairy intolerant and try to use less gluten flours in our food (I suspect a gluten intolerance). Your recipes all look really good! Now for my glass question: what do you use to store juice (mixed from concentrate or juiced to be drunk later in the day), almond milk, and cold tea in the refrigerator? I have tried finding glass juice jars and such, but without much luck. We are transitioning away from plastics, so any help would be greatly appreciated! The glass mason jar idea is very clever and one I am going to start using immediately since our glass bowl collection is quickly used up storing leftovers and such!
Elana says
Stacy, Thanks for your comment and nice to meet you! I also use the glass mason jars for storing tea, green juice, and almond milk. Here’s links to those recipes for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/thai-iced-tea/
https://elanaspantry.com/cilantro-detox-juice/
https://elanaspantry.com/almond-milk/
Enjoy!
Elana
Dana- Scranton PA says
I am so glad to have found your site. This article is just what I was looking for to finalize my decision to go glass. I am not gluten free- but my friend has celiac so often I try to find good recipes for her.
I have a question for storing fresh produce IE organic baby lettuce- I buy a big box of it from Sam’s Club and though we go thru it quick it still has to be stored for a day or 2. Do you have any ideas? Would paper bags work ya think? And since all of my fresh organic produce comes in stupid plastic bags- celery,carrots,greens,herbs etc any input on storing these would be much appreciated :-)
Thanks so much for your hard work on this site. So much wonderful information for the up and coming green and natural convert.
Elana says
Dana, thanks for your comment! When I buy big boxes of greens I usually leave them in the container until we use them. Here’s a bit of info on storing greens for you:
https://elanaspantry.com/mckale/
And when I buy other veggies such as carrots or broccoli I buy them loose and throw them directly into my shopping cart, skipping the plastic bags altogether :-)
Enjoy!
Elana
Tara says
I am also trying to use mostly glass for food storage and transport. I was unaware that half-gallon mason jars exist, so I’m glad to learn that (although they are currently unavailable at Amazon). For leftovers and for my husband’s lunch to take to work, I use Pyrex glass containers (yes, with plastic lids).
The sizes of the Pyrex containers are usually “just right” for my storage needs. They can be purchased in sets or individually. They also come in rectangular shapes.
I prefer the round shape for sending my husband’s lunch because the lids stay on better; the corners of the rectangles come up more easily. These work for my husband. I can imagine that spills and breakage might be a bigger concern for children’s lunches! My husband does complain that his lunch bag gets too heavy and bulky when I send several glass containers. But it’s better than plastic, in my opinion.
Also, for drinking water on the go, we use Klean Kanteen stainless steel bottles.
Tara
Elana says
Thanks Tara!
elana says
Angela,
I freeze all of my stocks in 1 quart mason jars
. The mason jars I purchase have a fill line which indicates a safe amount to put in the jar if you are freezing liquid in it. I tend to fill a little below this line and haven’t had any trouble with breakage when doing so.
Per what to pack food in for meals on the go, I haven’t yet come up with a good solution. I use little wax paper bags –very wasteful:-( for the boys school lunches and sometimes a small mason jar for items such as yogurt or fruit salad; though this only works when they don’t punt kick their lunches up in the air like a football, which I have pretty much trained them out of. Still, even with careful handling we do get a broken jar in the lunches every now and then. My husband thinks I’m nuts to use the little mason jars, however I just can’t bear to pack their food in plastic, as I worry about the impact on their little bodies.
You could always use a stainless steel thermos. Or, some Asian shops have little stainless steel lunch packs with a snap on lid; I purchased one a long time ago though can’t find it online.
I hope this helps and lets keep in touch about more ideas.
Thanks,
Elana
Yolanda says
Have you tried thrift shops they are great for glass containers!
Yolanda says
Elana,
I found the stainless steel stacking containers @ World market; perhaps they carry them in their online stock.
Thank you for your website and sharing your ideas with us. I love glass!!!
Teresa Fischer says
Hi!
I found some 1 3/4 cup corning ware containers on ebay (P-41B) that I use to freeze my leftovers, and then I take one to work the next day for lunch. They have plastic lids, and you can buy extra lids separately on Ebay, but there is also a glass lid for them. So, when I reheat my lunch, I switch out the plastic lid for the glass.
Angela says
I am in the process of converting to glass as well. When my daughter was finally diagnosed I created a personal pantry for her- I stored all of her flours in plastic cereal containers. I have since converted our kitchen and home – we are all completely gluten free now.
I have no trouble storing my flours, nuts and leftovers in glass jars in the fridge-
my question is regarding freezing- I tend to make large batches of stock at a time and am aprehensive about freezing it in glass jars- I don’t like using the plastic but have no other options. I also make freezer meals for my husband to bring to work or to take out on Sabbath- I usually freeze these in Rubbermaid containers- any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
~M says
This post on using glass is great, with my favorite part being, “And my favorite part? Good use of vertical storage space.” I could hear myself think the same thing :)
Since my apartment situation is temporary, and I’m a student without a paycheck, I haven’t bought glass yet. However, I have been keeping leftover glass jars of salsa (we like Green Mountain Gringo for store-bought), and I clean and dishwash them (with my new Ecover dishwashing tabs!) and they are great and free (with the salsa, that is!).
Elana, what do you use or recocmmend as “tupperware” to store leftovers in the fridge (if that ever happens in your home) or for your family to bring their lunch to school/work?
Elana says
~M, I like to pack lunch for the boys in mason jars. They are very sturdy and do not break unless the boys punt their lunch boxes –I broke them of the habit in 1st grade. For leftover storage in the fridge I use mason jars as well as the glass containers listed above :-)
Prairie Chick says
LOVE IT. I’m in the process of “conversion” over here, (the plastic hasn’t quite made it out the door yet, only got as far as being retired to a top shelf) I think this was the final push I needed to “go and throw”! Isn’t it funny how such simple changes can bring simple joy to a woman’s day? :D
Elana says
Prarie Chick, I totally agree!
Angela says
Wow. Just found your amazing blog! Love it!! I’m excited to revamp my kitchen with glass!!! I was just thinking that I would switch to glass yesterday, then found your blog today… funny, eh? I look forward purusing the rest of your blog! Happy day!
Elana says
Thanks Angela!