As I mentioned a couple weeks back, Ball has brought the 24 ounce jar back into production after years of unavailability. I’m quite pleased, as this size and shape jar has been one of my favorites ever since I picked one up in a thrift store some years back.
Since posting about these pint and half jars, I’ve gotten a slew of questions about them and so I thought I’d dedicate a post to the ways in which you can incorporate these jars into your kitchen and canning routine.
These are a few of the vintage versions of the Pint & Half.
First off, a couple details about these jars. Unlike most canning jars, they come packed in cases of nine. Even though it says so plainly on the package and it’s obvious from the promotional pictures that that’s how they’re sold, for some reason it took me by surprise when I first saw them in person.
They’re clearly printed with cup measurements and even a fill line if you plan on using them for freezing. Just so you know, this size jar is excellent for freezing, because they don’t have shoulders. When the contents of the jar expand in the freezer, there’s no danger of the rising liquid pushing up against the glass and causing breakage.
I use this size jar for all manner of kitchen jobs. From left to right, I’ve got Blood Orange Shrub, my sourdough starter, cashews, a cup of tea, a manual coffee grinder and the last of my dehydrated tomatoes from the freezer.
As far as canning in these jars goes, the rule of thumb is to process these 24 ounce jars as you would quarts. No halving the time or any tricky calculations necessary. Since receiving my two cases*, I’ve used them for a couple of pickling projects and couldn’t be happier with the results. My dilly carrots and pickled asparagus have plenty of space to stand up tall (and they look pretty nice to boot).
They’re also good for things like pasta sauce (when a pint isn’t quite enough and a quart is too much), soup (preserved in the pressure canner) and pie filling.
When it comes to sourcing these jars, I’ve been told by Ball that Ace Hardware, True Value and Do It Best Hardware Store will all be carrying them, though they’re not listed on any of their websites as of yet. I’ve also heard from a Wegmans employee that they’ll be carrying them in their stores as well.
If you can’t find them in your area, the best thing to do is to find a local hardware store and ask if they’ll include them in their next order.
How do you plan on using these jars in your kitchen this summer?
I just processed chicken in these lovely jars for 85 minutes with 11 lbs pressure. Quarts require 90 minutes… do you think I am ok?
Given that they aren’t as wide as quarts, I think you should be okay. But in the future, be extra cautious and add those five minutes!
I am trying to figure out how long to process 1/2 pint jars for meat and vegetables
When it comes to pressure canning, I always follow the National Center for Home Food Preservation timings. https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/preparing-and-canning-poultry-red-meats-and-seafoods/meat-strips-cubes-or-chunks/#gsc.tab=0
How many 1/2 pt jars are needed for 2qts juice when making Muscadine jelly? And how much sugar is needed? Do I use a full box of pectin?
I’ve never made muscadine jelly, so I can’t advise you. But this looks like a useful reference. https://www.uaex.uada.edu/counties/howard/news/fcs/september-2021/tips-and-tricks-for-making-muscadine-jelly.aspx
I am trying to process 24 oz and pint jars at the same time to get my sweet potatoes used up. Can I do that?
Yes. But you need to run the canner for the larger jars. 24 ounce jars are treated like quart jars.
Thanks for the info on where to purchase the 24 ounce jars. I’ve been looking for them for awhile now.
THANK YOu! I have some that I bought a while back for asparagus. Uh. 10 years ago! Mine was in 12 packs. LOL. The cooking time had me baffled, so I didn’t use them.. I used tall 12 oz jelly jars instead. Now I feel comfortable filling them up! YAY!!!!!!!!!!
I’m so glad I could help you figure out how to use them!
I use this size for my cakes in a jar. Fill 1/2 way, bake, apply lids as soon as they come out of oven. They seal and keep for a LONG time.
Unfortunately, that’s not a safe process.
Thank you Marisa. I just bought some of these jars so I appreciate the info on processing time. I have some recipes where I want to increase the jar size from 1/2 pint to either 12 oz or pint. Is there a rule of thumb for increasing the processing time? Thanks so much!
I am shopping for a new pressure canner. Probably All- American. The 921 will handle 7 quarts, the 925 also handles 7 quarts “with a little extra head room.” Does anyone know how many of these 1.5 pint jars fit the 921 versus the 930? Maybe no difference. The 930 jumps up to 14 quart jars.
I’ve only used a Presto pressure canner, so unfortunately, I can’t speak to the All-American models.
My All-American 921 handles 8 of the 1.5 jars.
I’m so glad I came back across this post – I checked Target’s website, and these are currently on sale, plus I get my 5% redcard discount 😀
I am following a recipe that will make 6 pints, but I am using pint and half jars. How long should I process and still use the 1 tablespoon of lemon juice?
I’ve used this size for years when I make sauerkraut, it’s the perfect amount for two people!
I love this size of jars. I make all our canned soups in them because it is a perfect size for the two of us. Quarts are a little too much and pints are too little. I’ve had these jars for probably 30 years and will start looking for more as they are so very convenient for our prepared dinners also.
I don’t think these 1.5-pint jars have measurements on them.
The recently re-issued ones do. The vintage ones do not.
My husband and I like the pint and a half jars and our favorite use for them is canning bacon in them.
A pound of bacon fits perfect in them vs the quart being too big and the pint being too small.
Here in Maine,a store named Reny’s Dept store sells the 24oz size ball jars for less than ten dollars!!
Walmart is carrying these jars. My mother loves this size so I picked her up a couple of cases. Of course I then had to grab myself a case too.
I found them at Target of all places – not there to get canning jars but found them and grabbed them because I love the shape. I have a BPA free sippy cup lid that I can put on any wide mouth jar and drink my coffee, green drink or water out of and was super excited about this shaped jar! Target also had blue pint jars (not the vintage colored blue – but a pretty blue none the less)!
Cheers,
Cj*
We are starting a small buiness canning a marinara sauce. We want to use the one piece lid instead of the two piece. Do we cann these as we would the 2 piece. Please let me know. Thanks.
My post on canning with one-piece lids can be found here: https://foodinjars.com/2012/10/canning-101-how-to-use-one-piece-lids/
I just got them at walmart
Glad to know the pint & half jars are available again. I love to can pickled okra in these and place fresh dill in different areas so that they are seen all around the jar. Nothing is any better than home canned vegetables. I have to leave them on my counter where they can be seen. Makes a great conversation starter.
Hi Marisa,
I totally love your blog. Just made my first project of some orange jelly and will do something tomatoey next.
I’d love it if you could do a post on jar accessories, like the ones you show in this post. Some of them you’ve mentioned now and then, but it would be great to see a general survey and source list. I am COVETING that coffee grinder. It would be handy to have some of those drinking tops, a pouring spout, etc.
Jars are so wonderfully versatile, health-preserving, and do a great job of making beautiful look treasured and special. Thanks so much for your blog!
Best,
Anne
Gemma, you’re not canning the bread, just using the jar as a baking pan of sorts.
Do not try to can bread!
I use these for bread in a jar. Any non yeast bread like zucchini bread will do. Just bake the bread in the jar. Because it’s tapered the loaf slides out easily when you’re ready to serve the bread.
Rosie: do you have to do anything different to the recipe to Can the bread in the Jar??
I am so glad to hear they are back. I love canning in the few that I have found at yard sales.
I am so glad to hear they are back love canning in the few that I have found at yard sales.
DOES ANY ONE KNOW WHEN CANNING SPAGGITTI MEAT SAUCE IF AND HOW MUCH CANNED SAUCE IN STEAD OF 30 LBS OF FRESH TOMATOS CAN YOU USE
I’ve been collecting these jars for years. How cool that they are now available again. Thanks for reporting!
TRACTOR SUPPLY ALSO CARRIES THEM
I kept looking every few weeks and finally found them on ace and am having them shipped to my local store!! How exciting!!!
Lowe’s has them too, they were $10.98, but I love this jar for broths. I can’t wait to find some more!
I found some in an OLD House. Ive wanted to buy some ever since. BEST Tea glass Ever !
Oh, this is great news. I have a couple of old ones also. I love that manuel grinder on one of your jars. I have an old coffee grinder that mounts on the wall, but I have not seen one like that, very cool. I ordered some half gallon jars from Ace Hardware, great for vacuum sealing dried beans. Thanks for the information.
For those in the Midwest, Rural King carries them in store for $9.99.