Updated May 2022
The Penley jars discussed in the post below are no longer in production. This post is originally from 2011. If you are looking to purchase canning jars that aren’t made by Ball Canning, I recommend you look to a jar distributor like Fillmore Container. They sell a wide variety of mason jars.
Canning jars, at least as we know them now, have been around since 1868. John L. Mason developed the system of a threaded jar with a lid designed for sealing (he used lead lids with a rubber seal, not exactly the two-piece lid we know now, but very close). The technology hasn’t change much since then.
It used to be that there were a number of canning jar manufacturers. Ball. Kerr. Atlas. Drey. Mason. Globe. Mom’s. Knox. Golden Harvest. However, as so often happens, through a process of competition and consolidation, the number of jar producers grew fewer over the years.
In 1993, the Ball Corporation (which by that time was the only domestic canning jar manufacturer) spun off their canning jar sector into the company that is now known at Jarden Home Brands. They make all the Ball, Kerr and Golden Harvest jars currently available in stores. One of the reasons that canning jars can be so pricey is that there’s been no competition in this sector of the market.*
However, thanks to the growing popularity of canning in recent years, we’re finally going to start seeing some new canning jars hit the market this season. Walmart has a line of mason jars called Mainstays, as well as a fancier variety branded with the Better Homes and Garden name. And soon, a variety of stores will be carrying Penley Mason jars (these are not the jars that Walmart is carrying). Those Penley jars are the ones I want to talk about today.
I recently had an opportunity to preview the line of jars made by the Penley Corporation. Up until now, they’ve been in the business of making and distributing clothespins, matches, toothpicks, plastic cutlery and drinking straws. Canning jars are a departure for them, but from the examples I’ve seen, they are doing an amazingly good job with their new product.
In most respects, they are physically nearly identical to the jars most of us currently use. They make pints and quarts in both regular and wide mouth and an embossed half pint in a regular mouth. Lids and rings are interchangeable between Ball, Kerr and Penley, which is fabulous for those of us who already have a stash of lids or who are planning on using Tattler lids this season.
When I met with the Penley rep, he pointed out the fact that they intentionally left the back of their pints and quarts smooth to better accommodate the labels that so many canners apply to their jars. I was happy to see that particularly since I’ve always hated the round of wheat and fruit on the back of the Ball jars (in researching this post, I learned that it’s been there since 1970).
As far as performance goes, I’ve canned in these jars several times now and they’ve been perfect, not a failed seal among them. What’s more, they just feel good in the hand. They are sturdy and solid, just the way I expect a good canning jar to be. As you can see from the picture above, there’s a water spot left on that jar from a run through the dishwasher, there because I’ve used this jar for leftover storage and the transportation of iced coffee to work. They’ve seamlessly become part of my collection of working jars.
Finally (and best of all), they are going to be less expensive than Ball or Kerr jars. While it will only be a dollar or two difference, if you do a lot of canning, that can add up quickly.
As far as I can see, there are only two drawbacks to these jars. The first is that they’ve left no space on the lid for writing. As someone who always writes on the lids of my preserves with a Sharpie, this is a minor annoyance. Second is that the jars are made in China. I pass no judgment on Penley for making this choice as in today’s market it is really the only way to make a lower cost product. If you are someone who avoids things made outside of the U.S. I wanted to make sure you were aware (and as you can see, they’ve clearly printed the origin on the bottom of all the Penley jars).
Disclosure: The Penley Corp. gave me an assortment of jars and lids to try. However, all thoughts and opinions expresses herein are my own and untainted by the free loot.
*There are the Leifheit jars, but they are so much more expensive (around $20 for six jars) than Ball and Kerr jars, that I don’t see them as a viable alternative for people who do more than the most basic recreational canning.
I have used canning jars to make a layered cornbread salad to take on picnics and others to serve iced tea. I really feel that glass is better for us than plastics. Sorry Rubbermaid!
I love canning! (and would love to win). I need a new batch of jars to get ready for strawberry rhubarb jam season 🙂
I love canning jars… I can quite a bit and love putting stuff in jars 🙂 Hoping to win. Thanks for the great give away!
o my fav. unconventional canning jar use…to store any foodstuff in that originally comes in plastic…until I find ways to bypass the darn plastic…
I made lotion and am keeping it in jars–so easy to open, especially with the Ball BPA-free plastic lids.
AWESOME to hear new canning jars are coming out! I use them for everything, from drinking , to food storage, to sewing notions storage, cotton balls and sooo much more!
what a great review, thank you for all the information! my favorite unconventional canning jar use is for displaying each summer vacation collection. we gather items that remind us of that vacation–sand and shells from the beach, or twigs and nuts from a trip to a state park, etc.–and then arrange them in the jar with a printout of a picture of us at that location. different size jars arranged together on a shelf make a very personal display and protect our little treasures at the same time.
That is such an awesome idea! What a space saver too… either stored on a display shelf together or tucked here and there through out your home, a tidy little time capsule. Thanks for the pretty visual image!
I have a jar on my desk full of marbles from my childhood that I use as a paper weight. I love it. 🙂
I think the most unconventional I get with canning jars is using them for rice, nuts, etc for my dry goods storage! I’m not very creative in that aspect I guess! Would love to try these though.:)
This winter I started purchasing supplies to get myself into a place where I can start canning this season. I am interested in trying another type of jar.
love canning!
I have a plan to use canning jars for tiny terrariums to give as gifts. Also, I store all my homemade bath/beauty products in jars.
Oh yay! So glad to hear there’s a real competitor out there and that these are less expensive! The jar looks very sturdy. Have you tried it in pressure canning yet? No breakage?
I don’t know how unconventional it is, but I use my canning jars for just about everything, including (but not limited to) bug collecting (I have six kids), homeschool projects (did I mention I have six kids?), holding homemade dishwasher detergent, holding homemade laundry detergent, as a vase for wildflowers, to transport algae from the lake to my compost pile, and about a million other uses. LOL
One can never have too many jars! I can with mine, but also use them to contain homemade detergents, and to dry goods in.
Jars never go unused at my house. We process everything we can get our hands on…from venison to wild turkey to sauerkraut. I can always use more jars!
I use my jars for everything. Canning, drinking, making individual pies, vases, dry goods canisters (which I vac seal with a FoodSaver), I make our own toothpaste, face wash using the littlest jars and split out bulk applesauce and other goods into take-along sizes. I keep pet food in them and popped holes in a top making shaker jars for baking soda and other dry cleaning goods and air fresheners.
I should probably stop now…
I’ve used canning jars to hold toothbrushes, cotton balls, & qtips in the washroom, hubby uses them to organize screws, nails, & smaller tools in the garage. I’ve also stored leftover seeds in smaller canning jars for next season.
Thanks for the opportunity 🙂
OOPS…sorry, just realized that I didn’t leave my unconventional use of jars…I use them to store craft supplies in mine…although when I was growing up, my grandparents and aunt used them for Sweet Tea…
My fav use for mason jars (besides canning) is for flowers, or drinking iced tea. Not a southern girl, but I do like ice tea on a hot day.
Thanks for the opportunity. Will come in handy when I start canning this summer.
Oh to have such variety. In Australia we have only one brand of preserving jar.
I am just getting really into canning, but I have quite a stash of jars I use for storage of every conceivable little thing I can find to put in them. I just love the way they look. Great giveaway, I hope I win!
I’m relatively new to canning too, but I really want to try canning things besides jams, like maybe pie filling or spaghetti sauce. I’d love to win these!
Thanks for the review and the heads-up about China. I keep a pint jar partially full of coins in the drink holder of my car. I keep little enough money that no one’s broken into my car for it *knocks on wood* but enough to be able to feed parking meters as needed. :)I think it’s pretty.
We are using mason jars for candles on the tables outside at our wedding this summer.
ooooo!!! Would love to try these out; hope they are available in my area soon! Unconventional? Button storage for crafting…they are perfect! Wide mouth so they are easy to access.
I like to use them to drink out of or for a flower vase!
I have a couple quarts on my dresser that I use for holding my vast eyewear collection. I hook one arm into the jar so the lenses are hanging on the outside. Makes it easy to always find them, especially if I don’t have a pair on at the time!
Thanks for this! I go through so many jars every year, this looks like a good alternative. I can’t wait to see the vintage shapes, too. My most unusual use for a jar? I have one in the garage with white vinegar in it, a hole punched in the lid, and a big fat paintbrush stuck through the hole. I paint vinegar on weeds growing in cracks in the patio and driveway. WeedBGone. Hope you are well and the book is coming along.
I would LOVE to win this giveaway. 🙂
We use jars to collect money for missions at our church. The kids have a jar and I am setting up a jar for a missionary family we are supporting.
I also use them for crafting supplies and have even done a ‘canning jar swap’ where we fill a quart size jar with all sorts of little crafting embelishments and mailed them out to our swap partners. It was tons of fun. 🙂
I plan on canning this time, would love to have these jars for canning also for storage!
My dad always used them in the garage to keep miscellaneous bolts, screws, etc. He attached the lid to the underside of a shelf and could easily screw and unscrew the jar. This is definitely something I use in my own home today.
I love using the giant quart size jars for vases! I just bought some tulips last night and they’re gorgeous in the tall Ball jar. 🙂
what a nice giveaway. I want so badly to start canning, but I have not had the courage to start yet. So maybe if I was to win, that would give me the push. 🙂
And I can’t wait to see what Wal-Mart comes out with…
Happy Canning…
Kelley
i have a jar for each of my nieces and nephew. as i collect little things for them i put them in the jar.. when its full i send them on their way
I would LOVE to try out these new jars! So happy there’s a new kid on the block. My “unconventional” use? I store the worm “tea” from my worm composting bin in quart jars to use little by little when I water my houseplants.
We homeschool – so we have a multitude of pencils, pens, markers, and miscellaneous tools always floating around. I love the aesthetic of using the jars as pencil holders for all of these things. It echoes our own unconventional approach to life!
Wow, cool! Nice to see some variety (and hopefully competitive pricing). I can always use more jars!
Even though I’m leaving a comment please do NOT include me for the drawing. I just wanted to say that I for one will NEVER buy these jars. Being made in China is the BIG turn off. I will spend the extra or buy mason jars at a yard sale.
I’m so with you wcv, I’d rather pay more than either Walmart or China!!
Add me to the NOT FROM CHINA list! Buy American! Ick. I wouldn’t trust them.
Whew….so glad I’m not the only one who won’t buy Made in China. Saving a few dollars is just not worth it.
I’m with you all. Saving $1 on a case of jars is about 8 cents per jar. Who would take a chance on Lead in the product, or some other Chinese corner-cutting material, to save 8 cents. Not to mention taking away American jobs. This Penley endorsement makes me lose respect for “Food in Jars” site.
While we all have different opinions on free-market choices, I appreciate Marisa’s honesty both about the function of these jars and their origin. I found this review to be balanced and informed.
made in china…no thanks, not when there are closer options.
I totally agree. Keep American money and jobs in America AND know that WE have manufacturing laws to protect us and our children.
You know, FIJ is a website that we’re really lucky to have. She’s offered us so much information about what’s available in the marketplace, how to can safely and well, who’s who and what they’re doing, etc. This is a giveaway for people who want to participate. I can appreciate your politics but don’t slam the giveaway. Make your point somewhere else in some other way or it just sounds self-righteous and grumpy. If your goal is to raise consciousness, try a gentler hand.
Very disappointed in the made in China bit too. Ball makes a great product here in the USA and if those are too pricey plenty of old mason jars to be found at thrift stores and yard sales especially this time of year.
Thank you Marisa for all the info you post. Maybe Mason will take note and use a USA supplier and if they do …. let’s support them. I love the smooth side, labels would look so much better on these.
I appreciate all the time you put into your blog.
Go to the company website they closed all their mills in maine in 2003 that came from the website they only import stuff. Please go read click on the name up top.
No China stuff for this girl…. Makes me ill to see that stamp on the bottom. Yuck!
Not sure how unconventional it is, but I use my jars for sprouting nuts and grains!
I have two main uses for canning jars, besides their intended purpose. The first is that my sugar container (near the coffee pot) is a small, pretty jar with a plastic “storage lid”. The second is that I have milk goats, and I store all my milk in half-gallon and quart-size jars. Don’t know what I’d do without them!
Can’t wait to make time to can with my dad this summer- your posts are really inspiring me to take on the garden this year. I am happy (and lucky) that its something he and I love to do. Pickles!
My fave non conventional use I guess would be to store my sewing things. I have buttons in a jar, and needles in one, and small spools of misc threads in another. I like the vintagey feel to having canning jars around me 😀
I usually store my leftovers in jars, it’s just easier than tupperware. Then I can just bring it to work the next day no problem!
Mama canned vegetables and fruit and we sure did enjoy the bounty year round. I am so happy that my sister kept the recipes and now we can continue the tradition!
Ooh, pick me! My favorite unconventional canning jar use is taking an empty to potlucks or parties where I’ll be walking around with food and a drink. I can skip the disposable plastic cup and the lid means I can close up my drink and stash it in my purse rather than juggling a plate of food and a cup full of beer or wine.
This is the BEST idea! Love it! I have taken drinks in jars before, just never thought of taking an empty.
But sorry, she is gonna pick me. 🙂
So Cool – I hope the prices are a little bit lower and I love vintage. Not only do I use the jars for canning but also for storing! I do alot of canning!
I think starting seeds is the most unusual use I’ve made of canning jars, so far. 🙂
I would love to try these new jars.
Thanks for the chance.
Currently I use jars for storage of supplies in my sewing room. I have some vintage blue Ball jars with glass lids (I’m guessing they used a detachable rubber gasket back when?), and they look gorgeous lined up holding clips, ribbon, notions, etc.
I am very new to cannning and would love to win!!
Thanks!