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 make breakfast in them to take to work with me at the beginning of the week by cooking oatmeal and putting it into 5 jars. Then I just grab one each morning and can microwave it at work. So easy!
Your pictures inspire me to want to can.
I’m looking forward to trying the new Penley jars!
I love to bake little cakes in wide mouth jars. Put a lid on it, tie on a festive ribbon and you’ve got a fun birthday or holiday gift.
I use jars for a cup of tea when out in the garden, means my cups wonts get damaged and the lid keeps the bugs and dirt out 🙂 Also great when painting or renovating 😀
I’m getting married in August, and am collecting jars to use for drinks, flowers, candles, etc. Would love to win!!
I use my jars for all kinds of things! They are so handy. I store homemade spice mixes in them. I make my own salad dressings and store them in my jars. My son puts bugs in them. I keep dehydrated fruits and veggies in them. Homemade mayo, extra buttons, seed starting, candles…the uses for my jars are endless!
Nice to see more competition on the market, but I’m with the others who are avoiding products made in China. Thanks for letting us know about the origin!
Great article. Question ~ The jar says Made in China.. where are Ball and Kerr jars made. This will affect my buying decisions more than anything else.
Ball and Kerr jars (made by Jarden) are made in the USA. There is a sticker on every case that says it so it sticks out.
For drinking!
I use my canning jars for everything. I take jars to the store have one weighed for the tare and then fill up with bulk food purchases: grains, pasta, beans, and coffee. In November my son got married…the florist flaked and the family ended up having to do the flowers at the last minute…we used my faithful canning jars for vases…120 of them! We even used them on the alter at the church!
We use the extra large jars for storing dried beans and the small ones for drinking glasses.
I love storing all my makeup and toiletries and small bathroom items in canning jars. I have limited storage space and the jars work perfectly to keep everything organized. Great giveaway!
Nothing tastes better than beer from a mason jar. My year and a half in Colorado taught me that.
there is nothing I DON’T put in jars, but I think my favorite thing about using them is that I can pack a lunch (or coffee) in them, and unlike plastic tupperware can stick them directly in the microwave.
I’m not sure what would be considered “unconventional” – I can with them, I store dry goods in them (food and otherwise), I’m learning to bake in the wide-mouths, I pickle in them, I lacto-ferment in them, and I make butter with a couple of the quart jars.
Gifts. I make everything from food items to Pin cushions (On the top of the lid) and store sewing items inside. And give them away. But everyone who knows me knows how much I love my jars, so they always give them back when there done.
I’m really looking forward to trying these jars. I do a fair amount of canning, and also use jars to store my gardening seeds, and potting soil. It’s always GOOD to see another supplier of jars. I’ve used Penley cutlery, matches, toothpicks in the past and never had a problem with them. A quality product!
my favorite unconventional use for jars is as decoration — i line my filled and awaiting-filling jars on bookshelves in my house; visitors always comment on how beautiful they look.
I, for one, will NOT be purchasing or using any of these jars. Far too many jobs have been sent overseas and far too many products are imported.
Thanks for the info but I’ll keep my money in America as much as possible.
cool giveaway! I have started decorating jars with polymer clay, on the outside. I haven’t tested to see if I can still waterbath them and use them for canning, but if you are storing small items in them or using them for vases, this makes them prettier.
I used wide mouth quart jars at my wedding as centerpieces—filled with stones and votive candles, lovely! We also use them for storage, drinking, and lunch transport. It’s great to see a new brand, I would love to try them out!
Currently use a quart jar with a modified lid to
collect samples of honeybees to test with powdered
sugar for mites.
I use canning jars for lots of things. I love to use the blue jars as vases and for harvest parties they look great with candles to provide lighting outside.
I’ve been canning for a number of years now on my own. But I come from a long line of canners and have all the old ones to prove it. I’d love to try these out; especially seeing I seem to always run out every year. It’s a good problem to have!
I love making single-serve pies in my little Kerr jars then freezing them. I use one for a bank for my pennies, and I’ve put candles in them, using them as a hurricane lamp. I store leftovers in them both in the refrigerator and freezer. Of course I can things, too, but canning jars are far more than “just a jar”. I wish all the manufacturers would leave off the embossing so that I could acid etch my labels on them – yes, I do that, too. Here’s a tip – the lids of Kraft mayo and Miracle Whip fit wide mouth jars. Great for storage after a jar has been opened! (Don’t use them for canning however!) I want to know how to make them into solar lights please!
I nearly forgot – I store all my dry beans, oatmeal, tapioca, popcorn, and everything else that must be kept humidity-free in my jars! That’s a necessity in Florida! I can see at a glance if my supplies are getting low. I love how the jars look all lined up in my pantry. Using both my digital scrapbooking and digital cutter skills, I make labels for both gift-giving and my own use of home-canned goodies.
I like to make homemade yoghurt in the oven with the jars, or pack them with food and stuff them in the chest freezer—no more plastic bags.
I would like to win the pint jars with regular mouths!
These jars looks nice. I really like the minimal designs on the jars. Plus, since they’re interchangeable you could totally get more plain lids for them.
At home, I have a few jars that I keep my homemade bath/beauty products in such as scrubs, lotions, and cleansing grains. They’re great for storage of anything. Plus, I kinda like how they look on the counter.
Unusual? I don’t think there are any ideas for canning jars that is classified as unusual any more. 🙂 After coming across an extremely large stash (close to 500 jars for $ 40 off craigslist) I’m not so greedy about using them for just canning anymore. With that said, my hubby has 4 of them sitting on his desk, one for each type of change (one for quarters, one for dimes, etc); they are all over in the work shop for holding his nails, screws, etc; after drying herbs, we use the canning jars with an oxygen absorber inside; we also do that for dried beans, peas and lentils; we sell our honey in them; use them for our goats milk and other dairy products; they hold my fresh made pasta once it’s dried; they are used in the freezer for delicate things I don’t want smooshed (berries).
But I think the thing I like to use them for best ~ individual serving size cheesecakes in a jar!!! YUM! I love using the little 4oz sized jars for those. Nothing like being able to take cheesecake with you where ever you go. The kids love them too! They can grab one and go.
While it may seem like we have lots of jars, those who grow a lot of their own fruits and veggies, along with can their own meat, soups and meals in jars knows, one can never have enough jars! Every time I go to the store, I try to remember to pick up at least 1 package of jars.
Well, love your blog, Marisa, but the Made In China thing…? With the way the world is today, how others feel about US, I really have a hard time with it. I have become very consumer aware when purchasing everything possible made by US. Our future is at too much of a risk to continue to support those who wish US harm… and death. Don’t think I would even want something free from these people. I will continue to support our own even while paying a few dollars more.
We use jars for everything, storing leftovers, strawberry jam, canned tomatoes, pickles, drinking. I can always use extra pints.
I guess I’m not too creative: I use jars for canning and food storage. I would love to try baking in them, though.
I would LOVE these jars!!!! I grew up in a canning family and I am just starting out canning this year myself and am desperately trying to collect some jars! My most unusual usage for canning jars? I was drinking a nice Cabernet Sauvignon out of a jelly jar yesterday! I love them and use canning jars for everything!!
thank you so much for sharing this information,always
good to learn about something new out there.
I have used mason jars for almost everything. From peeing, canning, storing (grains nuts candy), measuring, sprouting alfalfa and drinking. (Not all the same jars). Sometimes you can find them at yard sales, but it will be nice to see a less expensive brand on shelves.
I’m new to canning and your website has been extremely helpful over the last couple of months. Thank you! I don’t think it’s that unconventional, but my favorite non-canning use for my jars is making and serving cocktails in them. Generally I use the smaller ones but after a long hard day, who knows?
I use a large mason jar for sprout growing.
I like using them (especially the big ones) for leftover food storage in the fridge. They wash up well, you can tell what’s in them without opening them, and they are a good alternative to plastic.
I like my pies-in-a-jar. And I need more jars!
I have made 24 half pints of your strawberry rhubarb butter. I need more jars! I have much more berries to play with!
I use a small jars to take yogurt, fruit, etc. to work. I have several around the house as ‘catch-alls’ to hold small things until I can get them where they belong. And, I want to make Potpourri Lamps, filling jars with Xmas lights and potpourri.
I like the look of these new jars and I can’t wait to try them. I use the jars for storing stuff in my sewing room, left overs, dehydrated foods, etc.
Wow! Would love to win them.
I have grown fond of making a fruit jam vinaigrette in the nearly empty jam jars. My Gooseberry Jam vinaigrette is our family favorite, but the Raspberry Jam vinaigrette is really just as delicious. I think that making the salad dressing in the almost empty jam jar solves several small kitchen dilemmas,what to do with the smallish amount of jam and then, secondly the salad vinaigrette has a great place to be mixed and stored in, and serving it up over salads is a breeze.
I use my large quart jars as flower vases when I have long stem flowers because the vases I have are only bud vases.
I keep my garden seeds in canning jars until planting time.
I am new to canning but would love to win!
Cool ! My wife and I do alot of home projects . We use jars for everything from keeping leftover paint for touch ups ,and for keeping nails and screws in them. Not to mention my wife is the “canning queen of the san joaquin” lol ! But really , she cans everything from fruits to vegies and has just started making ketchup . Score for me ! She would love some new jars !
I put tiny christmas lights in one and added a lid with a hole for the cord. Looks nice light up. I used the multi-colored ones.