Are Mason Jars Microwave Safe – Solved 2023

Ivy Smith February 13, 2023 in Kitchen & Food, Microwave Oven - 10 Minutes

Read Time:9 Minute, 42 Second

I adore Mason jars; they serve as my go-to pickling jar, storage container, and travel mug. I immediately put all the leftovers and partially consumed food into my Mason jar, which I keep in my refrigerator.

Many Mason jars are not designed to be used in microwaves. Many people believe that heating Mason jars in a regular or microwave oven is perfectly safe, but you shouldn’t for a very good reason. It is simply the way Mason jars are made; there is no design flaw.

Do Mason Jars Work in the Microwave? Let’s find out!

Table of Contents

What is a Mason Jar?

Mason jars have gained a lot of popularity in recent years as alternatives to coffee mugs. They are inexpensive, mobile, and fashionable.

In 1858, John Landis Mason created the Mason jar, which is still employed for canning (in addition to its capacity as a travel mug) today. Food, beverages, office supplies, and other loose household items can all be stored in it.

Although the glass used to make Mason jars is not tempered, it is still glass. It cannot withstand extreme heat, despite being suitable for freezing, according to this. In other words, Mason jars are not built to be cooked with, baked with or placed in the oven. Therefore, it follows that you probably shouldn’t microwave them either.

Your safety depends on using tempered glass for high-heat applications. Tempered glass is subjected to a process that modifies the structural tension dynamics so that, in the event of a break, it will shatter into smaller pieces with smooth edges as opposed to large ones with jagged edges.

The fact that Mason jars are typically quite durable means you don’t need to worry that they are extremely fragile. You simply shouldn’t subject them to a level of heat stress that could result in their breaking.

For more on microwave cooking, see our picks for the best microwave toaster oven combo. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for a compact microwave for small spaces, check out our guide for the Best Microwave for College Dorm Room.

Also Read: How Does A Microwave Oven Work – Complete Guide to Use It in 2023

Can You Microwave Mason Jars?

Mason jars are indeed microwaveable. Modern Mason jars are made to withstand the heat of microwaves. You can verify this by looking at the bottom of your jars, where you will find a message similar to “microwave safe” or “microwaveable.”

Although glass Mason jars are non-reactive, keep in mind that they still get extremely hot to the touch when microwaved. Therefore, it’s best to avoid microwave cooking foods that need a lot of time.

Use Mason jars to microwave food that can be heated in a matter of minutes, such as precooked pasta, soup, and cheese dips, in a secure manner.

Check if the following Materials can be put in the microwave oven:

Microwaving Mason Jars

Glass is not very flexible. Never microwave anything that is completely frozen in a Mason jar.

The heated area of the jar may slightly expand as it warms and crack under pressure. By putting a mason jar in a basin of cool water and frequently changing the water, you can quickly defrost its contents.

The heated area of the jar may slightly expand as the glass heats before breaking under pressure. By putting a mason jar in a basin of cool water and frequently changing the water, you can quickly defrost its contents.

Even though it might take some time, it’s better than dealing with a messy, dangerous microwave.

You won’t have to handle a hot container when taking your food out of the microwave if you use microwave-safe glass. When microwaving colored glass containers, it is especially important to look for this label.

Freezing Food in Mason Jars

Glass containers can’t withstand pressure well in the freezer, but plastic containers will flex.

You must freeze food in Mason jars with the lid off until the food begins to set up.

Keep in mind that you need to leave a space at the top for the frozen food to expand. After the food has expanded, the jars can be sealed.

Different Types of Mason Jars

There are numerous well-known brands of Mason jars, but Ball is probably the most recognizable. Ball Mason jars can be found at stores like Walmart, Target, and Home Depot.

Other common brands you might find are Kerr and Bormioli Rocco. To see if any use tempered glass, you can, if you’d like, get in touch with various manufacturers. You never know when you might strike lucky. Employing non-tempered glass, however, is commonplace in businesses.

There are various metal screw-top lid styles available for mason jars. You can choose between a design with a wide mouth and one with a narrower neck. It all depends on your personal preference; neither is superior to the other.

How Do You Know If a Glass Jar is Microwave Safe Or Not?

In general, the way to tell if a glass jar or other glass item is microwavable is to look for a label on the bottom that says “microwave safe.” This would suggest that the glass is made to withstand high temperatures if you saw it on a Mason jar.

Otherwise, the general rule for glass cookware and thicker glass bowls is to test them out in the microwave for a minute or two without any food or liquids inside.

We wouldn’t advise performing the microwave test on a thin Mason jar. You don’t want to take the chance of having it break inside your microwave.

So unless you see the safety label, it’s best not do any kind of microwave cooking or reheating in Mason jars.

How to Tell If Your Mason Jar is Microwave Safe Or Not?

If a Mason jar is microwave safe or not depends on a number of different factors. Here are a few of them:

1. the Jar’s Age

Your Mason jar’s age is the first thing to take into account. Older jars couldn’t be microwaved because they were made of a different type of material. So if you have an older jar, it would be best to avoid microwaving it.

The jars you have can be dated in a variety of ways. One of the easiest ways is to take a close look at the jar’s logo. You can occasionally use the color, size, and other telling characteristics of your jar in addition to the logo to determine its age.

If you’re using a Mason jar made by Ball, then you can look at the following infographic to figure out the age of your jar:

2. Microwave Safe Symbol

Another equally critical factor to consider is whether there is a “Microwave Safe” symbol on the jar. On the bottom of the Mason jar, this symbol is typically located.

Look at the message printed on the jar or its lid if you can’t find the symbol there. Some jars will say, “Not for Microwave Use.” Another thing you can try is to visit the manufacturer’s website to see if the jar is listed as “microwave safe” or not.

Bonus Safety Tips

Here are some safety measures you can use when working with Mason jars in extremely hot or extremely cold environments.

Mason jars should never be moved from hot water to a cold or wet counter while being canned. Before transferring them to the fridge, let them cool on a towel or a heat-resistant pad.
Get a cozy for the Mason jar if you want to use it as your new coffee or tea thermos because the glass will get almost as hot as your beverage.
Despite being freezer-safe, Mason jars may become slightly more brittle in extremely cold temperatures. Place some fabric around or between them so that they’re protected from clinking against other things in the freezer.

How Long Can You Microwave a Mason Jar?

In the beginning, sterilizing Mason jars in the microwave is the main motivation for most people. The length of time the jar needs to be in the microwave will depend on its size if this is your primary objective.

Here’s a general guide on how long you can microwave a jar:

Small Mason jars with a capacity of less than a liter: 1-2 minutes.
3–4 minutes for medium Mason jars with a capacity of 1-4 liters.
5 minutes for large Mason jars with a 3 liter capacity or more.

You would only need to microwave the jar for 1 to 2 minutes to reheat quick-heat items.

Remember once again, make sure that the jar has a label that specifically states “microwave-safe” before microwaving the jar.

Here’s a short guide on how to sterilize a Mason jar in the microwave:

First, wash the jar with baking soda or use warm, soapy water to remove any dirt or debris from the jar.
Following the time I just mentioned, add water to the jar and microwave it.

What Other Ways Mason Jars Are Used?

Mason jars are not limited to storing food. Additionally, you can use it to store items or make something impressive with them. For instance, you can make toothbrush holders, stained-glass jars, welcome signs, and many other things out of old, no longer-used jar lids.

Final Thoughts

The construction of a Mason jar included the first ever threaded neck. The threaded neck greatly enhanced the seal quality of preserved goods, according to Greenbaum and Rubinstein, making it simpler to preserve home canned foods for long-term storage.

Certain safety measures must be taken before microwaving a Mason jar. Make certain you are familiar with the dos and don’ts by reading the safety tips section.

FAQs

Can Mason Jars Be Recycled?

The majority of Mason jars are constructed from recyclable annealed glass. It is impossible to recycle rubber rings, though.

As an alternative to recycling them, you could paint them and use them to store accessories, adorn rooms, etc.

Can I Bake Food in a Mason Jar?

I wouldn’t advise baking food in a mason jar. This is so that the glass can’t withstand the heat needed for baking!

Mason jars are not properly tempered to withstand high temperatures. Prior to baking food in a Mason jar, make sure it is oven-safe.

If so, baking food is still not a good idea since the heat won’t reach the center of the jar. The part left uncooked will have germs.

Place food and beverages in the jars at room temperature instead of baking them. Additionally, you can keep it inside the refrigerator for cold storage.