Ball Ideal Mason Jar with Glass Lid

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Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. Ratings and prices are accurate and items are in stock as of time of publication.

Whether you use them for home decor or canning, Mason jars are the most simple (and iconic) kitchen storage. They’ve been around for 100+ years and are still going strong! Not only do they have a beautiful, timeless design, but they can even help save the world. You can even use a Mason jar lid to make the perfect breakfast sandwich.

The real question is, what do you know about Ball jar dating? No, not the romantic type—the valuing type! Ball jars from specific decades have their own unique logo, and they’re all worth something different.

Ball Mason Jar Age Chart

Lucky for us, this handy chart can help you keep track of all the Ball jar logos. There are about eight different logos in total, starting in the 1880s and finishing in the present day. The original logo, which looks nothing like the following logos, is basically unrecognizable today.

While each set of decades has its own version of the logo we know and love, there are other things to look out for, too. Phrases like “improved,” “special,” “perfect,” “sanitary,” “ideal,” “square” and “eclipse” can all help identify the year of your jar. For example, this Ball Mason jar with the phrase “perfect” on the bottom is approximately from 1913-1922.

sydney watson/taste of home

You can now buy the vintage Mason jars your grandma used.

Vintage Mason Jar Colors

Mason jars were manufactured in many different colors, including clear, pale blue, yellow, amber, olive and various other greens. (In the early 1900s, people thought darker glass helped prevent food from spoiling as quickly.) The rarest of the jar colors are green and have been known to fetch upwards of $300 per jar—that’s incredible!

How Much Is Your Ball Jar Worth?

If you want a quick peek, you can always type in your jar’s credentials into eBay or Etsy and see if you have any that are a match. Some have already sold for as much as $54. Some even have logo “misprints,” such as this Ball jar that has three Ls on the front. Overall, it seems the early 1900s jars fetch more than the most recent years, as expected.

Do you have any rare jars? You’ll have to check and see!

Recipes You Can Make in Mason Jars

Pickled Green Tomato Relish

When I'm left with green tomatoes at the end of summer, I reach for this recipe. Friends and family are so happy to receive the sweet-sour relish that they often return the empty jar and ask for a refill! —Mary Gill, Florence, Oregon

Picnic Berry Shortcakes

You can make the berry sauce ahead of time and chill it. Then assemble the entire dessert right before the picnic or party. —Frieda Bliesner, McAllen, Texas

Giardiniera

Sweet and tangy, this Italian condiment is packed with peppers, cauliflower, carrots and other crisp-tender veggies. It’s perfect to offer alongside pickles or olives on a relish tray. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Pesto Buttermilk Dressing

A good dressing is hard to beat; a great one is brilliant. We love a tangy blend of buttermilk and Greek yogurt. —Liz Bellville, Jacksonville, North Carolina

Spicy Chunky Salsa

Vinegar adds a refreshing tang to this sweet tomato salsa. It's wonderful as is, but for more heat, leave in some hot pepper seeds. —Donna Goutermont, Sequim, Washington

Peach Marmalade

This is my take on several different chutney recipes combined. This sweet and spicy marmalade pairs well with just about any meat or poultry. —Joanne Surfus, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin

Easy Dill Pickles

This treasured dill pickle recipe is like an old friend. These crispy spears have a slightly salty, tart flavor with a good balance of dill, garlic and peppers. —Betty Sitzman, Wray, Colorado

Homemade Canned Spaghetti Sauce

DIY canning spaghetti sauce recipes are a tomato grower's dream come true! Use up your garden bounty and enjoy it later in the year. —Tonya Branham, Mt. Olive, Alabama

Raspberry Lemonade Concentrate

Here's a concentrate that allows you to enjoy a refreshing summer beverage any time of year. Sweet raspberries balance the tartness from lemons. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Spicy Bavarian Beer Mustard

Here's a gift that has bite! This spicy beer mustard is great with pretzels or as a condiment for bratwurst. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Kumquat Marmalade

I didn't even know what a kumquat was until my husband and I discovered them in southern Florida. Now I love using them for marmalade. I always get carried away making it and am happy to share! —Faye Robinson, Pensacola, Florida

Iowa Corn Relish

I've been making colorful, crunchy corn relish for more than 30 years, and my family never tires of it. It's excellent served with roasted turkey, pork or ham. —Deanna Ogle, Bellingham, Washington

Homemade Vanilla Extract

Homemade vanilla is fun to give in decorative bottles with attractive labels. Share it with special friends who like to cook or bake. —Becky Jo Smith, Kettle Falls, Washington

Strawberry-Thyme Jam

I created this recipe using two ingredients that I love: strawberry and thyme. This recipe is ideal slathered on homemade farm biscuits.—Sharon Demers, Dolores, Colorado

Herb Vinegar

This is a creative way us use up herbs from an herb garden. The vinegar can be used to marinate meat or in salad dressings. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Favorite Bread & Butter Pickles

I made these pickles while growing up and love them because you can eat them with just about anything. Now, both of my children love these pickles, too. I think you'll enjoy them as much as we do! —Linda Weger, Robinson, Illinois

Lemon Marmalade

Lemons and grapefruit combine to create a tantalizing spread for English muffins, toast and even shortbread cookies! I give away jars of this marmalade every Christmas. —Barbara Carlucci, Orange Park, Florida

Pickled Sweet Peppers

I love to can my homegrown produce. I call this recipe Summer in a Jar. The peppers have a nice combination of tart and spicy flavors. —Edna Clemens, West Branch, Michigan

Apple Pie Jam

Although I've been canning for years, I've never found a good apple pie jam recipe, so I created this one. My husband of 41 years and I love this jam so much because it tastes just like apple pie…without the crust! —Audrey Godell, Stanton, Michigan

Sweet-Hot Asian Dipping Sauce

This Asian-inspired sauce is a delicious egg roll dipping sauce, but it can also be used for veggies or to make a sweet-tangy vinaigrette. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Spiced Cran-Apple and Grape Conserve

Faced with an abundance of grapes from my garden, I wound up using them in various ways. This conserve was an afterthought, but I received so many great compliments from family and friends that I made sure to write down the recipe. I served it with crackers and Brie cheese, but it would be great with pork, chicken, ham and cheesecake, too. —Kallee Krong-McCreery, Escondido, California

Cinnamon Blueberry Jam

Watching my grandmother can hundreds of jars of tomatoes, peaches and pears inspired me to try making jams and jellies myself. I can remember going down into her cellar as a girl—all those jars on the shelves gave me such a warm, homey feeling! My family enjoys this jam on warm corn muffins, or blueberry. The cinnamon's a bit of a surprise. —Barbara Burns, Phillipsburg, New Jersey

Garden Tomato Relish

What a great way to use your garden harvest—and have a tasty relish on hand for hotdogs, hamburgers and other dishes. Why not share a jar with a friend or neighbor? —Kelly Martel, Tillsonburg, Onario

Lime Mint Jelly

This holly-green jelly won a Best of Show at the county fair and I was so thrilled. Flavored with lime, it's delicious on roasted meats. —Gloria Jarrett, Loveland, Ohio

Spicy Pickled Garlic

Pickled garlic is a delicious condiment for the garlic lover on your list. You'll be pleasantly surprised how pickling mellows out the garlic, making it a tasty sandwich topper. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Rhubarb Marmalade

My daughter makes this marmalade every spring when rhubarb's abundant. Our family enjoys her gift…a refreshing departure in flavor from all the berry jams and jellies. —Leo Nerbonne, Delta Juction, Alaska

Candy Apple Jelly

With a hint of apple and cinnamon, this apple jelly spreads cheer from breads to bagels to muffins. Its rosy pink color looks lovely. —Betsy Porter, Bismarck, North Dakota

Sweet and Sour Zucchini Pickles

Pickled zucchini is a great way to use up all those green beauties in your garden. Preserve them now to share as a holiday gift from your kitchen. —Tina Butler, Royse City, Texas

Kickin' Red Pepper Jelly

Peppers grow like wild fire in our hot Missouri summers. That's when I make spicy jelly to give as gifts at Christmas. The leftover pulp can be frozen in small batches and stirred into chili, pasta sauce, salad dressing and salsa. —Lee Bremson, Kansas City, Missouri

Pickled Green Beans

This recipe produces zippy little pickled green beans, preserving my veggies for months to come ... if they last that long. I crank up the heat a bit with cayenne pepper. —Marisa McClellan, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pear & Pine Nut Conserve

This easy conserve pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted meats, or it's great as a flavorful topping for warm toast or pound cake. Sweet and savory...eating it is like taking my taste buds on a quick trip to Tuscany! —Shannon Kohn, Simpsonville, South Carolina

Strawberry-Basil Vinegar

The mild, fruity flavor of this strawberry vinaigrette complements any tossed salad. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Pickled Brussels Sprouts

This year, when I asked my brother what he wanted for his 31st birthday, he answered, "pickled Brussels sprouts." I had never even tasted a pickled Brussels sprout before. It's hard for me to say "no" to my younger brother, so he got his wish and thought the Brussels sprouts were delicious! —Heather King, Frostburg, Maryland

Raspberry Peach Jam

When my jam won a first-place pink ribbon at our local county fair, I was overjoyed but it's not the highest compliment that recipe has received. Two girlfriends that I share it with tell me if they don't hide the jam from their husbands and children, they'll devour an entire jarful at just a sitting! —Patricia Larsen, Leslieville, Alberta

Homemade Spicy Hot Sauce

I created this spicy recipe one day using what I had available from my garden: hot peppers, carrots, onions and garlic. The carrots make this recipe stand out. —Carolyn Wheel, Fairfax, Vermont

Cowboy Candy (Candied Jalapenos)

If you love spicy food like we do, then these tasty candied jalapenos—also known as cowboy candy—are for you! You can save the syrup to baste roasted chicken or grilled salmon, or mix it into salad dressings. Jars of this dynamite condiment make a great gift. —Rita Ladany, Edison, New Jersey

Holiday Cranberry Jelly

Spread some holiday cheer with this rosy pink cranberry jelly. —Nancy Davis, Tualatin, Oregon

Italian Herb Salad Dressing

This vinaigrette is a delicious dressing that I like to keep on hand for topping a variety of salad greens. —Dan Wright, San Jose, California

Spiced Pickled Beets

With sweet, tangy and spiced flavors, these pickled beets are so good that they'll win over just about everyone in your house. Jars of colorful beets make great gifts, too! —Edna Hoffman, Hebron, Indiana

Bill's Apple Butter

Since retiring, I have more time to tend to our 75 apple trees and to experiment in the kitchen. I came up with this old-fashioned apple butter after some trial and error. The red-hot candies make it unique.—Bill Elliott, Urbana, Missouri

Tangy Pickled Mushrooms

Home-canned pickled mushrooms are a handy addition to your pantry. They’re ideal for cocktails, appetizers, salads and relish trays.—Jill Hihn, Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms, West Grove, Pennsylvania

Smoky & Sweet Strawberry Chipotle Jam

Strawberries and chipotle give this jam a sweet, spicy kick. After a week it becomes like a thick sauce, so we use it to baste chicken, beef ribs and pork. —Redawna Kalynchuk, Barrhead, Alberta

Sweet & Spicy Pickled Red Seedless Grapes

Most people don't think about grapes when creating a canned pickle recipe. The pickling liquid for these grapes includes red wine, vinegar and common pickling spices like coriander, mustard seeds and hot pepper; it also contains warm spices like cinnamon and star anise along with brown sugar. These flavor-packed grapes are unique and delicious on a fab antipasto, pickle or cheese tray. —Cheryl Perry, Hertford, North Carolina

Plum Anise Jam

Growing up, my father loved black licorice and all my siblings and I loved it as well. I still love the flavor of black licorice but can't eat the candy anymore for health reasons. This recipe reminds me of the flavor I loved as a child. The delicious jam tastes great with Brie or goat cheese and crackers. —Jill Grueninger, Mequon, Wisconsin

Sweet & Smoky Salsa

I love the roasted flavor that grilling gives food, so I decided to make a salsa from grilled vegetables. I think this recipe would also taste great using plum tomatoes. Also, if you can't use wood chip charcoal, you might try adding a little liquid smoke to the salsa while it cooks. —Shelly Bevington, Hermiston, Oregon

Double-Berry Jalapeno Jam

My friend and I had tried a fruity jam with jalapenos at a local vineyard and this is the version I created. I like this spread on crackers with cream cheese, on hamburgers or even on grilled cheese. For extra heat, add the seeds of a few jalapenos to the jam. —Lisa Keim, Watertown, New York

Tomatillo Relish

I have a very hearty tomatillo plant in my garden. To use up the abundant produce, I decided to make a relish. You can use it as a dip or as a condiment on eggs, hot dogs, meat loaf or burgers. It has an addictive taste. —Deb LaBosco, Foley, Minnesota

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