Kerr is a brand of "Mason Jar" for home canning - licensed for manufacture by the same company that currently does the Ball brand jars. I have seen few differences in the basic style and sizes available with the notable exception of Kerr carrying a round wide mouth half pint (8 oz., only a couple of inches tall), while Ball has a square 'elite collection' version the same size. All use a two piece lid (a lid, and a 'ring' to hold it in place during processing), and both offer glass jars designed to be used for traditional high pressure/high temperature canning through 'freezer canning'. "Mason Jar" is a style of jar; while there are a handful of companies marketing them, selection can be driven by purpose (wide mouth or regular mouth), personal experience with each brand name (e.g., a slightly higher incidence of material flaws in one brand that prevent successful seals or re-use), and cost - to include shipping.
Napoleon Bonaparte started the world towards the modern preservation of foods when he posted a reward to the person who could preserve food for his army. His army was constantly traveling and food was a problem. He offered the reward in 1795 and in 1810, Nicholas Appert introduced a method of preserving food using heat-processing in glass jars. The jars were sealed with wax.
By the time of the U.S. Civil War glass food preservation jars with metal clamps and replaceable rubber rings had been invented.
In 1858, John Mason invented a glass container with a screw-on thread molded into its top, and a lid with a rubber seal. Wire-clamped were in use until 1964.
In the late 1800s, William Charles Ball and his brothers got into the food preservation jar business.
In 1903, Alexander Kerr invented the wide-mouth canning jar (the Ball company copied this design). The modern 2-piece canning lid was invented by Kerr in 1915.
Golden Harvest canning jars are made by the company Jarden Home Brands. They make Golden Harvest, Kerr and Ball ¨ brands are all manufactured in Indiana.
1-800-240-3340 M-F 8:30am to 4:30pm (EST) Kerr & Ball canning jars are made by Jarden Home Brands.
The most popular material for home canning jars is glass.
It is not safe to reuse commercial canning jars for home canning. The glass in home canning jars is thicker than in commercial jars and they are created specifically to work with 2-piece lids. It is also not advisable to use very old canning jars.
Alexander Kerr and John Gile in 1903.
A canning kit generally includes wide-mouth canning jars, a funnel to fill the jars, and various utensils to handle the food you are canning. Some canning kits also come with a digital timer to measure processing time.
If you use fresh lids and the jars have been throughly cleaned and sanitized, you might be able to use them for canning.
You can purchase a Kerr canning book online through various retailers like Amazon or directly from the Kerr website. You may also find them in some bookstores or kitchen supply stores.
You would want to have anything you're canning pretty hot when you put it in the jars, yes. Cold filling, sealing, and heating will cause jars to explode.
Yes, Mason canning jars are available at dry goods stores, grocery stores, and big box stores.
Those bumps signify the mold that that particular bottle was made from. I verified it with Kerr Glass company when they wrote, "Dear Mary, Thank you for your interest in Kerr containers. Those bumps signify the mold that that particular bottle was made from." Sincerely . . . .
I have 4 of them. They have Kerr engraved on bottom like you see it on canning jars. They have 23 petal design around Inside of cup. Turning amber so maybe old. Just got them so I Know nothing else. PEACE