Manufactured to preserve jellies, pickles, and your grandma's homegrown tomatoes and with roots going back to Napoleon (really!), this humble jar has a myriad of uses and is now available in a multitude of shapes and sizes, all at a very reasonable cost and available (most likely) at your local hardware store. While the lids can only be used once in canning, they can be reused to store anything else, hot or cold, including your lunch or a cup of iced coffee, etc, etc! The jars can be reused for years - and your favorite canner will be grateful to have them back to refill again with the season's bounty. They make a great set of inexpensive drinking glasses or pack food servings in them for your next picnic. And for more on the joys of canning, check out this story.
