We love the look of old fashioned canning jars for storing rice, beans, oatmeal, or tea bags. You can find them a lot of places—flea markets, garage sales, and The Container Store—but vintage ones aren't often airtight, and new ones can be pricey. These are made from Italian glass, look weighty, and don't cost a fortune.
Faith has already mentioned how helpful it can be to save empty jars and reuse them, and that's a great option. We certainly don't want you to add more clutter to your kitchen by buying new jars if you have some you can use.
However, if you are in the market for uniform, airtight storage canisters and want something glass rather than plastic, these from Sur La Table look beautiful. We haven't held them in person, so we're not sure how they'd compare to similar versions at The Container Store (which sells French jars and generic, non-fancy-European ones, all for around the same price as these). But the largest size, which is tall and holds 2 liters, is $6. Smaller sizes start at only $3. Many plastic storage containers we've seen are much more expensive, and these are prettier.
• Buy them here: Bormioli Rocco Fido Canning Jars, $3 to $6 at Sur La Table
And if you've got a cheaper source, let us know!
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If you get a vintage jar that you don't think is airtight, you can usually buy replacement rubber sealers for just about any size jar at the hardware store. The vintage ones would obviously be much cheaper, more eco-friendly, and once revitalized, just as good for canning!
As almost always, Ikea comes to the rescue with a cheap option. I have some of these myself, and they are great. Sizes range from 17 oz. to 68 oz. with prices from $3-$4!
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40065867
That's a good price. I don't think there is Sur La Table, in NYC, but you can get Fido jars for the same price at the Container Store or similar jars for similar prices at Fishs Eddy.
Muji also sells Fido jars but at about 2x the price or more. Avoid avoid avoid!!!
There is a Sur La Table store in Soho.
Cost Plus World Market is where I get my Fido jars.
Cost Plus usually has the replacement rubber gaskets, too!
I have the IKEA version of them that someone above posted.. but I must say the Sur la Table ones look nice since they are more square.
It is worth noting that these may be airtight for normal purposes but that they are considered a good option for true canning. The seal is less complete than two piece lid like those from Ball.
I got all mine (for flour, sugar, rice, pasta, etc) at IKEA too. They're cheap and great!