apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time


Jar Tops: Universal Lids for Mason Some Jars

2010_02_08-JarTops.jpgWe love Mason jars. We use them for all sorts of things around the kitchen. So when we first saw the prototypes for these universal lids that add even more functionality to our Mason jars, and to cleaned-out jelly and tomato sauce jars too, we were pretty impressed. Well, that prototype is now in production and for sale.

 
 

These jar caps can be screwed on to nearly any standard-sized jar to create a pitcher, an oil or vinegar cruet, a creamer, and a sugar or cocoa shaker. Each set includes:

• 1 long-handled cap
• 1 oil & vinegar cap
• 1 cocoa shaker cap
• 1 creamer cap
• 1 sugar shaker cap

We love simple ideas like these that make it easier to reuse and recycle something we already have.

• Find them! Jar tops universal lids, $25 at Unica Home

Related: Plastic Lids for Ball and Mason Canning Jars

(Images: Unica Home/Royal VKB)

Comments (18)

Oh these are really cool.

I actually bought these for my parents for Christmas this year. They are really cool! They use them all the time. Such a fun idea!

posted by GillianG on February 8th 2010 at 9:19am
view GillianG's profile

A little expensive. $25 for a few pieces of plastic? It does look like a good idea, but a bit pricey for those of us that are trying to save up money. I wonder if they'll make them a bit more inexpensive in the near future. My wife and I love to keep old mason jars for storage and other uses.

posted by somewhiteguy on February 8th 2010 at 9:32am
view somewhiteguy's profile

Wow those are SO COOL. I wonder if they'd fit my collection of vintage ball jars...

posted by geekgirl on February 8th 2010 at 9:37am
view geekgirl's profile

I have no idea why these are so freaking expensive. I mean I would LOVE to buy some, I can't even say how useful these would be (I have 100 jars). But with the way things are with our money situation, I can't fathom spending 25 dollars on 5 lids!

posted by BuddhaBellysMum on February 8th 2010 at 10:05am
view BuddhaBellysMum's profile

This is an incredibly wonderful idea! I have lots of Mason jars and dozens of other saved food jars. I'm surprised no one thought of this before...it was like a "d'oh" moment for me. :)

But yes, I think it is a bit pricey. Shame...I'd have bought them right this minute, too.

posted by if1hadwords on February 8th 2010 at 10:16am
view if1hadwords's profile

Shaker jar = better than my "nail holes in the lid" solution.

Throwing it out there:

Just bought these. Out of a dozen jars, only one lid fit one jar. It was a jar of IKEA jam. This made me wonder if there are different 'standard sizes' that these jars fit in Europe.

Anyway, I'm sure I'll happen upon jars which the others fit eventually, in fact I wanted to pop over to the IKEA grocery soon and pick up more of those frozen potato pancakes and elderberry cordial.

But you should maybe consider not buying these.

That largest jar may be a Mason jar, but the rest don't appear to be. The small one without the green plastic attachment definitely is not a Mason jar.

I raise this point because Mason jars have a specific lid (properly called "band") size. The term "universal lids" doesn't make sense. A jelly jar or mustard jar doesn't take the same lid as a Mason jar.

Just a word of caution to someone with a collection of Mason jars -- try before you buy.

Thanks, timkaru! That's really good to know. I wish someone made these for the mason jar sized lids!

I am disappointed that none of these tops actually seal. You would have to swap out with the original lid for storage. These would have been much more useful if they were designed for not just serving but storage as well.

@timkaru- thanks for the heads up about the non-'standard sizing'

i have a ton of mason jars, and save other jars from store bought things.

i saw these and thought they were great and wasted the $25 on them. they were a big disappointment because they do not fit anything - just one very small mouthed jar from a store-bought jelly. they are too small for american home canning jars or as far as i can tell much of anything we use here...:(

Thanks for the feedback on these, guys. I updated the post title to reflect the jar issue. These were designed in Europe, so yeah, probably a compatibility issue. Plugs, voltage, and jars, I guess...

posted by Faith Durand on February 8th 2010 at 3:55pm
view Faith Durand's profile

When I bought these I found a US jar size option. I wish I could find the site I ordered them from but it was back at the beginning of Nov and cant find the link. I dont think I paid $25 for them either. Seems like they were less. When my son was little I bought a similar set for making any bottle a sippy cup and ended up with the european jar issue. Eventually I got the company to switch them out and they were dead useful. I'll keep checking for where I got the US version though....

posted by GillianG on February 8th 2010 at 7:20pm
view GillianG's profile

Such a shame it doesn't work for most of you who've tried them with US sized jars..I suppose the description on the site should have clued one in that it was for Euro size: "we can now transform our beloved pickle jar from Poland into a little milk pitcher and that French Dijon Mustard jar into a sugar shaker! "

These jar tops were mentioned on Apartment Therapy two years ago here: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/green-ideas/jar-tops-by-jorre-van-ast-043983

The Royal VKB site mentions the size of the jar tops:

Measurements
ø 6,2 x h 2,2 / ø 6,2 x h 3,6 / ø 6,8 x h 2,4 / ø 7,5 x h 10,5

And one poster on the 2008 AT link above wrote:

"The Jar Tops WILL fit US jars but only those who are made according to the international "Twist Off standard” in the following diameters; 63 mm, 70mm & 58 mm."

Hope this helps!

Saer
http://cravenmaven.wordpress.com

Now I'm skeptical about how well they'll fit my vintage mason jars...

And I want the red! why don't they have that color anymore?

It would be cool if someone made lids like this that closed. Like those bag toppers that have been posted here before, that give plastic bags a snap tight lid. Now that would be useful!

posted by geekgirl on February 9th 2010 at 9:50am
view geekgirl's profile

Hello, I don't have these jar lids but noticed that the measurements were all posted in US sizes; wondering if maybe these would work?

http://www.momastore.org/museum/moma/ProductDisplay_Jar%20Tops_10451_10001_61223_-1_11515_11521_null_shop_

Sadly, they're still $25.

whit1978: hmm, I think those are the same ones...they're by the same designer, Jorre Van Ast.

posted by Slow Lorus on February 20th 2010 at 1:31am
view Slow Lorus's profile