8 Ways to Organize Your Kitchen with Mason Jars

updated May 1, 2019
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(Image credit: Leela Cyd)

Mason jars have come a long way from their humble canning origins, and it’s not hard to see why. These glass containers, which come in a variety of sizes (and even colors, if that’s your thing), are just inherently useful. In fact, if you have a kitchen that’s in need of some organization, they can be your best friend.

Here are eight ways you can lean on these household staples to keep your kitchen in order.

(Image credit: Darice)

1. Spice Storage

Do all of your spices fall out of the cabinet when you open the door? Can you never find your celery seed because cumin keeps invading your space? I’m guilty as charged on both accounts. Mini Mason jars, lined up in a drawer, are an ingenious way of keeping spices visible and ready for that new recipe you want to try out.

See more: DIY Mason Jar Spice Organizer at Live Craft Love

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

2. Food Prep

Salad-in-a-jar recipes are all over Pinterest, and for good reason — they’re an easy and efficient way to pack a lunch — but Mason jars are also good for food prep. Cut lettuce and other greens up when you get home from the market, and they’ll stay ready for salads all week long in the refrigerator. Also, try keeping already-prepped ingredients in a Mason jar and pull them out of the fridge when it’s time to cook.

(Image credit: Faith Durand)

3. Dry Goods Organizers

Cardboard boxes and plastic bags are messy and may enable pests to get into your flour (not great when you need to make something for the bake sale at 11 p.m,). Glass Mason jars keep all dry goods fresh and ready to use, and their uniform size means they fit together well, too.

(Image credit: Create and Babble)

4. Twine Holder

Bakers and roasters alike have all kinds of twine for tying boxes and trussing birds. With a hole cut in the lid, a Mason jar takes the tangle out of twine, which makes for an easy dispensing experience.

See more pics: Craft Room Organization at Create & Babble

(Image credit: DesignsbyMJL)

5. Utensil Wrangler

Utensils in a drawer can get disorganized, and sometimes you can’t even get the drawer open (it’s always my can opener that’s the culprit). A hanging trio of mason jars can keep utensils just an arm’s length away from stirring or scooping.

Buy one: Single Panel Mason Jar Holder, $33 at DesignsbyMJL

(Image credit: Table For Two)

6. Cupcake Organizer

Paper muffin-tin liners tend to fly all over the place, and you can never see them in those tiny plastic containers. Stack them all in a Mason jar and they’ll be a baker’s dream — always in reach.

Read more: How to Efficiently Store Cupcake Liners at Table for Two

(Image credit: Landeelu)

7. Kitchen Wipe Holder

If you’re prone to spills and messes (who isn’t, really?) keeping antibacterial wipes on your counter is an easy call, but the packaging isn’t always so sturdy. The plastic breaks and you’re left with hard-to-pull wipes that get stuck together and scrunched up. A DIY kitchen wipe holder, fashioned out of a Mason jar, will solve that problem fast.

See more: Mason Jar Tissue Holder at Landeelu

(Image credit: The Pioneer Woman)

8. Herb Keeper

Fresh herbs can wilt quickly, costing you cash when you throw them out. Fortunately a Mason jar, filled about halfway with water, can keep your herbs safe — just store them like you would flowers, top with a plastic bag, and your herbs will keep for much longer.

Keep reading: How to Store Fresh Herbs at The Pioneer Woman

What’s your favorite way to use Mason jars?