The Freezer-Safe “Mason Jars” Shoppers Are Buying in Bulk (So Versatile!)

Morgan Pryor
Morgan PryorCommerce Assistant Editor
I cover must-have home products, sales, and brand launches. Prior to working at ATM, I earned my degree in Culture Writing and Criticism from NYU, and I interned at publications like CNN Underscored, TV Insider, Texas Monthly (I'm a Dallas native), and more. When I'm not writing, I'm usually at the movies or browsing in a thrift store.
published Jan 24, 2025
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Refrigerator, with freezer door opened. Food in freezer has been neatly organized. On the fridge door the freezer inventory checklist is hanging.
Credit: Sarah Crowley

Simple as they may be, Mason jars are a kitchen chameleon; they change and adapt to your needs. There are so many different purposes you can find for them, which is likely why so many shoppers buy them in bulk — and why they’ve been around for so long. We discovered a hack for turning a jar into a functional tumbler; you can use them as cocktail glasses at summer dinner parties; they can turn into pantry containers for dry ingredients; you can even use them for meal prepping smoothies and salads and keep them in the fridge.

However, there is one thing that Mason jars can’t do: Go in the freezer. Most of them have “shoulders” — aka curves around the jar’s neck — which prevents them from being freezer-safe, according to popular Mason jar brand Ball. It’s a major limitation for those of us who like to make our meals in advance and want them to last longer. However, Ball does make freezer-safe containers that will look right at home next to your Mason jar collection. Keep reading to find out why shoppers are buying multiples on Amazon!

What Are the Ball Jar Plastic 16-Ounce Freezer Jars?

As mentioned, the shape of regular Mason jars is what makes them unsuitable for the freezer — food expands when it freezes, and the shoulders will keep it from expanding upwards, causing the glass to crack. So, you can protect your Mason jar collection by snagging these Ball-made plastic containers instead. They’re BPA-free and durable just like the brand’s glass (they can be tossed in the dishwasher) with the added benefit of being more lightweight. They also have straight walls, which solves the expansion problem and makes for easy stacking.

With these jars, you can make everything from sauces to veggies last longer. You can even store your homemade ice cream inside of them! The see-through body and windows on the lids allow you to always know the jar’s contents, and the leak-proof lids keep air out. When they aren’t in use — although I have a feeling that won’t be often — you can nest the containers together for compact storage. To top it all off, the outside of the container boasts Ball’s familiar logo.

Credit: Walmart

What Amazon Shoppers are Saying

Average Rating: 5/5

“I do a lot of canning and freezing vegetables and fruits. The Ball freezer containers are sturdy and I really like the covers. They go on easily and securely. I have made soup and froze it in these and they stack easily also. I like the rubber grip on the edges; they are easy to open.” —Amazon Adirondack Customer

“Loved the size of the containers. They fit my smoothies perfectly! I experienced no leaking problems because of how sturdy and thick the container was. The color was great and it was easy to clean. Already repurchased these twice!” —Jay Sharp

“I needed to lose weight and missed ice cream (I mean REALLY missed ice cream), so started making a protein frozen dessert in pint jars. Well, after one completely split in two (thankfully no one was harmed in the incident), I purchased these. I trust the name (Ball) and wanted something that was sturdy and would hold up to daily freezes. So far, fingers crossed, these have worked PERFECTLY. I am one happy camper!!” —Debbie C.

While they’re on sale, it’s certainly worth grabbing two sets to make sure you have enough for a whole week of meal prep. There’s also a three-pack of half-pint containers for a few dollars more if you really want to cover all of your bases!

Buy: Ball Jar Plastic 16-ounce Freezer Jars, 2-Count, $11.99 (normally $14.33)

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