The Vintage Glass Jar You Should Look Out For At Thrift Stores

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

If you follow the axiom that everything from the past is automatically cooler than things in the present — just look at our current fixation with 1980s kitchen counter tiles, for instance — it must stand to reason that glass jars dating back to the dawn of the 20th century are very, very cool indeed. Such is the case with Weck jars, which are high on our current list of must-haves when thrifting. The glassware section of a busy secondhand store can be daunting (are you looking at an old jam container or one of the best glasses for American whiskey?), but taking the time to poke around for Weck jars, which are old-fashioned canning jars of German descent that compete with Mason jars, could pay dividends in your quest to have a beautiful kitchen.

While many canning jars have a body and a lid, Weck jars are put together in a way that can seem intimidating to the uninitiated. The jar and lid are separate and made of glass, then fastened together with a disposable rubber seal and little jar clips that make an airtight connection. While many contemporary American homemakers have fallen in love with using Weck jars in their DIY canning, there is some concern about the safety of these jars when it comes to their original intended use. We choose to focus on the non-canning utility of Weck jars, which come in multiple sizes and shapes and have just as many delightful uses in our cooking space.

Given the popularity of the farmhouse aesthetic in kitchens during the 2020s, it's not surprising that homeowners and renters would flock to multipurpose glass jars that make them look like bonafide "Little House on the Prairie" extras. You don't need to fuss with the canning lids if you are going to use your Weck jars for storage, as you can easily and inexpensively buy a five-pack of "keep fresh" lids that will safeguard contents for storage or refrigeration. Call us crazy, but we're batty for the idea of decanting frequently used bulk spices into these jars for easy use — not the unique spices that give your dishes esoteric pizzazz, necessarily, but your volume workhorses like garlic powder, dehydrated onion, and paprika. Bigger spice units like fresh cloves, cinnamon sticks, or star anise would stay dry and fresh in these jars, we think. They would also make great little salt cellars to make your cooking way easier!

But containing edibles is not the only use for secondhand Weck jars. We also love them for cultivating a rustic look, whether it's holding a small arrangement of flowers or serving as a base for tea lights and other candles. Use them for spare change, keys, or to plant seedlings on your window sill! Some of the larger jars make excellent, old-timey drinking glasses. We also appreciate the fact that these jars stack easily, which makes storage a breeze. There's so much to love about Weck jars, so you should absolutely seek them out in your thrifting adventures.