Can You Put Mason Jars In The Microwave? (Find Out Now!)

Mason jars have become an aesthetically pleasing option for storing food, holding your iced coffee, or as a simple household cup. If you can store food in it, can you put Mason jars in the microwave too?

You can put Mason jars in the microwave, as long as there is a ‘Microwave Safe’ symbol on the bottom. Remove the lid and fill the container up 3/4 of the way to allow for expansion and limit shattering. Make sure your microwave is set on ‘medium’ or ‘low’ power and reheat your food in 1-minute increments.

Follow along to learn if it’s safe to put mason jars in the microwave and how many times you can do so per jar. This article will also cover what not to do when microwaving a Mason jar.

Let’s dive right in!

Mason jars were invented in the mid-1800s by a man named John Landis Mason. Now, we see them almost everywhere as a storage container for fruit preserves or even moonshine! With so many applications, is it safe to microwave these bad boys?

You can put some of the newer model Mason jars in the microwave. Just look for the ‘Microwave Safe’ symbol on the bottom of the jar.

While glass, in general, is safe to reheat in because it’s non-reactive, it also expands as it’s exposed to heat. If the temperature change is too rapid and severe, it could damage your cup.

Additionally, you never want to thaw anything stored in a Mason jar using the microwave or oven. There are a few best practices to follow in order to make sure that your Mason jar doesn’t shatter.

This question is a little tricky- it really depends on the mason jar you have (size, brand, etc.) and your microwave.

Generally speaking, you should be able to microwave a microwave-safe Mason jar 100 times or more before the glass or container begins to show wear. This is considering that you’re doing so appropriately.

After a while, glass may retain microscopic cracks that are invisible to the naked eye. They can be caused by something as small as setting your Mason jar down too hard or continuing to expose it to extreme temperatures.

Regardless, in order to prevent the glass from breaking, swap out your Mason jars every couple of years.

This is over a follow-up question because, well, microwaves are a quicker, smaller version of an oven. Does that make them safe for a Mason jar?

Not exactly– ovens are hotter and require high temperatures for an extended period of time. Research shows that Mason jars break or become damaged if exposed to anything higher than 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

At a minimum, most oven recipes require 350 °F to cook. Additionally, Mason jars are tall and compress food, so even if it were possible, the components would take forever to cook all the way through anyway!

Related Questions

Can you put Mason jars in the freezer?

Most Mason jars are freezer-safe but must be handled carefully.It’s important that the food or liquid you’re planning on storing isn’t extremely hot before going in the freezer. That violates the extreme temperature issue we discussed earlier in the article.Some people even recommend waiting to put the lid on until after the components are frozen due to the risk of expansion. Leave at least 25% room for the ice to grow upwards.When you take the Mason jar out of the freezer, let it thaw naturally, and don’t attempt to use excessive heat.

Can you put Mason jars in the dishwasher?

Yes, Mason jars can easily be thrown in the dishwasher!Just beware that anything written on them will likely wear off in the process. Also, wash the lids by hand as the metal aspect will rust if exposed to high-intensity hot water.The best way to do so is with a pea-sized dollop of dish soap and your hands. Avoid using a kitchen sponge or other scrubber that may have residual abrasive cleaner on it.

Are Mason jars able to hold hot coffee?

You can drink hot coffee out of a Mason jar, as long as the cup is room temperature, to begin with.Use caution when handling the jar, as glass can get extremely hot and isn’t a great barrier for warm beverages. Use a Mason jar with a handle like this to reduce the stress on your hands!

In a nutshell, you can microwave your Mason jars as long as they’re not too cold to begin with, and have a safety label on the bottom.

It’s best practice to swap them out every 2 years and make sure the glass isn’t touching anything metal or plastic while microwaving to prevent shattering.

If you have a Mason jar that is too narrow for the amount of food you’re cooking, remove the lid and fill it only 3/4 of the way. This will allow for expansion as well as limit overheating during microwaving.

Lastly, make sure your microwave’s setting is on ‘medium power’ or lower, and cook your meal in 1-minute increments until it’s the perfect temperature!