Vintage Refrigerator Jars: Plastic Containers' Aesthetic and Functional Superior
Marye Audet
DCL
Vintage Refrigerator Jars: Plastic Containers' Aesthetic and Functional Superior
I have loved and collected antiques for most of my life. In fact, getting older is not so bad when you think of it in terms of becoming vintage.
One of the reasons I love antiques is that they are a clarion call back to a life that was more sustainable and eco-friendly. My mother, for example, was born in 1918. She moved with her family from one farm to another when she was five using a wagon as transport. She lived without indoor plumbing, knew what it was like to live off grid and yet before her death she was adept in the use of a microwave. Having lived through the Depression she learned how to reuse everything.
One thing that she passed on to me was a love for refrigerator jars.
Antique Refrigerator Jars
Refrigerator jars were grandma's plastic wrap. If she had a few leftovers from dinner they went into refrigerator jars to be used later on. The jars weren't just utilitarian either. Companies made them to match the other Depression glass items they were making, as well as milk glass, and Corning ware.
A Variety of Shapes and Sizes
They come in a variety of shapes and designs. Usually the top lid is notched in such a way that it fits tightly over the jar, keeping the contents somewhat airtight. When you finish using it you only need to wash it in water and a gentle dish soap to make it ready for use again.
The round ones are my favorites because of the shape but most often the very thrifty homemaker would choose rectangular or square so that they would stack and fit in the refrigerator better.
Still Affordable
Refrigerator jars are still affordable. You can usually pick on up for under $20 and often you can get them for a couple of dollars at a garage sale. Be sure they have the lids with them because they aren't good for storing food if they don't. Always gently run your fingers around the rim to check for nicks and chips. If you find a small one it may be able to be sanded out but watch out for larger chips. It may indicate that the jar has cracks that you can't see.
Can't Find a Refrigerator Jar?
You can still store your leftovers sustainably even if you can't find refrigerator jars in your area. Head for the nearest restaurant supply and buy some stainless steel prep pans. Sometimes they are called steam table pans. Just make sure that you get the kind with lids.
These are rectangular, come in a variety of sizes, and you purchase a slide on (or drop on) stainless steel cover to keep everything fresh. Stainless steel is nice because, although it scratches, it can't get broken and will last forever. It is great for those of you that are a little more on the utilitarian side. You can often pick them up for pennies at a restaurant salvage store, or when a restaurant goes out of business.
Mason or canning jars are also an inexpensive and sustainable choice for storing leftover foods. It's easy to get out of the plastic wrap habit if you have reusable storage containers that you like.