Last weekend I attended my friend Elliott’s birthday party, and I gave him one of my favorite things: a glass swing-top bail jar. A swing-top bail jar has a metal clasp and a rubber gasket. They are typically used for canning, but can store dry ingredients, too. I told him I would explain why he received such a utilitarian present, so Elliott, this column is for you!
One of the best ways to store food is in 100% airtight containers. My friend Michelle showed me how to test a bottle or jar for airtightness. Fill the container with water and shake it. If water droplets come out, the jar isn’t airtight. Many containers are not airtight, even when we think they are.
Years ago, I accidentally discovered that food lasts almost indefinitely when stored in swing-top bail jars. I bought eight ounces of parsley from a bulk herb and spice company. When the shipment arrived, the bag was almost as big as a pillow! I put some of the extra parsley in a glass swing-top bail jar and the rest in Mason jars with standard two-part lids and put them in a dark cupboard.
I stumbled across them a year later, when I moved. The parsley in the swing-top bail jar was a vibrant Kelly green, while the parsley in the Mason jars had turned an unappetizing dull grayish color. I hurriedly tossed it.
After I moved, I emptied a storage unit and came across a box of swing-top bail jars filled with various foods. I opened some jars, expecting stale scents, but was pleasantly greeted with fresh, intense aromas. The colors were vibrant. Porcini mushroom powder, cocoa powder, smoked paprika, peppermint tea and black pepper all had strong fragrances. I made hot cocoa with the cocoa powder, and it had multiple layers of flavor, as if I had bought the chocolate yesterday.
When I opened the jars, I heard a whooshing sound. That explained why the food had lasted so long: It was vacuum sealed.
Prolonging the life of food comes down to one simple thing: airtightness. Containers with 100% airtight seals extend the life of food because exposure to air rapidly deteriorates food. Use airtight containers to avoid wasting food, time and money.
A glass swing-top bail jar will last a lifetime, and the seals can be replaced when they wear out. I don’t use swing tops to store all my dry ingredients — just the expensive items that may take a few years to use. The next time you want to give someone a useful present, think swing-top bail jar, filled with one of your favorite foods, of course.
And now, Elliott, you know the reason I gave you a swing-top bail jar.