Yes, you can freeze food in canning jars, but only if the jar is made for freezing and you leave enough headspace for the food to expand. If you use the wrong jar, fill it too full, or freeze hot food in glass, the jar can crack or break in the freezer. The safe answer depends on the jar style, the food inside, and how much space you leave at the top.
Which Canning Jars Are Freezer Safe
Not all canning jars are freezer safe. Straight-sided jars and jars labeled for freezer use handle freezing better because the food can expand without forcing the glass. Wide-mouth jars are easier to fill and empty, and they reduce stress around the neck.
Can Ball canning jars be frozen?
Some Ball canning jars are freezer safe, but not every Ball jar is meant for freezer storage. Read the package or the jar itself. If it says freezer safe, use it for frozen storage. If it is a standard canning jar with curved shoulders, do not assume it is safe for the freezer.
Can glass canning jars be used to freeze food?
Yes, glass canning jars can be used to freeze food when the jar is designed for freezing and the food has room to expand. Wide-mouth, straight-sided mason jars work best. Avoid jars with cracks, chips, or thin glass, and never use old jars that already have stress marks near the rim.
How to Freeze Food in Canning Jars Safely
The key is leaving expansion room. Water and many moist foods expand as they freeze, and sealed glass will break if it has no space to move. Use jars with enough headspace and cool the food before freezing.
- Choose a freezer-safe jar with no chips, cracks, or rough spots.
- Let hot food cool to room temperature before filling.
- Fill the jar and leave headspace, 1 inch for most foods and 1 1/2 inches for liquids and soups.
- Wipe the rim clean and set the lid on loosely if the jar style calls for it.
- Place the jar upright in the freezer with space around it so cold air can circulate.
Can you freeze food in mason canning jars?
Yes, if the mason jar is freezer safe and has the right shape. Straight-sided mason jars are the best choice. Standard jars with curved shoulders can trap expanding ice and crack more easily, especially with broth, beans, fruit, or purees.
What Foods Freeze Well in Canning Jars
Foods with room for expansion and a smooth texture freeze best in jars. This includes soups, stock, tomato sauce, cooked beans, fruit purées, and blanched vegetables. Jars work well when you want a reusable container that stacks neatly in the freezer.
Good foods for freezer jars
- Soups and stews, cooled fully before freezing
- Broth and stock, with extra headspace
- Cooked beans and lentils
- Fruit purée, applesauce, and pumpkin purée
- Blanched vegetables in liquid or sauce
- Jam and jelly that you want to store frozen instead of canned
Foods that are poor choices
Do not freeze whole canned goods in sealed processing jars, and do not freeze carbonated or heavily fizzy foods. Very thick mixtures that dry out at the top, or foods with large solid chunks packed tight to the shoulder, put too much pressure on the glass. Leave those for regular freezer containers instead.
How Freezer Jars Compare With Canning Jars
Freezer safe canning jars are useful, but they are not the same as jars used for water bath or pressure canning. Canning is for shelf-stable preservation. Freezing is for cold storage. A jar that is safe in the freezer is not automatically approved for canning, and a canning jar is not automatically safe for freezing.
Freeze dried food and canning jars
Freeze dried food is different from frozen food. You do not freeze dry food in a canning jar. Freeze dried foods are dried first, then stored in airtight containers. A mason jar can hold freeze dried food after drying, but it is not the tool that makes the food freeze dried.
Best Practices for Storage and Jar Handling
Good jar handling prevents broken glass and wasted harvests. Cool the food first, use the right jar shape, and keep the lid system simple. Leave enough room at the top so the lid does not get pushed off by expansion.
- Label each jar with the food name and date.
- Freeze jars upright, not on their side.
- Do not stack jars until they are fully frozen solid.
- Move frozen jars to the back of the freezer, where temperature stays steady.
- Thaw jars in the refrigerator, not on the counter.
When Not to Freeze Food in Canning Jars
Skip glass jars if the freezer is crowded and jars will get bumped, if the food is boiling hot, or if the jar shape narrows sharply at the neck. Skip any jar with a damaged rim, because a tiny chip can turn into a break when the contents expand. If you need the most forgiving option, use freezer-grade plastic containers or silicone bags instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you freeze canning jars with lids on?
Yes, but leave headspace first. The lid should not be forced tight by expanding food. If the jar system uses a two-piece lid, set the ring on loosely for freezing, then tighten it after the contents are fully frozen if needed for stacking.
Can canning jars go in the freezer if they are hot?
No. Hot food in a cold freezer can shock the glass and crack the jar. Cool the food first, then freeze it. Room temperature is safe, and fully chilled food is even better.
Are canning jars freezer safe if they are regular mouth?
Some are, but wide-mouth straight-sided jars are safer and easier to use. Regular-mouth jars with curved shoulders break more easily when the contents expand. If the jar is not clearly labeled freezer safe, do not use it for freezing.
Are Ball canning jars freezer safe for soup and stock?
Yes, if the jar is marked freezer safe and you leave enough headspace. Soups and stock expand a lot as they freeze, so use a straight-sided jar and leave at least 1 1/2 inches at the top.