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From Serious Eats

Inflatable Gag Gobbler

This would have come in handy back in Cincinnati.

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/1499909/5115198

Oh, the humanity!

From Serious Eats

In Gear: Hacking Mason Jars

Last Christmas my son gave us soy candles from a small shop in Kentucky. They came in Mason Jars and smell wonderful. http://homemadesoycandles.com

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Recent Comments | Response to Comments

From Serious Eats

Inflatable Gag Gobbler

This would have come in handy back in Cincinnati.

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/1499909/5115198

Oh, the humanity!

From Serious Eats

In Gear: Hacking Mason Jars

Last Christmas my son gave us soy candles from a small shop in Kentucky. They came in Mason Jars and smell wonderful. http://homemadesoycandles.com

From Serious Eats

Inflatable Gag Gobbler

The foodies' answer to an inflatable doll! Finally, our fantasies fulfilled!

From Serious Eats

25 Fugly Food Tattoos

I think the Cook Free or Die tat is on a guy that appeared in the Seattle episode of No Reservations, the one where AB has the clam pizza. Or was that Portland? But I've definitely seen it and it's real.

From Serious Eats

25 Fugly Food Tattoos

The banana tat (peel, eat, repeat) would work on the right guy. ;-)

From Serious Eats

25 Fugly Food Tattoos

The McDonald's character scene on the guy's chest is not too bad, at least it seems he put some thought and time into it.

The rest...wtf?

From Serious Eats

25 Fugly Food Tattoos

"Too bad they're not real tattoos."

Are you kidding me? You've gotta be one of those guys that calls everything on the Internet "fake".

I personally know the guy with the pizza rocker and can assure you it's 100% real.

From Serious Eats

25 Fugly Food Tattoos

Your descriptions persuaded me that the three shown on the site are all I want to see.

From Serious Eats

25 Fugly Food Tattoos

there was a guy in my hometown offering free tattoos for life if you'd get one tattoo on you...a caterpillar having sex with a ridged french fry. Guy was a bit off (but good artist)...anyways, I know of three people with this ugly tattoo, wish I had a pic to share.

From Serious Eats

25 Fugly Food Tattoos

People realize that tattoos are permanent right?

From Serious Eats

25 Fugly Food Tattoos

Some of those aren't so bad. Seems to me that they are implying that any food tattoo is a bad tattoo.

From Serious Eats

In Gear: Hacking Mason Jars

@Kerosena: For what it's worth, I've nuked Mason jars (without their metal rings or lids) in the past with no repurcussions.

According to the FDA you should only use vessels labeled as safe for microwave use.

Less conservatively, a Michigan State University page I found provided the following guidelines for determining the microwave safety of a glass vessel: Microwave the empty container for one minute. It's unsafe for the microwave if it's warm; it's OK for reheating if it's lukewarm; and it's OK for actual cooking if it's cool.

You can read more from both points of view here:
http://www.foodsafety.gov/~fsg/fs-mwave.html
http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/mod02/01500615.html

As an aside, several other websites I found pointed to the benefits of using microwave-proof glass or ceramics for microwaving, especially for fatty foods, in order to avoid the possibility of the migration of toxic constituents from plastics to food during heating.

From Serious Eats

In Gear: Hacking Mason Jars

There was a cool little gadget holder in a recent issue of a magazine my grandma subscribed me to. (I think Country Living) Basically it was a painted piece of wood (could just be a board, I think about 1" thick) with metal brackets attached to it to hold the jars.

Personally, I use the jars mainly for canning, but I have used them for other food storage, mixing, vases, etc..... I have enough around the house, both modern and antique. Actually, several of the larger antique ones are filled with yarn scraps that are too pretty to throw out.

From Serious Eats

In Gear: Hacking Mason Jars

I grew up on a farm where Mason jars were reserved just for canning and used everywhere, particularly the wood shop. If you attach the lid to a surface, you can unscrew the jars and fill them with nails, tacks, screws and so on. My friend used one as the cover for his light bulb in his very beautiful sandstone tiled shower. It looks clean and clever and does not detract from the overall design. From year to year, I replace the lid linings but not the screw caps - these are good for years as long as, after you eat the jar's food contents, you wash and dry them. I can's imagine using a plastic lid - seems antithetical to the jar's purpose.

From Serious Eats

In Gear: Hacking Mason Jars

I usually pick them up at a local hardware store (not sure if Home Depot or Loew's carries them). I've seen them at Target and some grocery stores during tomato canning season. Uses are endless, and I don't mind giving them away (filled with jam), because they are so cheap.

I'm pretty sure I know the answer to this, but I'll ask anyway...can I put an uncovered mason jar in the microwave for reheating leftovers? I'm guessing "not."

From Serious Eats

In Gear: Hacking Mason Jars

@Maureen: I'd say Mason jars definitely beat plastic containers for storing spices. Glass has little or no permeability, but some/most plastics have quite a bit (which is why plastic containers tend to stain and hold on to flavors and aromas, despite washing and soaking). Mason lids in good condition also seal very well - in my experience far better and more reliably than most plastic storage containers - keeping contents fresh. The one thing to keep in mind with spice storage, no matter how airtight or impermeable, is that spices are light sensitive and should be stored away from direct light sources (e.g. in a cabinet or closet), particularly if they're being stored in clear glass or plastic containers that provide little protection from light degradation.

From Serious Eats

In Gear: Hacking Mason Jars

happyhoarfrost - what size are you using for toddler sippy cups, and what kind of lids are you using?

From Serious Eats

In Gear: Hacking Mason Jars

I use these for so many things, I make sure I keep a box each of the Wide Mouth quart, pint and 8 oz in my pantry. I store my different salts in them, dressings, marinara for freezing, canning jams & jellies, storage in my shop in the garage..just about everything!

The other weekend I even used the large metal rings as molding forms for a recipe!

From Serious Eats

In Gear: Hacking Mason Jars

I use the tall ones for dipping pretzels in chocolate OR caramel, I use the smaller ones for drinking glasses and for making salad dressing and for storing spice mixes and rubs.

I buy mine at the flea market for pennies.

From Serious Eats

In Gear: Hacking Mason Jars

I buy my mason jars at the local 5 & 10 store. I shudder as I type, but I've also seen 'em in Wal Mart. For those of you wondering about lids, you just need the metal rings (these are reusable) and the metal discs (these are SINGLE USE only if you want the jar completely air-tight). I also have seen plastic lids, but you cannot use these for canning as they do not seal 100%.

From Serious Eats

In Gear: Hacking Mason Jars

Anyone who watches Michael Smith (the Chef at Home) on Canadian Food Network has seen his massive collection of Mason Jars used for storage, salad dressings, you name it. I have hundreds of them in all sizes that I have used for preserves, but I am have just recently started replacing my plastic containers with them. I am wondering if they seal as well for spice storage? I currently use the Tupperware spice containers but am wondering how stable the plastics remain over time?

From Serious Eats

In Gear: Hacking Mason Jars

I recently became a Mason jar convert and now use them for the bulk of my dry goods storage (and I have a lot of them -- 6 kinds of rice, 7 kinds of grains, 5 nuts, and so on) . Some other advantages that I see are

* The same lid will fit multiple jar sizes (8 oz., 16 oz., 32 oz., 64 oz.) so no need to hunt around for the right lid, just grab a narrow mouth or wide mouth.
* Can handle hot liquids. I often strain hot soup stocks directly into a jar without worry of melting or leaching.
* Many brands are made in the U.S.A., thus subject to stricter environmental regulations and better labor laws than plastics made in Asia.
* Fully recyclable (plastic is recyclable, but harder to deal with because of problems from mixed streams).
* Convenient to run through the dishwasher.

Another 'hack' is to use a Mason jar to make sprouts: cut a piece of screen into the shape of the lid and use it instead of the lid. Follow sprouting guidelines for preparing and maintaining the mixture (like these).

From Serious Eats

In Gear: Hacking Mason Jars

For years I gave a "mason jar" gift for Christmas, especially when I was shipping gifts from Colorado. I usually got these ideas from Martha Stewart Living Mag. In 1999, I gave an oil candle with the tag "Perfect for Y2K." (In case the lights went out.) I made snow globes with clear jars and "Find It" jars with little tokens, trinkets and sand - and a label that listed all the contents. It was the user's job to "find" all the tokens.

I've been canning jams, sauces, etc. for years and have always loved it. There are few things more rewarding than to put up your own creations, preserve them for months and break them out when the food is long out of season. I use the boiling water bath method and when those lids vacuum seal with an audible click as the jars cool, that's music.

From Serious Eats

In Gear: Hacking Mason Jars

I have a huge collection in many sizes and ages of canning jars. I use them for many things. I also often make candles in the smaller ones. Jam, pickles, tomatoes with basil, and dry spices. I guess I am old fashioned I like my staples in sealed containers.

From Serious Eats

In Gear: Hacking Mason Jars

@wookie...you can get mason jars just about anywhere....I've even seen them at Dollar General & places like that. My favorite place to pick up mason jars are at estate & garage sales....I've picked up boxes full, really cheap. You can get the lids @ most grocery stores, usually in the aisle w/kitchen supplies and/or canning supplies.
I think I use mine for every use listed in every post....I find them to be the most versatile kitchen tool I have! Great thread!

From Serious Eats

In Gear: Hacking Mason Jars

Wow--you all have inspired me to move away from the GladWare.

I only have a couple of Mj's without the lids (gone where lost socks and the other earring goes). I like the look of flowers in them.

I know I've seen them in stores in my old hometown. But where should I look for them here? I've seen them in the grocery store, too, but I imagine better prices are elsewhere, yes?

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