Whether you’ve grown it yourself or just bought it from a supermarket, seasonal fruit and vegetables are one of the easiest ways to eat sustainably. However, with the magic of our budget glass jars, you can turn that in-season veg into a preserve, chutney, jam, soup, marinade or sauce and enjoy it outside of the season for months to come. If you want to enjoy delicious, sustainable fruit and veg in this way, then we’ve got a recipe for each month using some of the most readily available ingredients.

May - Rhubarb
Rhubarb is an extremely trendy flavour at the moment and this hardy fruit has a variety of uses. Versatile in flavour and cooking methods, rhubarb can be used in sweet and savoury dishes and is a standout flavour that is sharp but sweet. A firm favourite recipe is a rhubarb curd that is tinged pink and tastes absolutely sensational on toast, in sandwich cakes or dolloped into porridge. Simply puree the rhubarb and sieve to get the juice, add sugar and lemon juice before bringing to the boil, remove from the heat and stir in the butter and eggs before pouring into one of our budget glass jars.

June – Beetroot
Another versatile ingredient, beetroots are full of vitamins and minerals and help to support healthy immune function, so getting them into your diet is always a good thing. This vibrant veg is delicious when pickled and will absorb all of the flavourings you choose to accompany it with in a budget glass jar. Simply chop beets into small pieces and then bring a brine solution of white wine vinegar, sugar and salt to the boil. Toast any spices you may want to add such as mustard seed, star anise or cardamom and add these into the vinegar solution, before pouring over the beets and sealing the jar.
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July – Berries
July sees lots of different sorts of berry come to fruition, including some varieties of raspberry, strawberry, blueberry and gooseberry all of which make delicious jams. Making these delicious preserves couldn’t be easier, simple sterilise our budget glass jars, mix together equal parts fruit and sugar and gently boil away until a splodge dropped onto a cold plate forms a ripple.  

At the moment we’re all trying our best to reduce the amount of time we spend outside the home, which means making fewer trips to the shops for essentials like food and cleaning products. To minimise interactions with supermarkets, market stalls and greengrocers, many are keen to make what they do have at home go that little bit further, whether it’s freezer stocks, fresh produce or even cosmetics. Using a range of jars and bottles can help extend the shelf life of products and encourage economic use.

Food Control
Jars and bottles with lids offer a fantastic, airtight storage solution that doesn’t take up much shelf space. The insulating materials make them ideal for room temperature and cold storage and so a variety of foods can benefit from being stored in jars. Some of our top tips for making food go further is to create jam jar portions of breakfast items such as overnight oats, cereals or fruit pots which can keep in the fridge for up to 7 days. This can also be useful for lunchtimes, with salad pots and soup being an easy go-to for those home workers, not only will this help extend the life of fresh fruit but can also help limit aimless snacking!

Making the Best of The Freezer
When it comes to preserving food, the freezer is a godsend. Whether you’re looking to use up some frozen fruits and veggies to make a delicious pasta sauce, chutney or jam or you want to freeze some portions for use at a later date, glass jars and bottles will keep produce from being exposed to the harsh cold and will keep your meals in easy to defrost portion sizes. Not to mention, by sealing food off from the intrusion of air, both in and out of the freezer there is less chance of bacterial growth and so the jar can be safely defrosted while you’re out of the house.
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If you’re looking for jars and bottles to help preserve your stocks, take a look at our online store.

Spending time at home means looking for new ways to keep busy and indulging in some crafts using jam jars can make light of idle hands. Whether it’s ideas to keep the children occupied or the time has finally come to practice a new skill, our range of jam jars open up a world of possibility for crafters new and old! As avid jam jar enthusiasts, over the years we’ve turned our hand to a number of hobbies and we’re sharing some of the best so you can enjoy your time spent in the house.

Candle Crafting
Making candles is a rewarding and very wholesome craft that isn’t nearly as difficult as people think. Any jam jar can be used for this craft from miniature round jars through to large hexagonal jars and candles will look quirky and cute in all of them – just choose a style that you prefer. Other things you will need include wicks and wax and if you so desire colourings and scents. Start by sticking a wick into the bottom of the jar, holding it in place with a crocodile clip or pair of chopsticks across the top. Then melt down your wax with colourings and scents and poor in, leaving to set for at least 24 hours.

Cake Jars
One of the latest trends on the food scene is cake jars, delicious layered creations eaten out of a jam jar. Most recipes go for a trifle like effect using a sturdy cake or biscuit base, followed by a creamy layer and then finally a layer consisting of sweet treats, repeated as many times as the jar’s height will allow. The kitchen enthusiasts out there can spend time carefully baking, whipping and piping each layer into their jar, or for a quick and easy kids craft, simply buy the different elements and have the kids assemble them!

Cocktails
Staying in the house doesn’t have to be boring and this craft is one of the more adult ones that can be completed with a jam jar. Learning to make your favourite cocktail is a simple as a quick Google search, or if you’re more adventurous, simply make your own up from the supplies you have in the back of the cupboard. A jam jar cocktail can give the feel of being in your favourite bar and can instantly transport you to a tropical haven. A quran-tini if you will!