how-to-label-jars

Last week we overhauled our pantry – new shelves, fresh paint, and a whole new look. I was going to do one big blog post on the whole process but when I posted this picture on Instagram I had so many questions on what I chose for my dry storage, that I decided to do a quick post on how I set it all up. Go here for a full ‘tour’ of the pantry, but here’s a quick tutorial of what I did for the dry storage. The best part? Each jar is about $1 WITH the lid! Chic and affordable pantry storage is my jam.

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After searching high and low for jars that didn’t have any logos or designs on them, I FINALLY came across mason jars at my local Wal-Mart. Unfortunately they didn’t have the quart sized jar so I ended up purchasing them from Anchor-Hocking directly. (Keep reading for links – I’ll link everything up at the end of the post.)

Once I found the right jar, I wanted a lid that didn’t have a ring or a rubber seal. A two or three piece lid is a little too cumbersome for storage (for me) and I like the ease of a one-piece plastic lid. Some other jars that I considered had a metal lid with a paper liner – like a cracker jar – that would work, but I really like a 100% dishwasher-able storage option.

Here’s my step-by-step process:

Buy jars

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Wash jars (I ran them through the dishwasher) and allow to thoroughly dry

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Use an oil-based marker to label jar – if you want a consistent look, make a template or use a ruler to keep the ‘label’ at the same spot on each jar.

QUICK TIP:  Use lemon essential oil to remove the marker if needed. Just a drop on the surface will quickly remove the paint.

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Decide how you’ll label your jars – all caps, lower case letters – think it through and pre-write it out if necessary. (This might sound tedious, but if you are taking the time to hand-label the jars, you will probably be annoyed if you don’t love the way it turns out.)

I wrote what was in the jar on the front

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Then I wrote cooking instructions and an expiration date (if needed) on the back

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Decant dry goods and apply the lid – if you have a powdery ingredient to transfer, make a funnel with parchment or waxed paper to make sure everything makes it into the jar

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Continue the process until you have your jars completed

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Arrange the jars on your shelf

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Sources:

Glass Jars – use any glass jar – I love the Anchor Hocking Mason Jars for this project. They’re a slightly different shape and there isn’t any branding or designs on the sides, making it perfect for dry storage like this. I bought some jars at Wal-Mart and some online at Anchor Hocking. I also found them online at Farm & Fleet if you have one near you. (The jars through Anchor Hocking DID NOT have lids and the ones at Wal-Mart have a gold 2-piece lid.)

Lids – I always have these lids on hand for just about any food storage (I use mason jars for just about everything). These Ball canning lids are my favorite because they seal extremely well, can be placed in the freezer, and are top rack dishwasher safe.

Marker – An oil-based paint marker is the most semi-permanent marker you can use for this project. Choose a color or black or white – match it up with your kitchen or pantry. I chose the white medium tip because it looks clean and it shows up the best with a variety of colored contents.

Psst….if you’re looking for healthier alternatives for your pantry, I love Thrive Market – most of the ingredients in my dry storage containers came from Thrive. Check it out!

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