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There are plenty of trends that keep me up at night. Exposed pipe for the sake of it? I can just hear the husband on House Hunters praising the “industrial touches” on the loft they’re touring. No sir, this is new construction—there’s no need for your water line to be on display. Brand new furniture with intentional distressing? Please, please no...there are so many actual old things to be found.
So, as someone immersed in all things home, I probably have more passionate opinions than most on these things. I get that. But there is one thing we all have to be able to get behind…
Mason. Jars. As. Drinkware. Need. To. Go.
It’s been seven years since I was tying bibs on strangers and slinging watery “Louisiana-inspired” cocktails (in mason jars, of course) at Joe’s Crab Shack, and even then, I suspected it was a slightly tired schtick.
Mason jars aren’t easy to drink from—I have to splay my (admittedly, undersized) fingers completely out to get a firm grasp on the thing, and when I tip it back for a sip, I drip drink on myself more often than not.
To the restaurants with expertly mixed cocktails in a mason jar—what did a Collins glass ever do to you? It’s perfectly hand-held, accommodates an appropriate amount of ice, and has a flawless straw-to-glass ratio.
It’s not just the inefficient drinking, it’s what I perceive to be their disingenuousness. In 2005, someone might have served you an Arnold Palmer in a mason jar in their home because it’s what they literally had on hand, but not today. Today it’s more likely that someone (or namely, some restaurant) ordered theirs on Amazon Prime, or picked up a value pack at Michael’s. The jars’ vacuum-sealable lids were promptly discarded to the junk drawer “just in case,” and the cabinet was fully stocked with “unorthodox” drinkware.
When mason jars are used for their intended purpose, I'm all for it. Use them, by all means, for pickling veggies and making strawberry preserves. They’re a utilitarian vessel, after all, most useful for preserving salsa or housing a SCOBY. I also give leftovers in mason jars a thumbs-up, because reducing plastic use is absolutely the right thing to do.
Alas, their modern-day primary application is far removed from their original intended use.
Here's another repeat offender: mason jars as decor. Around the same time as washi tape-everything (hello again, 2013), Pinterest was inundated with mason jar hacks, DIY projects, and ways to incorporate them into your wedding tablescapes. Close your eyes and picture the application of the trend. Now open them. Were the mason jars wrapped in twine, holding stems of sunflowers, perched on a reclaimed wood table, inside an old barn? They were, weren’t they?
Sigh.
Oh, and the drinkware of choice at the Food52 office? Mason jars. There may or may not be one on my table right now.
But don’t show this to Amanda and Merrill, please. I like my job.
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Written by: Caroline Mullen
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55 Comments
And yes, one does find its way into our
Cupboard next to our water glasses.
We are rural and retired farmers. Still have a large garden. There is comfort and sensibility in using these jars. We will never get rid of them. But in restaurants, i do prefer a different glass if honest. But when served a beer in a bottle, any glass will do with the beer!😁
I enjoyed the post. Just found you guys today while double-checking if I can use my cream fraishe to make more or if I had to have a fresh culture (this young widow is always looking to save some moolah!). Found you and I've read through 3 or 4 posts already. Just realized I rabbit holed and need to get back to placing my order. I'm subscribing cause I've liked everything I've seen.
And, oh, no thanks! I've my own mason glass of coffee. But I would love a brownie! ;)
~Honey
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