Ball Wide Mouth Quart Mason Jars vs Gibson Home Market Preserves Canning Jars

Buy the Ball wide-mouth quarts if you plan to water-bath can whole fruits, pickles, tomatoes or sauces, or want one jar that doubles as storage and serving. Buy the Gibson pints if you mostly store dry goods, leftovers and small batches and want a lighter, narrower jar. Ball is the sturdier, better-supported jar with a long canning track record and replacement lids sold everywhere; Gibson's jars are thinner and its lids are single-use, so they suit storage better than repeated canning.

• Choose the Ball wide-mouth quart if you can, freeze, or store in bulk and want jars with lids and bands you can re-buy anywhere.
• Choose the Gibson pint if you want smaller jars for pantry staples, fridge leftovers and gift portions.