Ball Wide Mouth Quart Mason Jars vs Kerr Wide Mouth Half-Pint Mason Jars

These are the same jar in two sizes, so the choice is about capacity, not quality. The Ball 32 oz quart is the better pick for canning whole fruit, pickles, sauces and dry goods, and it doubles as a storage and serving jar. The Kerr half-pint is the better pick for jams, jellies, salsas, spices and gift portions, where a full quart would be wasteful. Both are wide mouth, both take standard wide-mouth lids and bands, and both brands have decades of home-canning track records.

• Choose the Ball quart if you are canning whole tomatoes, pickles, peaches or sauces, or want a jar big enough to store flour, pasta or leftovers.
• Choose the Kerr half-pint if you make jams, jellies, chutneys or spice blends and want single-serving or gift-size portions.