Many applesauce jars are PETE plastic and have a leak-proof lid. The lid is often like a 2-piece canning lid with a lid and ring but locked together. Both the PETE plastic and the leak-proof lid should make these jars capable of storing dry-packed foods. I decided to experiment.
The jars I have hold 46 ounces. I have 2 sizes of oxygen absorbers. The 100cc are for quarts and the 300cc are for gallon containers. Since the jars are larger than a quart, I used a 300cc absorber.
I poured a quart of rice into an empty, clean, dry jar, and added the absorber. I used a paper towel to wipe the rim of the jar and screwed the clean, dry lid on tightly. Then I waited several hours.
I could never tell a difference in the lid when pressing on it but when I unscrewed it, I could tell that the lid had sealed to the jar. I resealed the jar and waited, again, this time longer. Again, the lid sealed. I was able to do this a couple of times because of the capacity of the absorber. The lid would seal but it never felt like a strong seal. However, because the lid has a slightly separate ring on it with some give in it, hitting the edge of the jar should not compromise the seal.
From this testing, I feel that applesauce jars can be used for dry-packing dry foods just like a juice or soda bottle can be, so don’t throw away those applesauce jars!
