Once upon a time, long, long ago, a new-ish blogger with more mason jars than readers heard about an amazing thing called a Kickstarter. A Kickstarter, the blogger learned, was a way for individual people to directly support entrepreneurs with really awesome ideas.
The very first Kickstarter the blogger ever heard about was for a brand new lid that turned any mason jar into a leak-free pouring device. The lid was called a reCAP, and it was designed by a lady named Karen who just wanted to make, shake, pour and store her salad dressing in one convenient jar.
“Shut up and take my money!” yelled the blogger, hurling her financial support at the reCAP Kickstarter as fast as the credit card company would allow.
Months later, an big bag of reCAP Mason Jar caps arrived in the blogger’s mailbox – a thank you from Karen for the blogger’s Kickstarter pledge. The blogger fell in love with the caps and soon found them indispensable. She discovered the versatile reCAP pour caps could be used with everything from dish soap to coffee, fermenting vegetables to olive oil.
The blogger told everyone she could that the pour caps were awesome!
After several years of hard work, both the blogger and the little mason jar lid company had grown much bigger. The blogger had way more readers and Karen had hired extra people to keep up with the growth of reCAP, and to bring more functional mason jar accessories to market.
But the blogger always remembered how great it felt to help an entrepreneur with a great idea succeed, and Karen always remembered how much support the blogger had given her in those early days. And they both still really loved mason jars.
And that, ladies and gentleman, is the story of how reCAP came to be a sponsor of this blog, and why and I am so happy to bring this mason jar accessory giveaway to you today.
It’s always easy to endorse something you’re already using the hell out of. Here’s a snapshot of how the original reCAP Pour Caps get used in my life. I just walked around my kitchen, rounded up these jars, and took a few pictures. I really do use these caps all the time, every single day.
My son will now demonstrate how I use a Pour Cap to turn half-pints of applesauce or pearsauce from the pantry into leak-free to-go snacks for my kids.
I was inspired by those fruit squeeze packs that are so popular now. They let kids drink their fruit purees. I loved the drinkable fruit concept, but hated the waste and crazy expense associated with the disposable packs. The Pour Cap makes a DIY equivelent easy.
Long-time readers already know that I press a reCAP and an airlock into service as a fermentation lid for lacto-ferments.
My go-to water bottle and hot drink holder these days is a mason jar with a Pour Cap. After our latest round of metal thermal mugs sprung leaks, I opted not to replace them. Now, when I want to keep my coffee or tea hot, I use a Pour Cap, a pint-mason jar and a koozie I slide over the bottom of the jar. That keeps my coffee warm very effectively.
Pretty much what I’m saying is, without reCAP it’s entirely possible I would die of dehydration and/or caffeine withdrawal.
Introducing Flip Caps
Karen and the reCAP team recently launched a new product line, the Flip Cap. The basic Flip Cap is a secure lid for regular-mouth mason jars. The top flips open to give you wide-access to whatever is in your jar. There are also accessory screens that snap into the Flip Cap and turn it into a shaker cap, and a counter ring so you can keep track of the age of your mason jar contents.
Maybe I’m biased as a parent, but the Flip Lid has got “snack time” written all over it. Fill a jar with some nuts, dried fruits, and maybe some chocolate chips for a DIY trail mix, then top the jar with a Flip Cap for super easy snacking.
The shaker screens add extra functionality for spices, grated cheese, coarse salts, cleaning powders and more. The screens just clip in, so you can add or remove them from the Flip Caps as you need.
Once the shaker insert is popped into the Flip Cap it’s very secure and can’t be shaken out of the lid.
I make my own scouring powder by mixing equal parts baking soda, borax, and kosher salt with citrus essential oils. The reCAP Flip Lid with the shaker screen is perfect for storing and using this cleaner.
Fitted with the smaller shaker screen, the Flip Lid is perfect for homemade spice blends, like my Citrus and Spice Seasoning Salt.
Just the right amount of yummy flavor escapes.
My verdict on the new reCAP Flip Cap? Well designed, functional, flexible, and like all reCAP products, BPA-free and made in the USA. The snap-in shaker screens are fantastic. The only part of the Flip Cap package I received that won’t be pushed into constant use in my home is probably the counter ring. Most of the things I will use my Flip Caps for will be dry-goods with long shelf lives. I am, frankly, just not organized enough to keep track of the best-by date for stuff like that.
ReCAP Mason Jar Accessory Giveaway
My friends over at reCAP want you to be able to try their range of cool mason jar accessories. So, they are giving away a reCAP variety pack worth over $50. One lucky winner will receive one each of the following:
- Regular Mouth Pour Cap in Sky Blue
- Wide Mouth Pour Cap in Sunshine
- Flip Cap in Sky Blue
- Flip Cap in Sunshine
- Flip Cap Accessory Kit
- Adapta Sprayer
- Adapta Pump
- Set of Multi-Purpose Americana Tags
To enter to win this complete kit of reCAP accessories, just leave a comment below telling me how you will use the new reCAP Flip Caps – with or without shaker insert – if you win. That’s it!
The Fine Print
- This contest is open to US residents only.
- Contest closes 8 pm Pacific time, Monday July 27th 2015.
- Winner will be notified by email and shall have 48 hours to respond to claim their prize.
- I am proud to have reCAP Mason Jars as a seasonal sponsor of this blog.
Good luck!
1
ReCAP lids look amazing! I’d love to try them all in my effort to switch out all the store bought condiments in my fridge (salad dressings, mustard, ketchup, sauces, etc) with creative and unique homemade recipes!
I absolutely love the idea of using these lids instead of the gross lids that come attached to store-bought condiments, they get so DISGUSTING in my fridge. Ewwww. And I totally remember these lids from the fermentation post and was so excited about them then. I will literally pee my pants if I win. I’m sorry, but it’s the truth.
Your picture of the applesauce pouch use looks awesome. Our 3 year old and 1 year old love those pouches and since they’re mostly healthy they’re the default snack in the car. Like you I hate using something over and over and over again that’s so disposable.
So given that, we’d likely use the flip caps as a snack cup like you suggested.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I love the shaker idea – it would work for all sorts of herbs and spices – cinnamon sugar, mixed Italian herbs, basil and parmesan cheese…
I need the sprayer for the bathroom cleaner that I make. I also want to start fermenting, so I’d also like to try out your trick with a recap and an airlock. These all seem super useful. Thanks!
Holy crap! I still love and use my reCap fermenters. Yesterday, I took all of my too-small shallots and started lactofermenting them. I’m thinking little pickled shallots in martinis and bloody marys. I digress.
I would start using the flip cap *immediately* to cover odds and ends I take out to the chickens. I have been using a small bowl on the counter, but it attracts wayward insects. If I keep the bowl in the fridge, I forget to use it. Something at hand that I can easily open and close without taking the whole lid off is perfect.
Is the scouring scrub recipe in the book?
Hi Erica, I would use the flip caps for my dried herbs. This is a really great idea, I’m checking it out!
Thanks!
flip cap…hmmm. In the last half hour the tasks most suited seem to be storing fish food for easy access, fertilizing seedlings (dilute kelp), granola for the morning yogurt. The possibilities seem endless.
I will use the caps for fermenting vegetables.
Olives. I currently store the remainder of a can in a pint jar, and the flip cap would totally ramp that up a notch.
I think the flip cap would be awesome for storing marinating foods in the fridge like feta in olive oil or red onions and jalapenos. My regular lids tend to get messy/rusty/gunky quickly. I think the flip cap would be much cleaner.
The flip top would be awesome for storing pickled vegetables.
I love all your simple DIY suggestions! I’m fermenting a batch of strawberry soda as we “speak” but getting the airlock in a lid was a pain. The reCAP fermenter looks brilliant!
I also really liked the homemade cleanser!
Thanks for sharing!
These look great! I would use the sprayer for my homemade all-purpose cleaner. I’m also planning to experiment with fermenting soon, and would use the flip top for that. I’d also use the flip-top for homemade salad dressing.
I would use them in all those ways listed. I own one and it is holding my homemade magic shell sauce which you too should DIY the crap out of! Crossing my fingers!!!
I store my own spice mixes, dried herbs, cleaning solutions and storeboughts in mason jars. Those Flip-Caps would be a lot easier then always twisting the lids off and on again.
I’d use them for my spice mixes that I buy or make in bulk. These are amazing
I use the reCaps for fermenting after reading your post on the subject. I would love to win this and experiment on all the ways that this could be used in my life! Thanks for your generous give aways!
The question is, how WOULDN’T I use these? Lacto ferment lids, shaker for herb blends, pump for simple syrup… plus the flip top? So many things I’d love to use these for.
I would use the flip caps for snack storage, as you suggested, and I’m sure I would find other uses around the house for them as well!
WANT!!! Especially for salad dressing. Not competing due to location. That ia OK, I have socialised medical insurance instead.
I too have had issue with the squeezy pouches of fruit puree, what a great idea! I would love to use the shaker for cheese and for household cleaning supplies. Thanks for sharing these cool products with us!
These look amazing! I’m just getting started with lactofermentation and being able to use these instead of a series of metal lids sounds like a dream!
I already keep all my spices in 1/2 pint jars, the shaker lids would save me trying to unscrew the lid with my elbow because I dont want to take the time to wash my chickeny hands in the middle of cooking. I also love the idea of using it as a to go coffee cup.
I have some recaps and loved them until they started to become impossible to open! I have to use the edge of my counter to get them open now. Any suggestions for lubricating the plastic a bit so the cap will open and close easily without becoming prone to leaks?
That being said the wider lid looks very cool!
Do you mean opening the pop-lid part? Or unscrewing the whole lid? I’ve never had problems with the former, but sometimes when the lid got screwed down too tight and is stuck, I’ve had good luck filling them all the way up with really hot water and letting them sit a bit. I think it softens the gasket material and any residue that might be sticking the parts together a bit.
Salad dressings. Dry shaker cleaning-stuff. Liquid cleaners. Probably just scratching the surface of possibilities…
Love these!
I have antique utensils all over my kitchen. These jar lids will by super hand and not out of place.
I am CONSTANTLY amazed by the way cool products, hints, recipes, etc shared on this blog. Recapping mason jars – I admit I had never heard of this before now – is so intuitively obvious… why didn’t *I* think of it?! Fridge storage, cupboard storage, leftover storage… you name it, I’ll do it!
I would use that shaker top for sprinkling cheese in too of my popcorn! I love all of these jar toppers!!
I’m thrilled to see the new cap selections – yay! The flip tops with screens would be great for cinnamon sugar as well as microgreen seeds for more even sowing. I also love the spray cap for homemade all purpose and glass cleaners. Thanks for the chance!
I’m gluten free and store all my esoteric flours in wide mouth mason jars with screw lids already. Flip tops would be just that little bit less hassle!
I’m also intrigued by the hot and cold drink holders. We go through plastic and stainless containers at an alarming rate here, and I never feel like they get as clean as I would like, particularly after spending a day or three fermenting the remains of my son’s summer smoothies under the back seat of the car. Mason jars and dishwasher safe plastic would be wonderful!
I’d use the flip cap with the shaker filter to store my taco/burrito/chili seasoning!
I’ve just started trying to eat more salads. These will be great for salad dressing, or for keep nuts, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds etc handy to just sprinkle over the top.
Oh, the possibilities! Looks like the perfect vehicle for spice rubs, cinnamon sugar, dried minced onions & garlic & peppers, dye powders for tie-dye & ice-dye crafts, sowing small seeds, draining pickle & olives —all kinds of uses!
I’d use the flip cap for the nutritional yeast and flax seed I buy in bulk and store in mason jars.
Also a parent, I’d use it for storing snacks for little fingers!
My daughter is into all that natural cleaning crap stuff and makes her own cleaning products with hoity-toity essential oils. Kudos to her, but I ain’t got time for that crap. So, if I won this, I’m thinking “stocking stuffer!” for my daughter. Or maybe not. I could use some of the stuff to make and store my own hoity-toity cleaning crap.
*Disclaimer: Kudos to you if you have time to make hoity-toity cleaning crap. More power to you. No offense intended. Same if you don’t make hoity-toity cleaning crap.
You picked a great kickstarter to invest in that is for sure! It is inspiring to see great ideas come to fruition. I have been wanting to try your method of fermentation and I have yet to get these caps! I may even use them for my herbal hair rinse and other beauty concoctions. The shaker insert is such a great addition!
Win or no win, these caps will be part of my mason jar tool kit!
I’d use the flip cap on the jar that I store my toasted and seasoned sesame seeds in for even easier access to my favorite snack! 🙂
Oh boy, oh boy! I’ve been eyeballing these things since I first discovered your blog. I would use them for ALL the things! Bulk spices, drinks, leftovers for lunch at work, and I’m fascinated by home fermentation. Thanks for doing this giveaway!
Ooh, I have a butt ugly plastic tub that sits on my counter for sprinkling flour when I’m shaping loaves, rolling out dough, etc. How much cooler would be having a little shaker jar! And why haven’t I thought of this before, ha! Thanks for hosting this, it’s nice to see a symbiotic business relationship 🙂
Wow! I love these! Now, I just have to get my hands on some. I can see a use for every single application. In the kitchen, bathroom, utility room, commuting, etc. If I don’t win, I’m buying some anyway.
Awesome!
oooh! shakers! sesame seeds! gomasio! grated romano (in the freezer, of course)!
Ooh, ooh! Awesome giveaway. I have a bunch of the recap pour spouts and use them mostly at this point for jars of homemade liqueur. But I love the idea of a toddler snack cup. And I’ve started making more of my own spice blends, so I’d use the shaker insert for that.
I think these would make an excellent dehydrated kale dispenser – for lacing savory or egg dishes with a bit of healthy green goodness throughout the year. With the larger grate, I think, once the kale is turned into smaller flakes.
Great invention! SO many kid snack options come to mind!!
For all my dried garden herbs and homemade spices!
I would love to use the flip caps to store the mushrooms I’ve been drying in the sunshine (for no more than 12 hours) to get them to create more vitamin D. I much prefer vitamin D fortified mushrooms to vitamin D supplements.
I use Mason jars for… Everything. I’d love the lids with screens for meat rubs, smoked salt, etc, and the regular flip cap for my around the farmwater bottle. The sprayer would be cool for a bokashi experiment I’m doing in the rabbitry to deal with but still capture their urine.
When would I not use them? I’ve been in love with Mason jars for years, and now I need these caps! I’ll start with a batch of your scouring powder.
for all my kitchen and food needs
HaHa! one of my sisters once asked “How do you fix your mouth to drink out of a jar?” I thought that was hilarious! reCAP sounds like something I would use everyday just like you do! I currently use jars for food storage, freezer storage, water and coffee drinking, decorative storage, etc. Would love to add shaking spices, cleaners to that list!