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
How neat! These would be great for my kids, my smoothies, iced coffee drinks, and salsa! Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
Erin
ErinLoves2Run at gmail dot com
I’ve been wanting to try these lids for a long time now! I like to make my own spice blends (taco seasoning, cajun seasoning, etc.), so I love the option of the shaker lid. That would be so handy!
What would I NOT use these for? Much simpler to answer… The new shaker caps would be great for grated cheeses, spice mixes, and cleaning powders, as you noted. Think I’d try all these. Nterrific products!
would love to use them for my diy cleaners too!
I already keep various spices, salad toppings, grains, baking supplies, etc. on the counter in used pasta sauce, pickle, and other jars. I’ve been contemplating a long while about raiding the local thrift stores for Mason jars so they’re a more uniform size. The flip tops would be wonderful for stuff like croutons and nuts, and the shaker top would be ideal for my bread dipping spice that I put directly in bread, pasta, eggs, and on chicken.
Also, just want to take the opportunity to thank you for making such an awesome blog – I follow several, and yours always gives me the best ideas while putting a grin on my face. 🙂 Thanks for doing what you do!
Wow, how cool are those lids! I would for sure use it for spice blends, that is perfect.
I think the flip cap shaker thingys would be great to sprinkle flour when I’m rolling out pizza dough/pie crusts/ anything that you don’t want to reach a doughy hand into the flour container for a pinch… same with baking soda for scrubbing pots…
but I’m REALLY inspired to use the pour caps both for my Thai ice coffee concentrate & my kefir. Both are currently in my fridge with regular plastic screw top lids that fit on mason jars, and both need to be shaken up before use….
then when you put the cap back on there are dribbles down the outside of the jar…and rings on the counter, and invariably I don’t get the whole jar wiped off, and then there are nasty rings on the fridge shelves… uggh-
as a long time pour cap user I do not know why I never thought of this before- duh!
So I need to win- all of my pour caps are the original grey… I need some blue sky and sunshine in my life, especially during July & Fogust here on the Central Coast of CA.
SOLD! I have been resisting purchasing new stuff (until done with KonMari method) but these caps look just too great. I make my own spice blends, so a flip cap for that, for sure! Going to check out the rest for the other million things I could use them for. Thanks, too, for your scouring powder blend. Making some today!!
I would love to try using these for snacks too!
I would use them for homemade condiments (mayo, ketchup, mustard), homemade spice mixes that we already make in bulk and store in mason jars (but now we could sprinkle from the mason jar too!), and I’d love to replace all the cheap plastic softsap soap dispensers in my house with mason jars and the squirter lid. Also would be great for transporting food to work such as salad dressings, coffee, sauces since I bike and already put as much stuff in mason jars as I can.
I LOVE the idea of making your own scouring powder for cleaning. That is what I would use it for.
even without ‘winning’ – this is winning! I love the spray bottle attachment (didn’t know they had) and the flip top! I like to make my own cleaners & have been keeping them in old recycled plastic bottles — this would be so much cooler to have in glass for stocking/storage and for cleaning the containers in-between. The flip just kinda blows my mind, grated cheese comes first to mind … then baking soda for cleansing … the list goes on & on!-
These caps are so awesome! I’d use them for the soap dispenser, homemade dressings, and a few spice rub concoctions. Not novel uses, but uses that make a difference in everyday life. Thank you Erica and reCAP!
I would use these caps for so many things! Spices, cleaners, food and drink storage. My mom just gave me all of her old canning jars so I have plenty to use!
Those flip caps would stop my never-ending search for lunch containers that don’t leak! That would be wonderful!
We would probably end up using it to put dried fruits into and mixing according to our toddler’s desires. That would let her pick what she gets for her snack in the afternoon, and not have to keep coming back to us to open up the zippers on the bags that the fruit comes in.
I’ve been dying to try these for ages! I would love to use them for packing my daughter’s lunches.
I would use the reCap flip caps for homemade cup noodles to pack in my kids’ school lunches. (They like sandwiches, but sometimes you’re just in the mood for something hot, you know?)
I will use them on the jars I keep my ground nuts for morning smoothies. A flip cap would be so much more convenient to get into with my tablespoon every morning.
These are amazing! I see a ton of uses but mostly for cleaning with baking soda around our house!
I had honestly never heard of these before but they are so cool! I would love to use them for spice blends and dressings, among other things. Thanks for doing the giveaway!
These caps are great! I have been using mason jars for storage (and canning of course) for 40+ years. No matter what you need in your home, one of these caps on a jar will do the trick.
Lots of ideas…so little time. To-drinks & snacks for traveling, hiking, canoeing. Tops for my many herb and spice blends (herbalist here with a passion for culinary blends). Home-made dressings, ketchup, mustards…condiments of all sorts. Homemade cleaning supplies: dishsoap, baking soda, vinegar, spray cleaners. Fermentation? oh the possibilities.
The dish soap thing sounds like a great idea, but really any of those things that are easy to buy in bulk like cleaning supplies, grains like rice or oats, or even pantry things like salt cured capers
I can see using the flip top for dressing. And I wonder how the pump might work with my homemade hot sauce?
Other than everything? I keep my hand lotion (homemade) in a mason jar with a screw top and the flip lids would make it less likely to be left open in the middle of the night. Also the shaker top would be great to rinse beanprouts in. And I have a new baby and will make him purees in a few months and need to store them for quick access. And… And… And…
These are amazing! The flip cap would be great for taking snacks on the road.
OH so groovy … and made in the USA. Hurrah! Oh I’d use them for everything! Homemade ketchups and salad dressings, olive oil, dog shampoo, morning lattes … the list could go on and on!
I love the idea of using these for hot/cold coffee. I recently lost my reusable coffee mug, so I’ve been on the lookout for a replacement.
We are also looking to finish off and replace our cleaning products with homemade ones, so having these for storage would be super useful.
Visiting my daughter in Portland, I noticed she used the recaps. I thought immediately about using them to brew Kombucha. Can’t wait to try it.
I use my jars for so many things. I would especially enjoy the shaker. I have been using something that doesn’t fit quite right
I immediately had flashes of the leaky mess where I keep the salad dressing in the cabinet… what, no more wiping the oily shelf?? And then there’s the spilled water on my car seat, in my carry bag, on my clothes. Sounds great. As well as everything else you listed…
I have been slowly converting my pantry storage to mason jars. I just did my spice drawer this past spring and these weren’t out yet so I went with the Ball Herb Shaker Lids. The flip lids would definitely go to use in my spice drawer, and eventually my baking cabinet once I start switching that to jars.
We’ve been trying to get away from plastic containers. Being able to put appropriate lids on glass mason jars will be a big help.
I’d use the pump for liquid coconut soap and I’d love to start fermenting with these tops – I could see using them everywhere! They’re really great!
Yay for ReCap becoming a blog sponsor!! I remember you posting about these way back.
Two immediate uses: the jar of powdered milk that we use for making oatmeal (too far to a grocery to keep milk on hand easily; too lazy to milk a cow or goat although there is some discussion of breeding the goats for next spring, heaven help me) and for the all important cat treat jar. The faster you can dispense the treats, the happier the cat. And we all live solely to make our cats happy.
I think the question is how wouldn’t I use it? Spices, snacking, cleaning supplies, popcorn seasoning, grilling…awesome!
I would love to pair these with the pretty green, blue and purple Mason jars so that I can see those beautiful jars more frequently. I love the idea of storing olive oil and honey that way.
Those lids look amazing. I’m planning to can a bunch of pints and half pints of apple/fruit sauce for the kids so I’m sure the lids will be great on those. Like you said, Flip lid + homemade trail mix = super easy snacking for the littles.
I’d use these for apple sauce for the kids, snacking, dry storage, herbs, probably a lot more too
Interesting concept, I can set think of lots of uses. Especially of the fermentation variety.
I want to store all of my dried herbs and spices in mason jars, and these caps would be perfect for that!
I’d ferment kimchi forever! I’d create ochatsuke to sprinkle all over my rice. And I’d put my juice in there while I’m fasting this week… 🙂
Gosh – so many uses! Dressing, sauces, spice mixes and rubs, dried home grown herbs, fermenting, pickling, pantry items, home made cleaning supplies, leftovers and drinks. That’s just off the top of my head. The uses are endless because it is a brilliant idea.
If I had these caps, I think that most of my fridge contents would be moved into Mason jars. Immediately. Seriously, it seems like a great idea – I would love to try them for everything from spices to oils to snacks.
I would definitely use the flip cap for snacks for my three year old.
I would love to use one of the pour lids to try lacto-fermentation. My fingers are crossed!
That shaker lid would be fantastic for my home-made Iberico (think Parmesan, but made with my own goat milk). They’d all be great. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I actually have a couple that I use with fermenting. I would use more for salad dressing, for spice mixes, maybe for diatomaceous earth. I like the applesauce idea!
Uses: For ease in using homemade sauces, for leftovers in jars, and for dry goods, like my sugars and flours.
Looking forward to using them also in the summer for my iced tea 🙂