Why Mason Jars Became the Go-To Container for Overnight Oats

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Overnight oats have become all the breakfast rage. Anyone who eats them regularly doesn’t need a recap of the long list of reasons why, but, in short, they are nutritious, filling, incredibly customizable, and easy to make the night before. Hot or cold, sweet or savory, loaded with fresh fruit, protein, or both, it’s easy to see why they’re so popular. Somewhere along the way, Mason jars became the unofficial container for this breakfast staple. Look a little closer and it makes perfect sense.

What overnight oats are to meals, Mason jars are to food containers — dependable, versatile, and ubiquitous. In fact, just like overnight oats, Mason jars have been around for ages but only now seem to be having their moment in the limelight. Turns out Martha Stewart was making Mason jar meals decades before overnight oats became all the rage. Now, of course, you’re more likely to see protein-rich, crave-worthy peanut butter overnight oats in a Mason jar.

Their similar personalities aside, Mason jars and overnight oats go so well together because the former is perfectly suited for the latter at every step. The transparent glass container, usually with some kind of marking, is perfect for portioning out oats, milk, nuts, seeds, and other mix-ins. The lids are leakproof, making them easy to shake and carry around, and the wide mouth of the jar makes it easy to fill, stir, eat out of, and clean. Considering how many products come in Mason jars, one invariably has a few lying around.

For all the ways Mason jars are ideal containers for overnight oats, they’re not perfect. For one, carrying them can be slightly stressful since they’re made of glass, which also makes them a little weighty. Ever since the popularity of overnight oats as a wholesome breakfast exploded, jar makers and overnight oats enthusiasts have been trying to design and find, respectively, an even better container. Consequently, there are a few options that may be better suited than the stalwart Mason jar.

You can now get airtight plastic containers that come complete with spoons and even separate compartments for mix-ins that would get soggy if you soaked them all night with the oats. The Soligt four-pack containers with lids, folding spoons, and divided compartments have all these features. Other options include regular Tupperware containers or soup bowls that come with lids. The latter is a good option if you don’t like the idea of eating out of a jar and want to enjoy your elegant matcha almond overnight oats from a bowl. That said, one aspect many of these other overnight oats-specific containers may not be able to match is the image associated with Mason jars. Try a few different containers, and you might find yourself going back to them.