All You Want To Know About Reusing Canning Lids and Jars
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The question of reusing canning lids and jars might seem like a straightforward question. Yet, it’s one of those seemingly simple questions that invite a myriad of opinions and perspectives. Why? Because it all depends on how we define a canning jar and a canning lid. Here’s a spoiler: not all canning jars are the same, and that includes their lids. So, let’s dive into the world of reusing canning lids and jars, where the answer isn’t black and white, but more like “it depends.”
The lids and jars that we describe in this article were bought with our own money. This is not a sponsored post, but rather our honest opinion of various reusable lids and jars.
Is it safe to reuse canning jars and lids from commercially canned foods?
Many commercially produced goods come in glass jars with twist top metal lids. These twist top lids consist of a one-piece flat metal disc with a non-threaded rim, featuring a sealing compound at the bottom closer to the rim. Most have a pop-up button indicating a sealed jar. During canning, the sealing compound softens and adheres to the jar, creating an airtight seal that prevents spoilage. While technically, these are canning jars and lids, remember, these are designed for one-time use.
Yes, you can easily find new replacement lids online or from European jar manufacturers. Interestingly, National center for food preservation and various university extension education centers are quite adamant that the only type of lids that are safe to use in home canning is a two-piece lid used for Mason jars. Be that as it may, we conducted our own tests.
Testing reusability of the commercial canning jars and lids for home canning
First off, we tried reusing small 250 ml. (8 oz.) jam jars and their lids to can our homemade jams. We processed one jar using the open kettle (inversion canning) method. The other underwent water bath canning process. We saw the safety button getting pushed down on the jar processed with the inversion canning. In theory that means the jar was properly sealed and safe to store. But we still felt unsure and kept it in the fridge. However, the button on the jar processed in the water bath didn’t get pushed down. We’re not sure if this happened because of the canning method or the lid itself.
At the end, after running a few more tests, reusing jars and lids from commercially canned foods resulted in a 50% seal failure rate. Additionally, these jars proved to be not as sturdy as Mason jars. Expect higher rate of jar breakage, especially if you are using water bath canning method. Our verdict is, while it is not an outright “no”, our success rate with these jars and lids was mixed. If you are looking for a high success rate, it’s best to recycle these commercial jars and lids rather than try to reuse them for home canning projects.
Is it OK to reuse Mason canning Jars?
Named after John Landis Mason, who patented the design in 1858, Mason jars have become synonymous with canning. Mason jars are made of glass and feature a two-part lid system consisting of a flat metal snap lid sealing disc and a screw-on band. Markedly, one of the key advantages of Mason jars is their reusability. With a proper care, you can reuse Mason jars for many years. Surprisingly, some home canners mistakenly consider Mason jars single-use only.
What to look for when you are reusing Mason canning jars?
With proper care you should be able to reuse Mason jars for many canning seasons. Before sterilizing your Mason jars and lining them up for reuse, you should thoroughly check them. So, what should you look for? Firstly, examine the body of each jar for any cracks. Even a tiny hairline crack could cause your jars to break during water bath canning or when they are filled with hot preserves. Do not mistake these cracks for regular lines from the jar molds that you can typically find at the base or at the circumference of the jars. Hairline cracks, on the other hand, are irregular and much finer. Additionally, pay close attention to chips near the mouth of the jar. Even if the jar appears crack-free, a chip like that can prevent proper sealing of the lid, resulting in wasted preserves and effort.
Should you reuse Mason jars canning lids?
When it comes to canning lids, there’s a common misconception perpetuated on the internet. Many falsely believe that all major Mason jar manufacturers, such as Ball, Kerr, Golden Harvest, and Bernardin, design their lids to be reusable. In fact, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Let’s be clear: the manufacturers of the Mason jars never intended for the sealing disc part of the lid to be reusable. They explicitly state that their lids and sealing material are single-use only on this website – Ballmasonjars.com.
However, you can reuse the jar bands that secure the lids multiple times, provided these bands are free from corrosion and rust. That’s why it’s important to remove the bands, clean them with soapy water, and dry them carefully before storing them for future use.
Can you reuse Mason jars single-use canning lids?
Just because they didn’t intend single-use lids for reuse doesn’t mean you can’t reuse them. To check the single-use claim, we’ve experimented with reusing single-use lids from different Mason jar brands over the past two canning seasons. We used them for canning jams, juices, and pickles. We also tested reusing them in various canning methods such as open kettle, water bath, and atmospheric steam canning. Our success rate, approximately 50%, was not impacted by the canning methods used but seemed to depend on what we were canning. Surprisingly, we found that juices had the highest success rate, at about 70%. Some may say that it is not too bad. If you are OK with 30% of your preserves going into a waste bin, you can give it a try. Comparing the cost of new lids with the cost of produce and labor, we don’t think it’s worth the risk.
For those determined to reuse single-use lids, here are some things to look for:
- The lid must be free from rust and corrosion.
- The underside of the lid must be scratch-free.
- Check that the sealing compound does not have heavy indentations in the shape of grooves from previous canning. The smoother the appearance of the sealing compound, the higher your success chance. If you are unsure what to look for, compare new and used lids side by side.
- Ensure the rims of the sealing disc have minimal bends and indentations.
What about reusable canning lids a.k.a. multi-use Mason jar lids?
Well, for all you frugalistas out there, here’s some great news – reusable canning lids do exist! Currently, two companies manufacture reusable canning lids for Mason jars.
The most well-known is Tattler, which has been producing reusable Mason jar lids since 1976.
The relative newcomer to the market is Harvest Guard Reusable Canning Lids.
Tattler reusable canning lids
So, here’s the twist with Tattler’s sealing disc lids – they’re a bit different. They’re a two-piece combo: a plastic disc with a rubber gasket ring. This is unlike regular metal lids and might take some getting used to. Tattler estimates that canners can reuse the rubber gasket part of their lids about 15 times, while the plastic disc can last indefinitely unless damaged. Tattler has designed these lids to work with the same bands that originally came with your Mason jars or you could buy bands manufactured by Tattler.
Additionally, Tattler came up with partially reusable Mason jar lids, also a two-piece combo comprised of a single-use metal disc and a reusable rubber gasket ring. Just like with their fully reusable lids, you’ll need to buy bands separately or use the ones that came with your Mason jars.
Harvest Guard Reusable Canning Lids
Somewhat surprisingly, Harvest Guard lids, just like Tattler’s lids have two parts – a plastic disc and a rubber gasket ring. If you buy Harvest Guard lids, you will also need to separately buy Mason jar bands, which is similar to what you’ll need to do for Tattler’s lids. Also, just like Tattler’s lids, the plastic disc part of Harvest Guard’s lids will last you indefinitely, unless it’s damaged. However, you can reuse rubber gasket part about six times. The company notes that the number of reuses may vary depending on the type of canning method used, such as water bath versus pressure canning.
WECK Canning Jars and lids
WECK jars offer a popular alternative to traditional Mason jars, especially in European countries where they have been a household staple for generations. While in some regions of the world they may not be as widespread as Mason jars, WECK jars enjoy a devoted following among home canners and sustainability enthusiasts worldwide. Made from durable glass, WECK jars boast a distinctive shape with a wide mouth and tapered sides.
Unlike Mason jars, which use metal lids with a sealing compound, WECK jars seal differently. They use a rubber gasket along with a glass lid held in place by metal clamps. To seal a WECK jar, you put the rubber gasket on the rim of the jar first, then add the glass lid. After that, you secure the metal clamps tightly, creating a strong seal that keeps air out. This sealing method helps create a vacuum inside the jar, keeping the food inside fresh and preventing it from spoiling.
Home canners often perceive WECK jars as the perfect example of reusable canning jars and lids. But does this reputation really match up with reality?
Reusing WECK canning Jars and lids
One of the big benefits of WECK jars and lids is that they’re meant to be reused over and over again. Sometimes, home canners even tell the stories of WECK jars getting passed down through three generations in their families. The glass lids, rubber gaskets and metal clamps are easy to take off and put back on, so you can use the jars for lots of canning projects. While WECK doesn’t officially say you can reuse the rubber gaskets, many people find they last as long as the jars themselves. If you choose not to reuse the old rubber gaskets, you can easily get replacement gaskets from WECK. If you are into reusing canning jars and lids, you may want to consider WECK.
Reusing Bormioli Quattro Stagioni canning jars and lids
Quattro Stagioni, also known as “Quattro Formaggi,” is an Italian-made Mason jar. Quattro Stagioni jars are well-known among home canners because of their practicality and good looks. We added them to our list because of their handy and reliable one-piece Mason jar lid and sturdy glass. While these jars come in slightly larger sizes compared to standard North American jars, Quattro Stagioni jars are perfect for reuse. In fact, our first-ever canning jars were Quattro Stagioni, and they’re still going strong today without any chips or cracks.
Although they did not design the original Quattro Stagioni lids for reuse, we were hopeful we could use them again. Unfortunately, Quattro Stagioni lids tend to rust and scratch easily, so they didn’t last beyond their first canning season. The silver lining is that you can easily replace these lids with any other single-use or multi-use Mason jar lids. So, while the original lids did not stand the test of time, there are plenty of options to keep your Quattro Stagioni jars in use for many seasons to come.
Le Parfait canning jars and lids
Le Parfait, a company from France, has been making two types of canning jars since 1930. Their first brand of jars is Familia Wiss Jar, and the other is the Le Parfait Terrine or Super Jar. People like their jars because they’re tough and you can use them again and again.
Reusing Le Parfait Terrine canning jars and lids
Le Parfait Terrine or Super jar, is exactly that, a terrine jar, meaning it features a three-piece sealing lid construction comprised of a glass lid, rubber gasket and a metal clasp. With an exception of rubber gaskets, all other parts of these jars are reusable. Le Parfait advises not to reuse their gaskets. Similarly to the WECK gaskets, Le Parfait gaskets have been known to last for more than one canning season. Our verdict, if you are into reusing your canning jars and lids, Le Parfait could be your choice for reusable jars and lids.
Reusing Le Parfait Familia Wiss canning jars and lids
The Familia Wiss jars from Le Parfait may resemble conventional mason jars, but appearances can be deceiving. These jars feature their own custom metal lid, called a sealing cap, and a unique sealing mechanism. Unlike Quattro Stagioni jars, you can use Familia Wiss jars only with the metal caps and sealing bands purposefully made for this brand of jars. Just like the sealing disc of the Mason jars, the Familia Wiss sealing caps are not reusable. However, what truly sets Familia Wiss lids apart is a design quirk that prevents their reuse. Le Parfait engineered a design that renders their sealing cap reuse impossible. Opening a Familia Wiss jar involves piercing a hole in the center of the sealing cap. Once you make this puncture, the sealing cap becomes unfit for further use.
Canning Equipment We Reviewed:
*Note: We purchased all the items reviewed with our own money. These posts are not sponsored; they reflect our honest opinions on jars, lids, and other canning supplies we use.
