One of the entertaining but frustrating things about the internet is how much incorrect info is out there, and how often that same wrong information gets recycled on hundreds of web sites, often verbatim.
So, let’s put one of them to rest once and for all: reusing canning lids.
It would never cross your mind to do an internet search, “Do peaches taste better when they’re hard or after they soften up?” Obviously, it’s very simple to test it yourself by trying one of each and drawing your own conclusions instead of relying on the opinions of others. The same is true of reusing canning lids.
POPULAR NOTIONS ABOUT REUSING CANNING LIDS
When it comes to reusing canning jar lids, I’ve read everything from “absolutely, in a million years, not,” to “I’ve tried reusing them but only half of them sealed.”
Here are some of the more common reasons people give for not reusing canning lids:
• The Ball website and many ag extension offices say they should never be reused.
• They may not seal and the batch will be ruined after all my hard work.
• I reuse them but only one per batch in case it doesn’t seal.
• I’m afraid to use them because someone told me not to.
• Are you kidding? You’ll get botulism.
Needless to say, there are many opinions on the subject. So, I’m going to share my personal experience with you but please, don’t take my word for it! You can easily test it for yourself and then speak authoritatively the next time you hear the question asked.
The COVID conundrum has caused a shortage of canning supplies, the likes of which most of us have never seen, and prices have skyrocketed. Canning lids used to be in the neighborhood of $2.00. I’ve checked weekly over the past year just out of curiosity and the only lids I’ve seen since March of 2020 were in April of 2021 at $3.99/dozen. Many folks are wondering how they’re going to get their canning accomplished this year if lids are unavailable. More than ever, people are asking if canning lids can be reused.
An even crazier question is whether jars and lids from things like store-bought salsa, pickle, and pasta sauce can be cleaned up and reused for canning.
To both of these questions, I say without reservation, yes! Both canning lids and one-piece lids from various products can be reused time and time again.Continue reading“Reusing Can Canning Jar Lids, by St. Funogas”