Canning FAQ
Canning Lids
Q.
Dear Helen,
How long can you keep jar lids? I found some at my sisters that are dated 1989 and 1998. I hate to waste them if they are ok to use. Thanks for your help.
Jane
A.
Hi Jane,
Look at the rubbers; do they seem brittle or cracked? Compare them to a new set. If they look about the same, they should work. Try a small batch of something using them and see what the seal ratio is. The 1998 ones should be fine. I don't know about the 1989 ones. Just try them out and see what happens.
Great question and thanks for writing.
Blessings,
Helen
Q.
Hi Helen,
I received your order so fast and such a quality product. Thank you!
I had a question and though you might know the answer. I purchased some jars at a flea market Saturday, and when I got them home, I found that they have smaller mouths than the regular canning lids. I tried to do some Internet research, and wondered if these smaller lids were the #63 that are not manufactured anymore. Would you know? I didn't measure the tops of the jars.
Thanks!
Kathy
A.
Dear Kathy,
Thanks for your good question.
Ball no longer makes the small lids and they have bought out all the other American manufacturers, so.....I don't know where you could get them anymore in the US. The problem with buying old ones is that the rubbers may no longer be good.
Try this Canadian site. It appears to me that they sell the small ones (all in mm sizes). Small Lids
All the best!
Blessings,
Helen
Q.
Hi Helen,
I came across your website when I was searching for canning lids in bulk.
My question is, can either wide-mouth or regular-mouth jars be used for anything? Is it just the type of food you are canning that would make you want to use a wide-mouth jar?
I've only canned applesauce and pears, so I'm still a little new to this! Seems like it would be easier to have one type of jar and one type of lid to go with it!
Thanks!
Krista
A.
Dear Krista,
You can do up anything in either regular size or wide size jars. Yes, it is easier to just use the one type.
If I were starting to can from scratch, I would go with the wide jars and Ball wide canning lids lids (flats) hands down!
Three reasons:
1. The wide jars are much easier to clean because you can get your hand right down into the jar.
2. You can pack the wide jars more easily. When doing dill pickles, for example, you can put your hand into the jar and place the cucs nice and tight to get a very full jar.
3. After the canning is done you can get at whatever is in the jar more easily. Take pickles again as an example. You probably won't eat the whole jar at once. With wide jars you can easily get one pickle out at a time.
Right now I do both regular and wide jars because I still have regular jars from years ago. But I am gradually going to all wide jars.
The Ball wide lids are a little more expensive, but I feel the convenience is well worth it! (Just so you know, I make the same profit margin on the Ball regular and Ball wide lids!)
Thanks for your interest in Mulberry Lane Farm canning lids! Have a great canning season and do write again if I can be of any assistance!
Blessings,
Helen
Q.
Hi,
Do you sell just the bands and canning lids? I do a lot of canning and I need a lot of both. Do you have a large quantity of rings?
Thanks,
Barb
A.
Hello Barb,
I do not sell any rings because the rings and canning lid boxes are very bulky. I can't get very many in a USPS box, making the prices to the buyer higher than you can get at Wal-Mart. Your best bet is just to buy them at Wal-Mart. Sorry. Thanks for your interest in Mulberry Lane Farm.
Helen
Q.
Hi Mulberry Lane Farm,
Are these canning lids "white" on the inside? Does that make much difference anyway?
Thanks,
Tim
A.
Greetings Tim,
Thanks for your interest in canning lids from Mulberry Lane Farm! These lids are BALL lids, the best in the business! They are gold on the inside, same color as the top. It makes no difference whatever to the sealing capability of the lid as to what color they are on the inside.
Helen
Q.
Can you please tell me the shelf life/date stamped on the canning lids you are selling?
A.
Hello,
They do not stamp the cannning lid boxes with a date. These arrived brand new from the manufacturer. They have a shelf life of 5 years, but will keep much longer if kept in cool dry conditions probably up to 10 years. Thanks for your interest in canning lids from Mulberry Lane Farm!
Blessings,
Helen
Q.
Dear Helen,
Hi, I'm new to canning... Couple of questions: If canning lid wide is 3 3/8", what measurement is "regular" canning lid? Should I build my inventory (of jars etc.) "all wide"? What would you do if starting from scratch?
Thanks,
Tim.
A.
Hello Tim,
A great question!
Regular canning lids (or flats, as some folks call them) are 2 1/2" wide.
If I were starting to can from scratch, I would go with the wide jars and canning lids lids (flats) hands down! Three reasons:
1. The wide jars are much easier to clean because you can get your hand right down into the jar.
2. You can pack the wide jars more easily. When doing dill pickles, for example, you can put your hand into the jar and place the cucs nice and tight to get a very full jar.
3. After the canning is done you can get at whatever is in the jar more easily. Take pickles again as an example. You probably won't eat the whole jar at once. With wide jars you can easily get one pickle out at a time.
Right now I do both regular and wide jars because I still have regular jars from years ago. But I am gradually going to all wide jars.
The wide lids are a little more expensive, but I feel the convenience is well worth it! (Just so you know, I make the same profit margin on the regular and wide lids!)
Thanks for your interest in Mulberry Lane Farm canning lids! Have a great canning season and do write again if I can be of any assistance!
Blessings,
Helen.
Q.
Dear Helen,
Are these canning lids dome lids or just lids (flats), no rings, etc.....hope they are flats and lids.
- fibrorock
A.
Dear fibrorock,
On the Ball box they call them lids. Neither "dome" nor "flat" is used on the boxes. These canning lids are flat with a raised dimple in the middle (so you can tell when the lid is sealed). The bands (some call these rings but the box calls them bands) are what are screwed on the tops of the jars, over the canning lids, before processing. We do not sell any bands.
Blessings,
Helen
Q.
Dear Helen,
All lids are new?
- susanlmt
A.
Dear susanlmt,
Yes these canning lids are brand spankin' new, direct from the manufacturer! Thanks for your interest.
Blessings,
Helen
Photo by Joey Contreras Jr., September, 2008.
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Q.
Dear Helen,
Why don't you carry the canning lids and bands? You have great prices on the lids and I need to buy bands as well.
- Christy
A.
Dear Christy,
The canning lids and bands are very bulky so I cannot get very many in a flat rate USPS box. This makes it difficult to keep the buyer's cost down. You can do better on lids with bands at Wal-Mart.
I appreciate your interest and am glad you like our prices!
Blessings,
Helen
Q.
Helen,
I've never canned before. Is it true that you can reuse the rings on the jars (the part that goes over the lid and screws on top of it) over and over again? Thanks for your time?
Jane
A.
Hi Jane,
Yes, you certainly can use the rings (bands) over and over again each year. One does not need a large number of rings because once the jars are cooled and sealed, you can take the rings off and use them on subsequent batches. I usually keep about 3 dozen on hand. They do become rusty over time and need to be replaced eventually, but they will last many years if well cared for and kept dry.
Have a great canning summer!
Helen
Q.
Howdy Helen,
If I buy your canning lids in bulk (case), how long can I keep them before they spoil? Appreciate your time!
Tim
A.
Dear Tim,
New canning lids have a shelf life of 5 years. If stored in cool, dry conditions, I think they would probably have an even longer shelf life.
Blessings,
Helen
Q.
Photo by Joey Contreras Jr., September, 2008.
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Hello!
I'm curious if you may know of a source for canning jars? I would like to purchase in bulk if you should have a source you may pass on.
Thank you in advance for your time.
Dede
A.
Hello Dede,
I get most of my canning jars from garage sales or thrift stores, or even for free from people who offer them to me. Spread the word around to your friends. Older ladies frequently have some in their basements. Wal-Mart is about the cheapest source for new, I think. Watch the end-of-year sales at places like farm stores.
An online source may be www.Fillmorecontainer.com. I don't know how the prices compare to Wal-Mart. Jars are bulky, which usually means high shipping costs for online orders.
Have a great canning season. Do write again if I can assist you in any way.
Blessings,
Helen
Q.
Hello Helen,
I've heard that you can reuse canning lids? What do you think about that? Is it safe?
Thanks,
Judy
A.
Hello Judy,
This is a very good question because all of us are trying to cut costs on our food bills.
I tried reusing canning lids in the past, but I found that about half of the jars did not seal. This was a tremendous frustration and waste of my time. In the middle of canning season I'm usually maxed to the limit. The last thing I need is jars that don't seal. My time is worth more than the few pennies it costs to buy new lids each year. So, to answer your question, I do not reuse canning lids, and I do not recommend reusing canning lids.
Blessings,
Helen
Photo by Joey Contreras Jr., September, 2008.
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Q.
Hello Helen,
Exactly what is printed on the top of the canning lids? I know there are
several styles and I am looking for the ones that have a fruit
basket drawing and then two lines for writing (or something
similar to that). Also, can you confirm that the Ball canning lids have the
white underside instead of just the plain metal like the Kerr lids.
I know it's a strange question, but this is for an art project.
Thanks!
Ken
A.
Hello Ken,
Here are some photos of the Ball canning lids, top and bottom. These do not have a fruit drawing basket on the front, but does have the white underneath that I think you are looking for.
Hope your art project goes well.
Blessings,
Helen
Q.
Hello Helen,
I live on a farm in NJ and am planning on canning lots of tomatoes this summer. I'd like to put them up in 1/2 gallon jars, though there are no published guidelines for it. I'm planning on pressure canning them because it's faster and uses less water, but will water bath if I have to. Do you have any advice or experience on using 1/2 gallon jars?
Thanks,
Steve
A.
Hello Steve,
There isn't much information about canning with 1/2 gallon jars. Like you
said, there are no published guidelines for it.
Check this out if you haven't already.
Ext. Nodak Edu
Seems like tomatoes would be fine, as they are so acidic. If I were doing
it, I would process the jars about 10-15 longer than the quart jars.
Have a great canning season!
Blessings,
Helen
More correspondence coming soon...........
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