Comments on: Canning in Vintage Jars

By: ana

ana — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 04:08:55 +0000

ah-ha! figured it out thanks to weck’s:

#17 on this page helped me out: http://weckjars.com/canning_safely.php
turn jar upside down, submerge in hot water for a few minutes, and then attempt to open again (pliers with the tab were useful!)

By: ana

ana — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 02:55:18 +0000

i canned using italian glass jars i found at a garage sale. i too am having the same problem as jaimes– i can’t break the seal! i’ve tried to pull on the tab as krista recommends, but unfortunately i lined up the tab with where the bail clips into place, so i having the dickens of a time! in the interest of preventing a bodily injury as i try to unpry this seal with a knife, might any folks have any ideas of what to try next? thanks.

By: marisa

marisa — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:55:23 +0000

I buy them all over. Thrift stores, rummage sales, antique stores and supermarkets.

By: vicky

vicky — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 16:51:38 +0000

Where do get your lovely jars from please?

By: Krista

Krista — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 18:31:51 +0000

Hi Jaimes,
I saw your post and thought I’d share my discovery. If you pull on the tab of the rubber gasket, it breaks the seal and the jars open quite easily!

By: sharon

sharon — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 02:46:06 +0000

I purchased a one gall Ball jug with a spicket and a glass lid at a second-hand store. It was missing the wire bail and I am having great difficulty locating a replacement for the bail. The circumference of my jug is 14″. Do you have any suggestions as to where I might be able to purchase a replacement bail?

By: Krista

Krista — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 22:07:51 +0000

I was reading “Putting Food By” (a great resource), and they also mentioned that the bails should be half closed when they go in the canning bath, and then fully locked after they have been removed. It’s the same principle as tightening the two part lids to “finger tight.” I have about 75 of these, and just ordered my rings through the local hardware store. Can’t wait to get to work with them!

By: Ness

Ness — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:28:36 +0000

I am totally convinced that I have to try some jams in these or in Weck jars. I have a few bail jars, but no rubbers right now. I am glad to find a source for the rubbers via your post. I love your blog.

By: Deborah

Deborah — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:33:59 +0000

both the large and small seals are $2.49 a dozen at the local hardware store, I have found them at Ace and Aubuchon’s

I get the jars all the time in the glass recycling dumpster at the local “mall” (aka the dump) , sometimes there will be a box full with (omg) lids, left sitting beside the dumpster.. like a gift I take them all home, sort them and keep all usable parts, jars, lids bails and caps, I take back what is not usable

when checking for cracks and chips the only not so obvious thing I have found is where the wire fits into the glass jar, they should all be snapped shut with a seal in place (empty) to make sure the arm does not fall off! toss those jars, lids with chips can be used on craft projects so I save them in a separate area from the usable ones and these jars sell sell sell when filled with bread and butter pickles at the flea market and craft fairs in my area, I think it gives people a peaceful feeling when they walk away with something they remember getting from grandma or a dear great aunt when they were a child. I know it makes me think of both whenever my canner comes out, they taught me how to use it 40 years ago, and I am grateful they were so kind

By: Mae

Mae — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 22:29:07 +0000

Thanks for the info…I just bought 30 of the glass top bailing wire type quart jars for five bucks….so relieved to hear you can seal em like the newer ones. Can’t wait for my garden to start producing!!