QA

Question: Why Is There A Canning Lid Shortage

It all began last year when the pandemic hit in early 2020. Stuck at home, people picked up gardening, then canning their harvest. “That led to a supply shortage of canning lids,” said Suzanne Driessen, University of Minnesota Extension food safety educator.

Why is there a shortage of canning lids in 2021?

Though the mighty mason jar hasn’t fallen from its throne online on sites like Pinterest and Instagram, the major jar and canning supply demand is due to the covid 19 pandemic of last year.

Why can’t I buy canning lids?

The shortage in supply of home canning lids, also known as 2-piece canning lids, flats, or lids & bands or rings that began in 2020 is not over. Unfortunately, this shortage created a vacuum for some fraud in the production and sale of canning lids.

Why is everyone sold out of canning lids?

“The demand has resulted in supply constraints, extended lead times and recently limited product availability at stores and online,” a company spokesperson said in a statement, according to CNN.

Is Ball canning going out of business?

The Ball Corporation got out of the canning business about 25 years ago. Newell Brands announced Monday that they would be closing operations at their Muncie plant and moving the production to facilities in Fishers and Ohio.

Can I reuse canning lids?

You can reuse glass canning jars, but don’t be tempted to reuse canning lids, she advises. The gasket compound in used lids may fail to seal on jars, resulting in unsafe food. When jars are processed, the gasket on new lids softens and flows slightly to cover the jar-sealing surface.

How long do canning lids last?

According to Jarden Home Brands, the manufacturer of Ball home canning jars, lids and bands, unused lids should be stored in a cool, dry place. Helen Aardsma of Mulberry Lane Farm reports that lids have a shelf life of five to 10 years if stored properly.

Are all canning lids the same?

Real regular mouth Ball canning lids are thinner, have a deeper recessed center, and are slightly more flexible (so they “pop” when they seal.) The counterfeit regular mouth Ball canning lids are thicker and less flexible metal, and have only a slight indentation in the center of the lid.

Who makes mainstay canning lids?

If you go to Walmart.com the Mainstay lids are described as being manufactured by Jarden and appear to be a copy of the Golden Harvest lid. With the price rise of Ball lids to $2.12 vs $1.32 per dozen for the Mainstay I think I will use the less expensive lid.

How much do canning lids cost?

Price of lids, bands and pectin Lids cannot be reused, so they are also a hot item. In 2019 they cost about 2.00 per dozen but now most retailers price them at $3.50. Many retailers are no longer selling just lids – instead they are bundling them with the bands (which only need to be replaced if they rusted).

Who makes Kerr canning lids?

Ball, Bernardin and Kerr are all owned by Jarden Home Brands and are all manufactured in the USA. Bernardin are comparable to Ball lids in every way except for the design and that they are normally only sold in Canada.

Why is everyone buying Mason jars?

The runs on Mason jars tend to occur when there is some kind of economic instability, recessions, in wartime, basically, anytime that people start to freak out about where they’re going to get their food, if they’re going to have enough food, what is happening in the world.

Are off brand canning lids safe?

What about off-brand lids found in stores or online? There is a possibility that these lids will create a vacuum seal. Studies and anecdotal stories from our callers tell us these have higher rates of failures to seal. You must weigh the risk you want to take to do all the work, then have some or many jars not seal.

Do PUR canning lids work on Ball jars?

Enjoy the joy of preserving your own food! These Pur Regular Canning Lids with Rings 64002 fit tightly on regular mouth canning jars, including Mason Ball jars. Use for canning, storage, gift giving, and crafts.

Are Ball jars still made in USA?

Ball Brand canning jars have been US made since 1884. Some of their bands and lids are also US made. Tattler Reusable Canning Lids are made in Michigan. They are made of plastic, BPA free and indefinitely reusable.

Are Ball jars still made in Muncie Indiana?

MUNCIE, Ind. Parts manufactured during the assembly of their iconic mason jars will be outsourced to a facility in Columbus, Ohio. Packaging and distribution will move to an existing Newell facility in Fishers.

Who owns Golden Harvest canning lids?

Golden Harvest brand Mason jars for home canning are a lower-priced line of Mason jars sold by the Newell Corporation, which also owns Ball, Bernardin and Kerr jars. The jars are sold in Canada and the U.S. The Golden Harvest jars are considered of quite good quality by most people.

What can you do with old canning lids?

You can use your old lids to top jars of freezer jam, homemade mixes, dried goods, made-from-scratch salad dressings, and other non-canned foods. As long as the lids aren’t rusty, they’re fine to use again and again for any purpose that doesn’t involve canning.

Do you have to boil the lids for canning?

While the old guidelines recommended dropping the lids in hot, simmering water before pulling them out and immediately sealing jars, Jarden now says it’s not necessary to heat the lids in order to achieve a good seal. Instead, you can simply wash the lids and use them at room temperature.