Plastic Lids for Ball and Mason Canning Jars

Last week we showed you our grain and pasta collection, stored in vintage Ball jars. We still need lids for these vintage jars to seal our grains airtight against moths and other pantry pests. As it turns out, though, the usual metal ring and lid combo may not be adequate for storage. Read why below.

The ring and cap method of sealing these jars is not necessarily airtight on its own. That method was designed for the canning process. During that process the air is sucked out of the jar and the rubber-lined lid is sealed, airtight, against the lip of the jar. The ring is just there to hold it in place during that process.

These rings and lids won't necessarily keep your jars airtight on their own. For that, it's better to use these (admittedly less cute) plastic sealing lids. You can get them in hardware stores and on Amazon.com

• Ball 36010 regular canning jar plastic storage caps, $2.99 for 8 at Amazon through Goodman's

Comments (4)

I have a stack of the plastic storage caps. I am sorry to report that in my experience they are neither liquid nor air tight.

posted by gilbyeast on December 9th 2008 at 2:25pm
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Good to know! Thanks!

http://embritadesign.blogspot.com

posted by EmmieB on December 9th 2008 at 2:27pm
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It's good to just keep in mind that jars may not be air tight, that way you won't cry when your super expensive stone ground artisan flour goes rancid over the course of a year.

I call it, being aware of the consequences...
Jars are too pretty NOT to store grains in them. ...sigh...

posted by revolution9 on December 9th 2008 at 6:31pm
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Interesting, what Gilbyeast said, based on his/her experience. I'm stickin with the rings and caps... if only because I'm too lazy/cheap to purchase others.

Emily

posted by Emily Sneds on December 9th 2008 at 9:40pm
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