Definition: Also known as Mason®, preserving or sealing jars or bottles, a canning jar is one that is used for preserving foods during a home canning process. Canning jars are made of thick glass that can endure the high temperatures when immersed in hot boiling water during waterbath or pressure canning.
Besides being more durable than ordinary glass jars, they are designed to seal food contents, with the use of appropriate sealing lids which are secured with metal bands. The sealing lids are replaced with every canning process, but the jar and metal band are reusable, as long as there are no chips along the rim which may affect sealing, or cracks in the glass which can cause breakage when canned. Metal bands should also be free of bends, rust or dings to ensure a proper seal.
Although Mason® is a registered Jarden CS brand, consumers often refer to canning jars as mason jars. Canning jars have been used for decades, but the sealing lid has changed slightly over the years. Though there are still some jars sealed with glass lids that require a rubber gasket, the most common type of jars use the flat metal sealing lids.
Canning jars come in various sizes, from half-pints to two quart sizes, but the most popular are pints and quarts for vegetables, pickles and fruit, smaller jars for jams, jellies, fish or condiments and the larger bottles for juice or large batches. They are available in wide or small mouth styles. Canning jars are usually sold in case quantities with or without sealing lids and bands which can be purchased in small packs. They can also be used (without sealing) as storage jars.
Compare prices of Mason Jars
Compare prices of Canning Jars
Read More About Canning and Home Preserving:
Canning & Home Preserving Resources, Tips
Canning
About Food Storage
Definition and use of a Jar Lifter
Canning & Preserving Equipment
Go to Home Page
Besides being more durable than ordinary glass jars, they are designed to seal food contents, with the use of appropriate sealing lids which are secured with metal bands. The sealing lids are replaced with every canning process, but the jar and metal band are reusable, as long as there are no chips along the rim which may affect sealing, or cracks in the glass which can cause breakage when canned. Metal bands should also be free of bends, rust or dings to ensure a proper seal.
Although Mason® is a registered Jarden CS brand, consumers often refer to canning jars as mason jars. Canning jars have been used for decades, but the sealing lid has changed slightly over the years. Though there are still some jars sealed with glass lids that require a rubber gasket, the most common type of jars use the flat metal sealing lids.
Canning jars come in various sizes, from half-pints to two quart sizes, but the most popular are pints and quarts for vegetables, pickles and fruit, smaller jars for jams, jellies, fish or condiments and the larger bottles for juice or large batches. They are available in wide or small mouth styles. Canning jars are usually sold in case quantities with or without sealing lids and bands which can be purchased in small packs. They can also be used (without sealing) as storage jars.
Compare prices of Mason Jars
Compare prices of Canning Jars
Read More About Canning and Home Preserving:
Canning & Home Preserving Resources, Tips
Canning
About Food Storage
Definition and use of a Jar Lifter
Canning & Preserving Equipment
Go to Home Page
Pronunciation: Can.ning
Also Known As: Mason jar, sealing jar, preserving bottle
Alternate Spellings: caning jar, sealed jar
Examples:
If you want to preserve tomatoes from your garden, they must be processed either by waterbath or pressure canning which will cook and seal them in canning jars so you can enjoy them later.
