40 year old canning jars

[lizziegrace]

I found jars on Craigslist. Are these jars still OK to use for canning if they aren't chipped?

[supernova]

1. They should be fine

you just have to get new lids tops.

[Stinky The Clown]

2. Depending on the types, they ought to be fine with either new caps or new gaskets

[lizziegrace]

3. Thanks!

I was planning on replacing the bands and seals but didn't know if the age would be an issue.

[hippywife]

4. As long as you are replacing

the bands and seals, they should be perfectly fine. If they weren't so very old, I would even say just buy new seals, which you are supposed to do each time you use them anyway. If the bands are still in really really good shape, not rusted or bent, you might even re-use them.

Hiya, sweetpea. :* :loveya:

[lizziegrace]

5. Hey sweetie!

If the rains would stop, maybe my tomato plants would lose their gray/green appearance and take off. It's been awful here.

I posted on Craigslist I wanted canning jars. A guy replied he had hundreds of 40 year old Ball jars and to name a price. I'll just take a few dozen, thank you!

:hug:


:loveya:

[hippywife]

6. Hundreds!

Wow, jackpot! Take more than a few dozen, maybe four dozen if they are the 16 oz. jars. If you get them for a good price, that is, and have room for it. I bet that lovely manse you are occupying has loads of cabinet space in the kitchen, if not a pantry to boot?

[lizziegrace]

7. Not quite

this old house has some built-in shelves (built into the kitchen wall) and that's it. I have a 4 room basement, but it's very damp and humid. I have a servants' staircase that is blocked off and will probably be the best place to store canned gods since the stairs can bear a lot of weight. Also, it's almost cold in the winter in that stairwell.

:-)

I miss you!!

:pals:

[lizziegrace]

8. Also,

I already committed to buy 3 dozen from another woman at $2 a dozen. They're all quart jars.

I'll probably get 4-6 dozen from this guy and give them to people in the area struggling like me to get buy. Many have gardens.

Now to find a rack for the huge graniteware pot the previous tenants left. :)

[kestrel91316]

9. Absolutely. Glass is glass. Or rather, Ball jars are Ball jars. 40

years ago was only 1970, and that's modern times.

[lizziegrace]

10. True

I keep forgetting I was living the Wonder Years when those jars were new. ;-)

[Inchworm]

11. holy crap...

"40 years ago was only 1970, and that's modern times."

I'm so oooooold! :cry:

:rofl:

:hi:

[hippywife]

12. Them there's my feelings on that, too.

:wow:


:hi:

[Retrograde]

13. I have some jars I bought in the 70s

that I still use. Make sure the rims aren't chipped, the rings fit, and get new lids and you should be fine.

[Callalily]

14. lizzie!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice to see you. Hope all is well with you and yours.

As far as the canning jars, as stated above, they should be okay. I have used the same jars for decades, although I'm not canning these days.

:hug:

[lizziegrace]

15. Hey stranger!!!

:hug:

I've miss you too!

[Warpy]

16. It doesn't matter how old the jars are

if they're not cracked and the rims are smooth. If you can get a good seal with new lids, the jars are just fine. It's the lids you can never reuse.