Source for jars

My husband has been subscribing to your magazine for several years now, but I have only recently begun reading all of your wonderful articles. Now we fight over it when the mail arrives! I have just recently ordered your new canning book and recipe book and can hardly wait for it to arrive. Thanks so much for sharing all the fantastic things you do.

Now to my question…I am starting to can again after nearly 30 years of not doing it, so I am starting all over again to buy jars and lids. It’s astonishing to me, after all this time, at how expensive the jars and lids have become. I was wondering if you had a good online source for buying them at good or wholesale prices, even if it is in a large quantity. We live 25 miles from the nearest good sized town, and when I do occasionally get by a yard sale or thrift shop, I never seem to see anything like this.

James & Catharine Lawhon
Polk City, Florida

I’m glad to have you aboard and tickled that you’re again back to canning. No, I don’t have a source online for cheaper canning jars. The shipping really bites you there! Things that have worked for me in the past are putting a small ad in various places: your grocery, laundromat, feed store, local free shopper, etc. Telling everyone you’re looking for jars and shopping for sales on jars locally. We’re 30 miles from a larger town and I know what you mean. But I often find jars and canning supplies on sale there if I needed to stock up. And NO shipping cost! — Jackie

How to store Hopi Pale Grey squash

How do you store Hopi Pale Grey squash? What are the normal environmental variables for where/how you store them? Normal temps, amount of light, humidity etc.

J. Fowler
Austin, Texas

I’ve found that Hopi Pale Greys store best out of direct sunlight, with lower humidity and temps between 55 degrees and 70 degrees, or “normal” household conditions. Do NOT store them in a cool, damp basement or they’ll rot quicker. I’ve stored them on the floor of our living room, under our bed, and in the closet; they aren’t a bit fussy! — Jackie

6 COMMENTS

  2. Mitch,

    Thanks for the tip (for those of you who have a microwave!) What a time saver.
    Yeah, that’d be great. But I don’t think that’s going to happen any time soon. I will say that Tattler lids did send me some lids as a thank you for mentioning how great their product is! Wow. What nice people.

  3. Catharine,

    I have read several blogs that folks are buying jars from Target.com for $5.15 per case because of seasonal clearance. They are going to the stores also and talking them into price matching in the store also at KMart and Walmart.

    You might give them a try and save a bundle of money.

    Jackie glad to have you back and feeling so much better.

  5. I scored a ton of jars last December online from Kmart. It was Cyber Monday, I believe (the Monday after Black Friday). Their housewares were 20% off, with an extra 15% off coupon, and then an additional 20% cashback through ebates.com, and I got a ton of canning jars for half price with free shipping. Pretty sure the UPS guy didn’t like me after that!

  6. Jackie,

    Just wanted to thank you. I purchased a Victorio tomato strainer. For the past couple of years we have used a food processer to puree the tomatoes, skin and all. After reading that you use the Victorio, we saved up the money and got one with the extra cones and motor. The sauce looks perfect!

    We only have about 20 plants each year and only can every other week or so. We take the sauce and freeze it until we get enough to can.

    I’d like to offer a tip to all the other readers. We stumbled upon a way of cooking down the tomatoes faster. When we pull the frozen sauce, we place it in the microwave on 10% power for about 45 minutes. A lot of the water will seperate from the frozen tomato and we can just pour it off and then start cooking down the rest before canning.

    You really need to have Victorio and the other products you use, pay you a product endorsement fee for all the business you create with your blog and articles. :)

    Hope you get back up to speed quickly.
    Thanks again for all you do for us, by sharing your stories.

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