Rusted Canning Rims OK?

[gettinoutofdodge]

Hi Folks,

I just received a windfall of more than 100 FREE canning jars. YEA!:D After much scrubbing, they are now looking great!

My question is this:
I know that you can not use the lids with the seals again, but what about the rims? Many of them are quite rusted. Is this ok?

Thanks!
allison

[NCLee]

Congrats on your jar haul!

Re: Rusted rings -- The answer is "maybe". Some light rust doesn't cause a problem. Just scrub them good, using a toothbrush (or something similar) to remove the surface rust. As long as the interior of the ring is still smooth, they won't look great, but will work. Heavily rusted rings I'd toss or save for some non-food use. The rings need to have a smooth grip on the lids to ensure good sealing, IMHO.

Buying rings - It isn't necessary to buy a whole bunch of rings, if yours are too far gone. All you actually need are enough to handle the number of jars of food that you'll process in one day. Next day, remove the rings of the jars and use them again. If you're already canning you may have enough on hand already. BTW, if you have to buy them, I'd buy at least a dozen more than what you anticipate you'll need in a day. Then, if you get a windfall of something that processes fast, you'll have the rings needed.

Late next summer, watch for the close-out sales to stock up on extra rings. It never hurts to have extras.

Hope this helps.
Lee

[bjacobson]

In order to prevent your new rings from rusting make sure you remove them from the jars 24 hours after they are processed and you are sure the jars are sealed, once the jar is sealed the ring is not needed to maintan the seal. Then you should wash your jars off before storing them and also wash the rings. I like to set the rings in a warm oven (like 200 degrees) for a few minutes just to make sure they are totally dry before storing them. I have over 500 rings on hand that have been given to me over the years but I really only ever use 50 of each size and if they do get rusty I throw them out, Why take the chance of they not sealing the lid properly and having to reprocess your jars, and sometimes rusty lids are hard to get off afer processing. Congrats on your jar score!

[DM]

I have NO problem with rusted rings at all, as my mother didn't before me. They would have had to be pretty bad, before my mom would throw one out, and that means pretty bad where they meet the lid. Anyway, i'm still using my mother's old rings, and in fact i was using them again today,

http://www.fototime.com/E7CDEF5B64C7797/orig.jpg

Yeaaa the rings are rusted, and yes they worked AGAIN, as all of my jars once again, sealed perfectly,

http://www.fototime.com/8033DC4DA8CFA28/orig.jpg

DM

[bookwormom]

I don't know how many I have, it is a bunch. Use a handful of steelwool to scrub them good. I like the idea of putting them in the oven. what really helps for them to screw on easy once they are getting a bit cruddy is to oil them ever so lightly. I have put a few drops of oil in the water, take them out and put them on the jars. anything to make it a bit easier. Especially when you take them off, rusty ones are sometimes tough.

[NCLee]

DM, what ya doing stealing my rings? LOL

Some of mine are between 30 & 40 years old and are still going strong. As long as the underside part of the top is still smooth, they're good to go, IMHO.

Mom, I agree with you about them being harder to get off the jars, after canning. Hadn't thought about oiling them as you mentioned. Sounds like a good idea.

I'd thought about putting mineral oil on them and then wiping it off so there's only a very thin film of oil left. Or doing the same thing with canola oil and baking the rings. (Same process as seasoning cast iron.)

Lee

[nhlivefreeordie]

In order to prevent your new rings from rusting make sure you remove them from the jars 24 hours after they are processed and you are sure the jars are sealed, once the jar is sealed the ring is not needed to maintan the seal. Then you should wash your jars off before storing them and also wash the rings.

I do all of these steps after each batch, but for some reason, I just like the look of the jars on the shelves with the rings on them. SO after washing the jars and rings, and drying the rings in the oven like you mentioned, I put them back on the jars before storing, I know you don't need them, I just like the look.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/DSCN0956.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v86/dj88ryr/DSCN0955.jpg

[NCLee]

Nice pictures! Love to see shelves loaded with home canned goods.

I'll bet in time you'll start removing the rings. Here's some of the reasons, why.

(1) It's easier to quickly spot a spoiled jar of food, when a seal fails after the food has been on the shelf for a while. The ring doesn't hold down the lid when the gas pressure from the spoiled food starts pushing on it.

(2) You'll have more jars than you have rings. I don't have nearly enough wide mouth rings to cover all of my jars. So, you'll have to rob Peter to pay Paul from time to time. After a while, you'll have a mixture of ringed and ringless on your shelves.

(3) When the garden is overflowing and you have a lot to can NOW, you won't take the time to dry the rings and put them back on the jars. Or, you'll be too tired to worry about them.

By then, you'll think your ringless jars will look just fine on your shelves. And, they WILL! I promise you.

Lee

[nhlivefreeordie]

By then, you'll think your ringless jars will look just fine on your shelves. And, they WILL! I promise you.

Lee

I just almost peed myself laughing, you are probably right, but I thought I could almost hear you saying this, and I have never met you in person, but your way with words produces outbursts of laughter from time to time.
I try to keep MORE rings on hand than I have jars. I did what you suggested and bought lots at less than half price at the end of the season.

[bjacobson]

One time that I always put rings back on is if I give away a jar as a gift or if I send some in the mail. For gifts the person may not have a ring on hand in order to put the lid back on when they put something back in the refrigerator like a jar of jam or jelly. And when mailing it is a safety precaution.

[sissy]

I leave my off also, for same reasons Lee said.

One time that I always put rings back on is if I give away a jar as a gift or if I send some in the mail. For gifts the person may not have a ring on hand in order to put the lid back on when they put something back in the refrigerator like a jar of jam or jelly. And when mailing it is a safety precaution.
I do this also & when I vacuum pack in them.
Sissy

[NCLee]

I've become frugal with my canning jars. :)

If there's an alternative packaging, I often use that instead. Especially if the gift is going to a non-canner. Just hate the thought of mason jars going into the recycling bin, when they are empty. (sigh)

Jiff peanut butter jars are fine for dry mixes, for example. There's a sandwich relish that still comes in glass jars that'll accept a canning lid & ring. I don't can in them, but they are fine for refrigerator items and for vac sealing, too.

Lee

[sissy]

When I scored on some jars a while back , there was a lot (a whole lot) of the old mayonnaise jars in with them. So I ordered the reg lid vacuum attachment for food saver so I could use them instead of canning jars for dried goods.
Sissy