Canning Lid Shortages, Fall 2020 - a strategy for extending your inventory of new lids

I use a mix of tattlers and metal lids. I only reuse lids for "dry canning" dehydrated foods.

I like the tattlers but you do have to remember to tighten after they come out of the canner. A trick I have discovered is to wait a moment when I take them out. Waiting about 3 to 4 minutes allows the jar to finish processing then I tighten down the lid. Once I started doing that I seem to have fewer issues with the tattlers.

Last year I went directly to the tattler site and purchased lids. The prices were not too crazy and I opted for unboxed lids which gave me a better bulk price. Tattler included a laminated instruction sheet which had the tip of waiting a few minutes before tightening the lids down.

One crazy thing I did do was purchase stainless steel rings which are supposed to last almost forever.  Trellis and company 316 stainless. This felt like a crazy purchase because it was expensive however my husband said that 316 stainless was likely to hold up to the processing for a long time and not rust.

I also purchase jars when I see them at a good price.  A good price is different for everyone, so start by looking at prices when they aren't "on sale". Look for jars out side of canning season. I also look for them at yard sales and thrift shops, but I don't pay more than a $1 a jar, and I check for damage. If the jar is chipped or has a raindow tint I don't buy them. The rainbow tint can b a sign of chemical etching. Not a perfect science.  I have found ugly, beat up boxes of what looks likes grandma's jars. I will buy the box even if it's not all canning jars. Once I got old glass instant coffee jars, they were collectors jars from the 70's. (Does anyone remember the 1976/1776 theme on EVERYTHING) I have 4 coffee jars with lids.

Anyway, that's what I do. Good luck, and great harvesting!