supplies - jars, lids, etc

[canesisters]

Since I've started trying to preserve some of my garden goodies, I've collected a few jars from friends and from the back of cabinets and such and I've bought some from Dollar General. I know next year will be a bit more organized (that's what I keep telling myself anyway) since I'll have most of this year's jars already. But, where do YOU get your jars from??

 

[baymule]

From a jar collector..........hoarder...........intervention please????.........NOT!!! I have bought jars at stores, been given jars that someone was not going to use any more, garage sales, osmosis, and they just appeared. Saw one, a pretty new one at that, at an antique store the other day and they wanted FIFTEEN DOLLARS for it! I could go buy 2 cases, throw them in the chicken coop to get properly aged and dirty and make a small fortune!

Hint: keep the boxes they come in to repack them in for storage. I have old boxes held together with duct tape on top of duct tape.

 

[lesa]

The jars are pretty easy to find. I bought a bunch from someone on Craigslist that didn't can anymore...the lids really should be purchased new. I read a brilliant idea from someone years ago. Every time they do their weekly grocery shopping they grab a box of lids. This way, they have a good supply and it doesn't take too much of a bite out of the budget. Ask me if I ever remember to do this!!

 

[journey11]

I bought a lot of new jars when I was just starting out. But over the past few years, I've been getting lots of jars from yardsales and the trader's guide. I was even able to find a dozen of the big half-gallon jars that they don't make anymore! Once you get proficient at canning and fall in love with it and start canning everything in sight--you go through many more jars than you thought possible. I hate to run out!

I also watch the stores at the end of the season for when they mark down the canning supplies and stock up big-time on lids, spice mixes, etc.

Something I got on sale a couple years ago that I truly couldn't do without now are the Ball white plastic lids. I bought two boxes of both sizes. I use them all the time! When you open a jar of pickles and put them in the fridge....or when I make yogurt (in quart wide mouth jars)...or to store dry goods in a canning jar...or when freezing broth (because I didn't find time to can it)...etc. I can write on the tops of them with a dry erase marker too.

ETA: I keep the boxes too, Bay! Much easier to store your unused jars or to carry down a batch of something you just canned to the basement. I have had to make it plain and clear to DH never to use my canning jar boxes as tinder for starting a fire in the woodstove.

 

[dewdropsinwv]

We bought our jars at the dollar store when we first started canning. Also big lots. As for being organized... for me it never happens. I try to keep the garden and canning stuff as neat as possible, but when Monty gets in MY loft, it's scattered everywhere.

 

[Carol Dee]

I bought my last 3 boxes at Dollar General and see that Farm & Fleet have them on sale this week. Might just get some more as I have been putting up lots of jam this spring and summer and DH's will want some for his honey. (He was going to order 8 oz plastic squeeze bottles for $1.25 each. On sale the 8 oz jars are 54 cents each! )

 

[Jared77]

You'll be surprised how often you see them and start picking them up. We save the boxes too but we save them for the empty jars for next year.

Journey your right the plastic screw on lids are the BEST! We bought 2 boxes of both sizes and they get used a lot. Any jar that goes back in the fridge gets a lid screwed onto it. Saves a ton of headache. Jam, pickles, sauce, anything we open and don't finish in that sitting. We wash them on the upper rack in our dishwasher and reuse them.

I agree on the spices and mixes. When I see them marked down Ill buy a bunch of them and into the canning bin they go. Retail is always pushing stuff out before the seasons out so it never hurts to look. I've saved a ton of money just by walking over an extra isle or 2 to check if they are marking things down. Never hurts to look.

And yes we really do have a "canning bin". Its a rubbermaid bin that holds all our canning supplies except for the canners themselves. Tools, mixes, oven mitts/hot pads, spices, crisps, fruit savers all that jazz.

One thing I'd suggest looking into are some dedicated tools for canning. We have a couple cheap spatulas, big spoons, a couple ladles, oven mitts and hot pads since canning can be tough on them. Everything came from the dollar store. It works and if it suddenly breaks or is worn out we toss it and replace. Nothing fancy just the basics but its better than abusing your good kitchen equipment. Everything was labelled with a sharpie marker so we know which is which when we clean up so its put away correctly.

 

[MontyJ]

We bought our jars at the dollar store when we first started canning. Also big lots. As for being organized... for me it never happens. I try to keep the garden and canning stuff as neat as possible, but when Monty gets in MY loft, it's scattered everywhere.

Me???

 

[dewdropsinwv]

No not you, your evil twin that I'd like to knock out once in a while. Just like with the pressure regulator.... I knew where I put it, then you get in the loft drag stuff out and LOOSE it.....

 

[NwMtGardener]

Hahaha, monty and dew you are cracking us up!

I occassionally find jars at the thrift store...worth checking.