In the past few years, the canning world has been rocked by a combination of supply-chain shortages and a massive uptick in the number of people interested in home food preservation. The result, has been that supplies, notably lids, have become less available.
I’ve canned for decades, but always in the back of my mind was a concern: What if I ran out of canning lids? What if none were available at the store? Can disposable canning lids be reused? I’ve had some success with scalding and reusing disposable lids, but can’t recommend this tactic. Disposable lids are manufactured for single use only, and going against manufacturer recommendations is just inviting failure.
Most canners are familiar with the disposable lids put out by Ball or Kerr. However, alternatives now on the market are well worth considering, including reusable lids.
I’ve compared four kinds of lids: Two brands of disposable (Ball/Kerr, Superb) and two reusable
