If you’re planning to try your hand at preserving this summer, but still shopping the grocery store aisles until then, consider choosing products that come in glass canning jars. These jars have threads that will accommodate canning lids and rings so that rather than simply recycling the glass, the jars can be added to your collection. I have quite a few of these kinds of jars. The only drawback is that the labels leave a sticky residue, but that’s a small price to pay for being able to use the jar over and over again. Both Classico and Barilla pasta sauces come in canning-type jars (Classico has a few organic options, too) as do certain brands of fruits. I’m sure selection varies by region, but look for glass jars that have raised measurement markings on the outside.
I found myself completely out of glass jars to store the stash of dried beans I brought home from the store last night. This post about re-purposing glass jars popped into my mind. Now my dried beans are being housed in clean spaghetti sauce jars via my recycling bin. Thanks!
Jane, if you’re just using the jars for dried goods like beans and pasta, we also like to recycle our glass peanut butter jars for that.
So good to know! Classico is my favorite spaghetti sauce, and I’ve just been tossing these jars in the recycling bin. I’ll have to pass this tip along to gardening friends, who often do quite a bit of canning.
I have picked up the habit of saving my jars (Classico, Prego, etc.) several months ago and use the jars to store dry goods such as coffee beans (I go through A LOT of coffee beans) and pasta. I even make cold brew coffee with my jars every once in a while.
I don’t think I would use my jars for canning anytime soon, but the Classico webpage warns consumers not to reuse their jars for canning because they technically are “real” canning jars so there is a danger of the jars exploding during the canning process. I don’t know how much truth there is to their warning (maybe Classico is just trying to discourage consumers from saving their jars for fear that they’ll wake up one day and decide to make their own homemade pasta sauces
)
As for the label’s sticky substance, I usually fill up a large container with hot water and let my jars soak for up to an hour. I’ve found the Classico and Prego jar labels will slide right off and the stick residue will scrub off easily with some warm-hot water and soap.
ok I agree… mostly all GLASS jars are recyclable as canning jars, as long as they can be sterilised but the problem that I am having is finding lids that fit most of them… the recycled MASON jars lately have had the chutney style lids which is harder to find replacements for (these are the lids that only require the 1/4 turn to seal and have something like 3 or 4 crimpped parts on the lid lip) and another issue is that many of the jars are 58mm wide as opposed to the standard (regular size) of 63mm (or so), making it VERY difficult to find replacement ball brand lids. (the Ball regular lid is just a few millimeters too large for ~75% of the glass jars that we get at the store)if anyone has an answer of a source for fitting lids please email me or post it in this forum.
-Thanks whatsaduckfor[at]yahoo[dot]com
Earnesto, you simply can’t reuse the “other” non-Mason type jars for canning. You won’t get a good seal with the lids/rings that are available to consumers for reuse. I don’t know of anywhere to get the lids that do work with those jars, and even if I did, I don’t know if I’d use them. The glass on some of them is pretty thin and may not hold up to high heat. Stick with the Mason-type jars you get spaghetti sauce in for canning and use the others to store dry goods or for freezing (with LOTS of head space).
as for removing the sticky labels…
try this:
1) use a few drops of olive oil to soak into the glue then…
2)scrape with a non-metallic scraper, then…
3)soapy water and sponge…
4)do this twice.
this works every time
Just FYI, from Classico’s site FAQ:
Can I reuse the Classico® jar for home canning?
No. A coating is applied at the glass plant to reduce scratching and scuffing. If scratched, the jar becomes weaker at this point and can more easily break. This would increase the risk of the jar breaking when used for canning. Also, the lighter weight of our current jar could make it unsafe for home canning.
Whoops, just saw this, Dan. I’m going to respectfully say: I bet this is a liability clause from Classico. The jars they use are Atlas brand canning jars – maybe they’re coated, but clearly they started out as canning jars or Atlas wouldn’t put their name on them. I’ve reused these for *years with no problem.
Here’s a link to buy the lids for your jars: http://www.uline.com/Product/Detail/S-18019/Jars-Jugs-Bottles/Steel-Cap-63-400$.28 each in a case of 100.
And these are full threaded lids (not the 1/4 turn things).
@KenyonJamesHopkins Other sizes available here http://www.uline.com/BL_8194/Replacement-Caps?pricode=WU379&gclid=CO2wq-iRrrECFQTqnAod-ywAuw
@KenyonJamesHopkins Thanks for jumping in. I’d hoped that the link you shared would take me to a new source for bpa-free lids. Alas, these still have bpa. But could be a source for obscure jar sizes.
Great idea, love the reduce-reuse approach, BUT I can’t find 56mm lids anywhere to fit my Classico jars. Any suggestions?
To get the sticky residue off of the jar, get a product call simply citrus, it is in the aisle where the air freshener sprays are. The citrus oils will take the sticky residue off in no time. I use it on all kinds of price stickers and such. Works great, even works on taking the label off in the first place. Tear as much of the label off as you can and spray the rest. Peel the rest of the label off and if sticky stuff is left spray it again and then use a pad like a scotch brite with a little dish soap and it will all come off.
Put the jar in the dishwasher then use a majic eraser to remove residue.
I’m disappointed that the current jar size does not accommodate my Foodsaver system