Which Jars are Safe for Pressure Canning?
Updated – January, 2022
Pressure canning is a different preserving method than water bath canning, and not all jars are designed, tested, and approved for pressure canning. This post will discuss which jars are safe for pressure canning.
Pressure canning is the only method recommended safe by the U.S.D.A. for preserving low-acid foods such as meats and fish, soups & stocks. Wondering what the difference is between water bath canning and pressure canning? It’s all about the temperature!
A boiling water bath canner cannot surpass 212 degrees Fahrenheit. A Pressure Canner brings jar temperatures up to 240-250 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature can be reached only by creating steam under pressure. At this temperature we can be assured that 100% of bacteria is killed.
The National Center for Home Food Preservation has some helpful recommendations for safe pressure canning. In addition to choosing the proper canning method, it’s also very important to use jars and lids that are safe for pressure canning.
Ball jars have long been approved for pressure canning. The metal 2 piece lids that accompany these jars are also approved for pressure canning for home canners by the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
If you already have jars but need lids, our bulk canning lids have the same formulation as Ball’s lids. So, if you’re doing large quantities and already have the jars, our bulk wide mouth & regular mouth lids are a practical option – regular mouth lids are available in gold and silver.
New to Pressure Canning?
If you are new to pressure canning we encourage you to read this article from NCHFP about how to get started with pressure canning.
See our posts with pressure canning recipes and tips on our Pressure Canning resources page.
Pressure canning provides an opportunity to preserve many things that cannot be safely canned in a water bath canner including, meats, meat stocks, and more.
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Do you have any jars that are like your barbeque sauce jars that are safe for pressure canning?
Like taller/skinnier ones with shoulders?
Hello Erin, The short answer is no.
We’re not aware that a jar/lid designed for that exists….or we’d carry it. 🙂
The nerdy answer: Since pressure canning also requires a firmer plastisol; like that found in the 2-piece canning lids and our Hi-Heat regular mouth (70mm CT) and Hi-Heat wide mouth (86mm CT) lids. While we do have some customers who use some of our economy jars (along with the Hi-Heat lids) for pressure canning, those jars haven’t been tested and cleared for pressure canning. We wouldn’t recommend trying the bbq style bottles in the pressure canner mostly related to the physics that happens during processing. The shape of the jar and the venting ratio (volume of the jar & radius of the area that would allow venting) is quite different and may be problematic.
We came across some older Ball freezer jars, would it be safe to changenout the kids for pressure canning and use the glass freezer jars?
Hi Jaimi,
While we like to encourage responsible re-use of jars, we cannot recommend that you use jars of an unknown standard in your canning process. Many jars are not designed to withstand the pressure canner process and you may end up with product loss or suffer personal injury. Ball jars are approved for pressure canning, however you mentioned these jars were older. Do you know the age of the jars?
Would this method be acceptable for peanut butter and almond butter?
Hi Shannon,
Fresh homemade peanut butter is best stored in the refrigerator or freezer. We encourage you to reach out to your local Extension office and speak with a Master Food preserver to discuss your specific recipe.
can I use jars sold for jelly in my pressure canner?>
Hi Shirley,
If you are pressure canning, it is important to select jars and lids that have been designed and manufactured with pressure canning in mind. The entire line of glass Ball jars with lids and Orchard Road jars and lids have been tested at the higher temperatures inherent with pressure canning. Contact us if you have further questions.
I bought some spaghetti sauce in a jar that said Mason on the side. Is this safe to use for canning?
Hi Deb,
While the jars that say Mason may be usable with regular mouth lids. We cannot speak to the integrity of the glass once it has already been heated and cooled and used. For this reason we cannot say that it is considered safe for canning. However, it could certainly be used for other uses.
Can you use 4oz jelly jars for pressure canning? I’ve used them over and over for jellies and jams, but just bought my first pressure canner, and could like to can some things in smaller quantities.
Thanks for you time! 🙂
If you’re referring to the Ball branded jars, they don’t readily identify them as safe for pressure canning on the packaging. However, we are reaching out to confirm. Thank you!
I have ABC quart jars which are filled with honey on purchase. Can these jars be used to can dried beans at 10 lbs of pressure for 70 mins? Thank you.
Hello Sharron, Since I don’t know that specs of the jars of which you’re referring, I can’t confirm that they’d be suitable or safe for pressure canning. We know that Ball, Kerr and Orchard Road jars were tested for pressure canning. If you’re using approved packaging, following the guidelines put forth from the National Center for Home Food Preservation should result in a safe product.
Hello, is it possible to use this type of glass to keep snail meat for a long time ?!
Hello, Since we are not the authority on food processing, we can’t speak to the safety of preserving snail meat. We can only speak to what processes our containers are designed to withstand, and how they perform. Please refer to your local food processing authority regarding the safety of your product. Thank you!
Is any mason jar for pressure canning safe to use
Hi Shirley, The short answer is no. This is why we identify the Ball jars as the ones that are safe for canning. Most other mason jars have not been tested and proven to be safe for successful pressure canning.
I’ve gotten 4 plain sided glass jars from someone. I do not know the brand since it is not on the jar. There is a label on the bottom of the jar that says “do not microwave”. I’m wondering if it is safe to pressure can food in these jars. I’m not positive, but I think they are Ball plain sided jars, although it doesn’t say it is anywhere.
Hi Luci, If it says not to microwave, I wouldn’t recommend using it for canning. Even Balls plain sided jars have Ball embossed on the side, just much smaller. It’s likely a decorative jar.
I have KERR 8 oz decorated jam and jelly jars item 70610-00105.
Are these jars safe for pressure canning?
Hello Benny, If these were still in production, we’d be better able to answer your question. However since we never carried that particular jar, and believe it to be out of production, we can’t answer with confidence. While we do carry some Kerr items, all of the SKUs haven’t been available for us to carry because of their wholesale/region rules. If you have the packaging, that might tell you. I found some images of the packaging on some Ebay sales, and what I can see doesn’t mention pressure canning. However, since these were designed for jams, they might not have thought to mention it, as jams would only be waterbathed.