Reusable Canning Lids: Are They Safe and Worth It?

Reusable canning lids are a plastic lid and a rubber gasket, held on with the same metal band you already use.

I used Tattler lids for several years, in both my water bath canner and pressure canners. These days I’m back to metal lids, but I still keep my reusable lids stored away for emergencies.

Here’s what the research says about whether they’re safe, whether they’re worth it for you, how to use them so they seal, and which brands to look at.

The Short Answer

• Yes, reusable canning lids have been tested, and they seal well. Researchers still give regular metal lids the edge for the most reliable seal but do not state that reusable lids are unsafe. More on that below.
• Both main brands say their lids work for water bath and pressure canning. I’ve used mine for both canning methods.
• Two steps are different from metal lids. The band goes on looser before processing, and you tighten it after the jars come out of the canner.
• Whether they’re worth it depends on how you can. More on that below.

Are Reusable Canning Lids Safe?

What the Research Found

For years, there just wasn’t much research on reusable lids. That has changed.

• A study at the University of Georgia, connected with the National Center for Home Food Preservation, compared reusable plastic lids with traditional metal lids. All of the lid types sealed acceptably. The researchers did still recommend two-piece metal lids for the most confidence in a seal.
• Extension services have followed that lead. North Dakota State University Extension says research suggests reusable lids seal jars safely, as long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Note: USDA and NCHFP recipes are built around two-piece metal lids, and they don’t officially recommend reusable lids. That doesn’t mean reusable lids are unsafe. It means metal lids are still the standard.

What Are Reusable Canning Lids Made Of?

Both Tattler and Harvest Guard say their lids are made from a food grade plastic called acetal copolymer (also called POM), with food grade nitrile rubber gaskets. Both say their lids contain no BPA or phthalates.

Both companies also list a couple of limits. Don’t use the lids with foods that are 15% alcohol or more, and keep them under 250°F.

If you’d rather not have plastic on your jars at all, that’s a personal preference, and metal lids are still a good choice.

Are Reusable Canning Lids Worth It?

For some canners, yes. For others, metal lids work better. It is personal preference.

Reusable lids are a good fit if:

• You can a lot and keep most of your jars at home
• You like knowing you have lids on hand, no matter what’s on the store shelves
• You’d like to stop throwing lids away every year

Metal lids might be a better fit if:

• You’re brand new to canning and want the simplest process
• You give a lot of jars away
• You want the most foolproof seal you can get

Why I Went Back to Metal Lids

After using reusable lids for several years, almost exclusively, I went back to metal. Two reasons.

• First, metal lids are just pretty foolproof. Reusable lids aren’t hard to use, but there are a couple of extra steps to remember. When you’re a busy, simple wins.
  
• Second, some of my gaskets started wearing out. I wanted to save my reusable lids for emergencies. If metal lids are ever hard to find, I know I’ve got a box of lids ready to go. For anyone interested in self-reliance, that’s a nice feeling.

My seal rate with reusable lids was good. A few misses here and there, so slightly off from metal lids, but not enough to worry me. So it really wasn’t bad results that changed my mind. Simply convenience and saving them for later.

What About the Cost?

Reusable lids cost more up front than a box of metal lids. The savings come over time, because you buy the lids once and reuse them for years. You’ll replace the rubber gaskets now and then but for the most part it is a up front expense.

If you can a lot of jars every year and keep them at home, reusable lids can pay for themselves. If you only can a few batches a year, or give a lot of jars away, the savings won’t be as big.

How to Use Reusable Canning Lids

Using reusable lids is very similar to using metal lids. The two big differences are how tight the band goes on before processing, and tightening the band after.

Each manufacturer includes an instruction card with their lids. Please read and follow it. Here’s the general process.

1. Prepare your food using a tested recipe. Wipe the jar rims clean.
2. Prepare your lids and gaskets following the instructions for your brand. You’ll clean and place them in hot scalding water.
3. Place the rubber gasket on the jar rim and set the lid on top. You could also set the gasket on the lid first, then put them on the jar if that works better for you. The goal is to have both centered on the jar. It’s a little fiddly the first few times, but not hard.
4. Screw on the metal band, (you do still need screw bands) but not tight. You just want to hold the lid in place. Reusable lids need to stay a little loose so air can vent out during processing. Metal lids vent more easily.
5. Process the jars as your recipe directs. Use regular tested canning recipes.
   
   Water bath canning basics
   Pressure canning basics
   
6. When processing is done, let your canner cool down before you take the jars out. For a water bath canner, wait until the water stops bubbling. For a pressure canner, wait until it comes back to zero pressure. Check the water bath or pressure canning guide linked above for the specific cool-down steps for your method.
7. When you take the jars out of the canner, let the bubbling inside the jars settle down if there is any. That’s when you’ll tighten the bands. Tattler says to wait about 3 to 5 minutes. Harvest Guard says to tighten within a few minutes.
   Important – If a lid looks domed up in the center, wait at least 15 minutes, because there’s still pressure trapped in that jar and pushing the lid up. If you try to tighten it, it might pop the lid off.
8. Lay a towel over the hot jar and tighten the band down firmly. The towel protects your hands in case any hot liquid spurts out. This is where reusable lids are different. With metal lids, you don’t tighten the band after processing.
9. Let the jars cool undisturbed. Once they’re cool, remove the bands and check the seals by gently lifting each lid by its edge. A sealed lid stays put. Store your jars without the bands.

Reusable lids don’t flex, so they won’t pop or suck down like metal lids do. They also don’t make the popping sound. The lift test is how you know if the jar is sealed. Don’t test until the jar is completely cool to room temperature.

A small tip: I didn’t want to write directly on my reusable lids, so I used masking tape or a label. You can also write on the jar.

What If a Reusable Lid Doesn’t Seal?

Just like with regular metal lids, If you catch it within 24 hours, you have options.

As long as you followed a tested recipe, you can reprocess the jar within 24 hours. Check the jar rim for nicks, and prepare the lid and gasket again following the manufacturer’s directions. If the gasket looks worn, use a fresh one. Then process for the full time again.

You can also put the jar in the fridge and use it. (this is what I usually do)

How Do You Open Jars With Reusable Lids?

Since you want to reuse the lid and gasket, open the jar gently. Harvest Guard suggests sliding a butter knife between the edge of the lid and the gasket to release the seal. Don’t pry too hard, or you could damage the gasket. You’ll need to press some, but not usually so hard you cut into the rubber.

How Many Times Can You Reuse Reusable Canning Lids?

The plastic lids last a long time. Tattler calls them indefinitely reusable, and Harvest Guard says they’ll last a lifetime. Just check for cracks or warping before you use one. I’ve never thrown one away.

The rubber gaskets wear out sooner. Harvest Guard says to expect at least 6 to 8 uses per gasket. If a gasket looks cut, stretched out, or stiff, replace it. Or if you are having a lot of sealing issues, it could be the gaskets are worn.

I hand wash my gaskets. Tattler says the dishwasher is fine, but personally, I think hand washing is going to be easier on them and make them last longer.

How I Store My Reusable Lids

I keep my lids in a storage box, with the gaskets in a gallon zip-top bag. The big thing is making sure everything is very dry before you put it away.

Which Brands of Reusable Canning Lids Are Available?

The two main brands of reusable plastic canning lids are Tattler and Harvest Guard. Both are made in the USA.

Tattler Reusable Canning lids

Tattler is the brand I used. I first tried them in my water bath canner. They worked great, so I started using them in my pressure canner too. Still worked great.

One thing to know: Tattler has changed the design of their lids since I got mine. The newer style is called E-Z Seal. My experience is with the older style. I’ve got my full review of tattler lids here.

Amazon affiliate link for Tattler lids

Harvest Guard

Harvest Guard is the other main brand. The lids work much the same way. I haven’t used Harvest Guard lids myself. A former member of my team used them and wrote up her experience.

Can You Reuse Regular Metal Canning Lids?

No. Regular metal canning lids are made for one use. The sealing compound around the edge is designed to seal once, so a used lid may not seal again.

Your metal bands can be reused as long as they aren’t rusty or bent.

A few more helpful resources and answers to questions.

• Everything you need to know about regular canning lids is here.
• Got a pile of used metal lids? Here are some ways to put them to use.
• Wondering about lids you heated but never used?

Giving Canned Gifts With Reusable Lids (a bit of fun)

Years ago, I gave home canned gifts with Tattlers on them. If the person was a canner, I figured the lid was part of the gift. They could try it out for themselves!

But most people I gave jars to didn’t can. I hated the thought of a perfectly good Tattler getting tossed in the trash.

So I asked my mom for help. She’s a poet at heart, and she wrote me a few gift tag ditties asking for the lids back.

Reusable lids, oh so fine
Don’t forget that they are mine!

These lids you’ll love they last forever.
Please send them back when thru
I’ll really be grateful when I use them again
And always think of you.

My lids do travel, they’re Tattlers you know
but at times they never return.
So please send them back, when you are thru
thanks much, for your concern.

I asked readers for their ideas too. Here are a few favorites.

Karen
This little white lid
With rubber so red,
Return it to me,
and I’ll keep you well fed.

Kathy
Veggies, fruits, jellies and jams
I canned this jar for you
Done with love and a Tattler lid
Which you will return, won’t you?

Mary Ann
Here’s a gift not sold in your store.
Return the lid to enjoy some more.

Janet
This Tattler lid I lend to you,
Please send it back when you are through.

Laura Williams
This jar of home canned goodies won’t get you in a pickle. Be a dear and return the Tattler lid and jar so I won’t get in a jam come next canning season.

Rita
Attach a coupon that says “This coupon is good for a free jar of homemade canned goods when you return the Tattler lid and empty jar to me”! I tell this to all my friends and kids! Works every time!

These days, I use metal lids on jars I give away. It’s simpler, and nobody has to remember to send anything back.

Related Questions

Do Reusable Canning Lids Pop When They Seal?

No. Reusable canning lids are stiff plastic, so they don’t flex, pop, or suck down the way metal lids do. To check the seal, remove the metal band once the jar is cool and gently lift the lid by its edge. If the lid stays put, the jar is sealed.

Can You Pressure Can With Reusable Canning Lids?

Yes. Tattler and Harvest Guard both say their reusable lids work for pressure canning and water bath canning. I’ve used Tattler lids for both. Follow a tested recipe for the processing time and pressure, and follow the lid maker’s instructions for tightening the band.

Can You Use One-Piece Plastic Storage Lids for Canning?

No. One-piece plastic storage caps, like Ball’s leakproof storage lids, are for the fridge, freezer, or pantry only. Ball labels them not safe for canning. Reusable canning lids are different, because they use a separate rubber gasket and a metal band so air can vent during processing.

Do Reusable Canning Lids Fit Regular Canning Jars?

Yes. Reusable canning lids come in regular mouth and wide mouth sizes to fit standard mason jars. You use them with the same metal bands you already have.

Related Reading

• Superb canning lids, a single-use brand I like

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