Hello! I was making a batch of pickles and for whatever reason the jar came out of the hot water bath with its lid popped up to the point of being creased. I’d be grateful if anyone could explain why!

Thank you!

by docawesomephd

14 Comments

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  2. Crystalcaterpillar01

    Did you over tighten the ring? That can cause buckling.

  3. charbear60

    Your lid buckled. Do an internet search it will explain it. Consider this unsealed

    What causes the lids to buckle?
    A. Buckling lids may be due to a number of things:
    1) This problem may be caused by tightening the jar rings too tightly before processing the jars. During processing, the flexible metal lid permits the jar to exhaust air, and rings that are too tight will not allow the air to escape during processing.
    2) Not following the correct preheating process for the brand of lids used. [Ed: note Ball clarified in 2015 that no lid heating at all is needed]
    3) Filling the jars too full.
    4) Using the raw-pack method for starchy vegetables.
    5) A steam leak from the pressure canner lid.
    6) Cooling the pressure canner with water or cool air.
    7) Using a jar with a mouth that is too large for the lid (such as a mayonnaise jar). [1]

  4. BoozeIsTherapyRight

    Looks like you over-tightened your rings. 

  5. Diela1968

    You cranked the ring on too tight. Hot air and steam couldn’t escape and buckled the lid.

    The most common method to avoid this is to fill and lid the jars on a kitchen towel. Place the ring on, and tighten using just your finger tips. When the jar starts to spin on the towel, stop.

    I personally then turn it another one quarter turn.

  6. Griffie

    You over tightened the ring. Put it on until it just makes contact with the lid, then gently turn about 1/8 of a turn to snug it down.

  7. RubiWillowDreamer

    When you tighten the ring, it should be finger tight. This means not using your palms, just fingers.

  8. Kammy44

    I had this experience with Ball lids bought prior to Covid. If I used them in my pressure canner, a lot of them buckled.

    When I switched to ForJars lids, no problem any more. I gave the ALL to a friend who only water bath cans.

  9. bwainfweeze

    It’s the terror of knowing what this world is about

    Watching some good friends scream, “let me out!”

  10. Imurtoytonight

    Ball actually makes a tool to tighten down the rings that prevents over tightening. I can’t get the link to post but Google “ball canning ring wrench” and multiple sources and prices will come up.

  11. chicken_tendigo

    Buckled lid. Not sealed. You probably cranked the ring on too tight. I generally have all my filled hot jars sitting on a towel in a tray when I do rims, lids, and rings. I pick up a lid from the warm water pot with my magnet, place on the jar, slide a ring down the magnet wand, and tighten with two (and only two) fingers until the jar starts threatening to spin while still holding the end of the magnet wand in the other hand. It’s a bit hard to imagine, unless you see it done in person and practice. You don’t want them tight-tight, that’s for sure.