I am new to canning this holiday season, and as gifts I decided to make apple butter, blueberry jam, and salsa. I used mainstays brand half pints for the jam and apple butter, and widemouth pint jars for the salsa. For the life of me I can't get most of them to seal. First go around only 1/7 of the salsa jars sealed. I wipe the rims really good and make sure everything is clean. Am I doing something wrong or is it the jars? I read a lot online and am getting mixed messages. Thanks in advance.
by doggomcfroggo21
7 Comments
Hi u/doggomcfroggo21,
For accessibility, please reply to this comment with a transcription of the screenshot or alt text describing the image you’ve posted. We thank you for ensuring that the visually impaired can fully participate in our discussions!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Canning) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Double check the directions for those lids. I was frustrated my For Jars brand lids didn’t all seal, then I looked at the packaging and they have to be simmered while waiting to go on a jar — not just washed and ready like Ball lids. Once I followed the directions, I had zero issues. I’m not familiar with Mainstay jars, but take a look at those directions.
Mainstay jars source their lids from China and they are notoriously bad as discussed on this sub in the past. Most (not all) people steer away from Chinese made lids for this reason. Poorly made and high failure rate. I’m sure some people have luck with them but 90% see the success rate you’re seeing.
Get what you pay for unfortunately.
Mainstays lids suck. I only buy their wide mouth half pints because I like the jar shape, but I replace with ball lids and save mainstays for dry storage.
Get some ball brand or superb brand lids. The others all suck. Ball are cheaper but work great. I like the superb ones when I can find them on sale. They’re a bit expensive but they hold like nothing else.
I was getting more and more unsealed jars with Ball lids and this fall I made the switch from Ball to Superb and I’ve had all my jars seal since. But yes, do read the instructions. But I would ditch the Mainstay lids for sure. It’s frustrating to go through all that work only to have that happen. Walmart has the Superb lids, at least in my area.
Thank you to all who commented. I ran to the store to get ball lids and rings and of course they popped immediately. Lesson learned, do not buy mainstays.