Food Canning Supplies
- Thread starter Cag3db1rd
- Start date
Yeah, we've been discussing it here for a few months. The major companies have pretty much said they're out of lids, and won't be shipping until early Spring.
Summerthyme
Summerthyme
A couple of months back I bought all that Dollar General had, that they had just discovered buried under a lot of holiday stuff in a corner of their small stock room. It was a little over a gross of regular rings and seals. Then about two weeks ago I caught a break and one of the local walmarts found some in their back room storage and put them out. Gave me another gross and a half of seals and about half that many rings. Between what Mom has and what I have (over and above the recent finds) in storage, we'll be fine for this coming year. I plan on ordering directly from SKS bottling or similar company once the lids are back in stock.
It is stupid that this sort of thing happened in the supply line. About as stupid as paper product line disruption. It reinforced just how important basic inventory prepping is. I know I write fiction and make it seem like you can salvage for what you need in the beginning but if this is going to be a slow train event that really isn't going to be how this works. More like Russia in the 70s. Get ahead of the long lines and lack of availability while you can. It isn't always about food.
It is stupid that this sort of thing happened in the supply line. About as stupid as paper product line disruption. It reinforced just how important basic inventory prepping is. I know I write fiction and make it seem like you can salvage for what you need in the beginning but if this is going to be a slow train event that really isn't going to be how this works. More like Russia in the 70s. Get ahead of the long lines and lack of availability while you can. It isn't always about food.
If anyone needs RINGS alone, PM me. I have multiple large Rubbermaid containers full of them, and because I always remove them after the jars cool, I only really need maybe 150 (I think the biggest canning day I ever did was 167 pints of beans)
They are mixed very old and newer (and IMHO, cheaper... I actually prefer the older rings) and are rust free. I'll send some to anyone just for the postage.
Summerthyme
They are mixed very old and newer (and IMHO, cheaper... I actually prefer the older rings) and are rust free. I'll send some to anyone just for the postage.
Summerthyme
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
This ^^^ A simple search on canning lids alone will bring up several threads on the topic.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
Having canning supplies on the shelves is a seasonal thing, not a year round thing.
God is good all the time
Judy
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
That's the way it is at our Walmart. After canning season ends, they clear the shelves of all canning supplies to make room for other things. I have plenty of everything, but will get more come springtime if supplies are still available at that time. 2021 has no guarantees, though.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
That's the way it's always been. Looking for canning supplies off season has always been hit and miss. I think most people pissing and moaning about not being about to find canning supplies off season are clueless.
God is good all the time
Judy
Well, except people have been looking for lids (and to a lesser extent, jars) since early summer!
Summerthyme
Summerthyme
EYW
Veteran Member
I've been down in Key West for the last two weeks packing up stuff, cleaning and working on the house down there to get it ready to sell (been out of the loop, no internet, and phone is a hassle to use). I knew I had a "couple" cases or so of canning jars under the stairs. Well, I had around a dozen cases, all new with lids, and a dozen or so boxes of each lid. In addition, I had several dozen cases that had been used, so no lids, and a couple boxes of the Classico jars I use for dry storage. I knew I had some just did not clearly remember the amount. Here's hoping the lids are all good as they are several years old. When I buy new jars if they are not going to be used right away, I usually take the lids off and flip them over and then put the ring back on so the lids don't seal on the jars.
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
True. Our Walmart always had plenty, but other places had severe shortages. The one thing that our Walmart didn't have all spring and summer was water bath canners. My DIL finally found one after looking everywhere.
That's a good idea. But don't sweat it if it happens. If the sealing compound is really compressed, toss the lids in a small saucepan. Cover with water, add a tablespoon of baking soda. Simmer for 5 minutes. They'll work just fine.
The Amish use this method to reuse lids. I don't do that, yet... but if the prices keep going up, I will.
Summerthyme
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20Gauge
TB Fanatic
We can get the "small" lids easily enough. The large lids are impossible to find. Good thing we have 20 boxes put up. The hold we found in our supplies was that though we always got the wide mouth jars, family would always give us the small mouth jars. So we failed to have any in stock. That has been corrected.
Now finding jars is pretty much a hit an miss for us. We have not seen any decent amount of anything in the last 6 months.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
Thanks for this, I have a BIG supply of lids that I bought several years ago that won't vacuum seal, will try this method. I was able to get a large number of lids this summer from ebay and of course at some point that was not possible.
What I meant by seasonal is that canning supplies are produced on a seasonal basis. This year the sold out quicker than normal. This caused the shortage.
God is good all the time
Judy
packyderms_wife
Neither here nor there.
This^^^ I bought in early April and again in early August when I saw the complaints in the Canning group on faceborg. I replaced what I had used already, plus a few extras.
Bet you sell the house in no time. Real estate is hopping for sure, and what an AirBnB that would people for someone to invest in.
Only problem is a lot of people just can't qualify or their offer is so low it is ridiculous. We are still trying to sell my parents' five acres and trailer plus outbuildings. Three contracts and the buyers managed to screw it up all three times. I'm not too happy with the realtor either and cannot wait for the contract with her to run out. She isn't hungry enough..
Here's hoping you get the price you want and more.
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
I have seen a few realtors like that lately. Business is better than good so they are kicking back. Little to they realize.
Old Gray Mare
TB Fanatic
Improvise with a deep pot, cover the bottom with a layer of nickels to keep the jars off the bottom while canning?
SouthernBreeze
Has No Life - Lives on TB
I've done that when only having a few jars to can. No need to fill the whole canner for two or three jars. Never used nickels, though. I wrap the jars with a dishtowel, so they don't bump together. Always worked for me.
I have used a deep crockpot with a wide, round cake rack on the bottom...
Summerthyme
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
Are you able to use the a standard canning tray also?
If it fits, sure. But occasionally you want to can up a small batch... maybe 2 or 3 jars of jam or pickles. You can use any kettle that's deep enough to cover the jars snd allow an inch of water over the top (plus room for bubbling). And if it isnt large enough to fit a regular rack, the cookie cooling rack works well.
Summerthyme
BeeMan
Just buzzin along
I’ve used a hand towel folded to fit the bottom of most any pot deep enough to allow the water to cover the jars. The rack, or in my case the towels, are just to keep the bottom of the jars from coming in direct contact with the pan, which sits directly on the heat. I’m thinking about making a couple of metal screens from some 1/2” x 1” welded wire I have on hand. Maybe put a strip of 1” x 1” wood strips (also on hand) that I pick up for free from a cabinet shop near me, that I usually use for kindling for starting fires in the wood-stove and fireplace. Wood wouldn’t last a long time, but is on hand now and easily replaceable. I’ve got an old “Canco” antique waterbath canner that I could put that “rack” in and do 20 or so pints, or even quarts, at a time. Wish I had brought my “Knox Mealmaster” wood stove when I moved a few years ago. I certainly miss that stove. Just might have to make a trip to Knoxville, TN and pickup another. Shipping to too high to try and buy one online and have it shipped here.
Cag3db1rd
Paranoid Pagan
This is the first year I haven't seen canning supplies year round at my wm. I would post a pic of the empty shelves at my wm that I took during canning season, when usually there are fully stocked shelves, but I can't get it to upload. I usually buy canning supplies a little at a time all year round. I haven't been able to add any this year.
20Gauge
TB Fanatic
Funny? Ours just started this year keeping them year round.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
There was a run on them because people were doing more home canning, they were not resupplied because they are only manufactured seasonally.
God is good all the time
Judy
PAY DIRT!!!
Had to go to Wally world again today and what should my wondering eye behold? Several cases of regular lids (Ball brand) and a case is wide mouth. I got six boxes of wide because mom has a ton of them but I picked up a full case (24 boxes) of regular lids for my mom for Christmas. There were a bunch of quart and half gallon jars as well but I already have way more than enough and so does mom.
I am using plastic “jars” for in-a-jar type things this year. I picked them up after season clearance in January at Michael’s. They are coming in handy despite causing me some clutter thru the year.
Had to go to Wally world again today and what should my wondering eye behold? Several cases of regular lids (Ball brand) and a case is wide mouth. I got six boxes of wide because mom has a ton of them but I picked up a full case (24 boxes) of regular lids for my mom for Christmas. There were a bunch of quart and half gallon jars as well but I already have way more than enough and so does mom.
I am using plastic “jars” for in-a-jar type things this year. I picked them up after season clearance in January at Michael’s. They are coming in handy despite causing me some clutter thru the year.
Jars starting to trickle back in around here too.
I guess the fall canning rush is over and production is catching up.
I guess the fall canning rush is over and production is catching up.
Cag3db1rd
Paranoid Pagan
So, wandered to the food storage department. There are shelves and tags for canning supplies, even a couple of water canners and equipment. Some freezer jars, small herb storage jars, a couple of fermentation tools. No canning jars or lids, with or without rings. They are just sold out. This year has really been a first at this location.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
I bought a case of jars at walmart on Monday, the Golden Harvest brand, I've never seen them at walmart, but I bought a bunch of that brand at Fred's years ago.
Yesterday I got my last order (for now) from walmart. 43 boxes of Pasta Roni, one box fits nicely in a one quart mylar bag, they are different varieties.
God is good all the time
Judy
Yesterday I got my last order (for now) from walmart. 43 boxes of Pasta Roni, one box fits nicely in a one quart mylar bag, they are different varieties.
God is good all the time
Judy
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I like the Golden Harvest jars, Judy; they are thinner than the Ball and Kerr jars I'm used to working with - but since most of those that I have are from the 50's and 60's, that's understandable 
I use them for both pressure and water bath canning without any issues. I do wonder if the rims might be more likely to chip, but I'm super careful when I take lids off (I pad the can opener with a towel) so haven't had any problems as yet.
I haven't tried Pasta Roni - I'll have to see if I can find it at the store and see what it is like. I used to make a skillet dinner with beef Rice a Roni, frozen mixed veggies, and chunks of beef that was pretty good - cooked it kinda like you do fried rice, but not seasoned as you do fried rice.
I use them for both pressure and water bath canning without any issues. I do wonder if the rims might be more likely to chip, but I'm super careful when I take lids off (I pad the can opener with a towel) so haven't had any problems as yet.I haven't tried Pasta Roni - I'll have to see if I can find it at the store and see what it is like. I used to make a skillet dinner with beef Rice a Roni, frozen mixed veggies, and chunks of beef that was pretty good - cooked it kinda like you do fried rice, but not seasoned as you do fried rice.
nomifyle
TB Fanatic
I can remember making Rice a Roni from time to time when I was raising my children. But when I started reading labels I never bought it again. I learned to make fried rice from scratch. At some point I even stopped eating white rice, I even got my ex to eat brown rice. Then when I started prepping I stopped the brown rice because it doesn't store well.I like the Golden Harvest jars, Judy; they are thinner than the Ball and Kerr jars I'm used to working with - but since most of those that I have are from the 50's and 60's, that's understandable
I haven't tried Pasta Roni - I'll have to see if I can find it at the store and see what it is like. I used to make a skillet dinner with beef Rice a Roni, frozen mixed veggies, and chunks of beef that was pretty good - cooked it kinda like you do fried rice, but not seasoned as you do fried rice.
I mainly use canning jars to vacuum seal dried foods in. I tried pressure canning a few times and it just didn't work well for me, plus its totally exhausting. so I gave up trying.
I ordered the pasta roni from Walmart.com, although its in the stores. I tried a box awhile back and its tasty.
God is good all the time
Judy
The Rice-a-roni really isn't "rice" per se in some of the flavors. It is more like a risotto (rice shaped pasta). The carbs are why I had to stop using a lot of that convenience stuff. Sent my glucose too high. However, I will occasionally use it for thickening a soup/stew or if I am just really hankering for rice pilaf.
hiwall
Has No Life - Lives on TB
We do not own a pressure canner. Occasionally my wife water-bath cans some pickles. We dehydrate some things and vac seal them in jars. We do have a supply of jars and lids. And in a pinch could borrow a canner from the neighbor.
At our location it can freeze or snow any month. Last year we got snow on June 27th and it was still freezing temps into July.
Some years it is warm and a garden can grow well here. All my fruit trees and berry bushes are dead from freezing multiple times this spring/summer.
We will go on a carnivore diet if required.
At our location it can freeze or snow any month. Last year we got snow on June 27th and it was still freezing temps into July.
Some years it is warm and a garden can grow well here. All my fruit trees and berry bushes are dead from freezing multiple times this spring/summer.
We will go on a carnivore diet if required.