If you're a fan ofMason glass jars, you might alreadyhave wondered why they included a two-part lid in the design. As witheverything Mason, there was a solid strategy behind this decision. In thispost, we'll look at why Mason introduced this type of lid, why they are usefuland what you can use them for at home.
Why does Mason have two-part lids?
The Mason brand decided to create two-piece lids to maketheir jars suitable for canning and preserving. By adding this style of lid,people were able to reuse the same can rings endlessly, without needing toreplace the entire jar each time. The only bit of the jar that needs to bechanged between uses is the plastisol-lined lid, which is flat and recyclableto protect the environment.
Why does this matter?
Canning used to be extremely popular as a key means ofpreserving food. Today it's gaining traction and interest once again as a wayof preserving home-grown food, enjoying home cooking and organic food andencouraging a more sustainable lifestyle. When you can at home, you need to beable to let air escape during the pressure canning process or during theboiling water stage. A single-piece lid won't allow this essential air escape stage,and the bottom of the jar can blow out - causing a mighty bang and making amess! The lid can also buckle as pressure builds up. Either way, thesesituations can be dangerous, and the innovative Mason two-part lid avoids anyrisks altogether.
What is the split-type canning lid exactly?
The split-type lid refers to the lid itself and the band.These can be placed together or separated, depending on what you are using theMason jars for. The underneath of the lid has a rubber ring on it for making theessential seal so that canning can be done safely. The outer band is made withreusable screw threads. The lid is used for a single-seal but the band and jarcan be used many times.
Are ball Mason glass jars the same as other commercialjars?
The Mason jars are made with wider rims. These give thema better surface for sealing.
Ways to use Mason jars at home
The two-step lid is particularly useful at home when youare fermenting or canning. Here is the process for processing food in Masonjars:
1. Sterilise the jars Put the empty jars in a large pot of hot water and slowlybring them to a boil. Ten minutes will be sufficient to sterilise the jars.Take the pan off the heat and lift the jars with a pair of clean tongs. Drainthem and let them dry on a clean, dry surface that has been fully cleaned.
2. Begin preparing your food. Slice and dice your fruitsand vegetables and use your favourite recipe to pickle the food in the jarswith the right balance of vinegar, brine and other fermentation mixes. Rememberto use citric acid to keep your tomatoes red and firm. For food that tends tobrown, such as apple slices, add some ascorbic acid. Remember not to fill yourMason jars to the top, so there's room for the contents to swell.
3. Make sure the contents of the food are fully submergedwithout any air bubbles. Then place the Mason jars into your canning pot. Theprocessing time will vary between recipes, so check yours carefully beforeremoving the Mason jars with your tongs and letting them cool.
You'll know that the seal is complete when you take the Masonjars from the pot and hear a ping! The centre of the jar lid will also becomeconcave to signal that the vacuum is in place. Remove the bands, test theseals, wipe off any residue and thenadd your labels.
Find the best Mason Glass Jars today
Whether you're looking forBall Mason jars for caning,pickling, jam-making, presentation purposes, fermenting or more, you'll find ahuge range of these and other glass jars at Wares of Knutsford.We're a genuine glass jar and bottle specialist, and we sell a huge range of Ball Marson glass jars and other types of glassware for all needs.
Whether you're looking to kickstart a kitchen project,present your craft room items with panache or even use glassware for informalsummer dining (there's nothing better than a stacked ice-cream sundae in aglass jar for example!) Wares of Knutsford has everything you need - with bignames, great prices, fast delivery and superb service.
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