Recently we found canning jars at Aldi and bought 6 cases of them. I never even thought about them not being suitable for pressure canning but right after we bought them, someone commented on Facebook that their Aldi had them, and they weren’t sure they were good for pressure canning. Someone else did a bit of research and found that they were meant for water bath canning up to 212 degrees. I thought about returning them but I vacuum seal freeze dried foods in jars so I figured I’d keep them and use them for storing the freeze dried foods.
This week was the first time I had used them and I was very disappointed to find that their rings/lids are not interchangeable with Ball/Kerr canning jars. I actually like the way the Aldi jar lids fit better. They’re almost more “fitted” than flat but I really don’t like having to keep up with two sets of lids/rings – one for the Aldi jars and one for the other jars. I am not sure if a Ball lid would fit and if that would make the other rings fit. I need to try that but all I can say now is that the lids/rings, as a unit, do not fit the Ball/Kerr jars and the Ball rings would not fit the Aldi jars with the Aldi lid.
Last year I bought some Anchor Hocking jars at Walmart. I think it was when we bought a lot of cranberries and I was canning juice. Luckily, I did water bath canning and not pressure canning because at that time, I thought canning jars were canning jars!
MONDAY UPDATE: I called Anchor Hocking this morning and was told they do not recommend pressure canning in their jars.
I wish I’d never bought the Anchor Hocking or the Aldi because I’ll always be second guessing whether I’m using the wrong jar for pressure canning. They will get used for vacuum sealing and I’ll do my best to keep them straight. The Aldi jars have a nice “Crofton” image in the glass. The Anchor or plain – nothing on the glass. The Ball and Kerr jars . . I think they all have their image on the glass but I may have some plain ones. I guess from now on, if it doesn’t specifically say Ball or Kerr, it will be used for vacuum sealing only.
Judy in MO says
I don’t understand why a company would even make canning jars if they weren’t suitable for pressure canning.
Judy Laquidara says
I agree. I’m going to contact them Monday and see if the info I found is correct.
Peg Turner says
I have pressure canned in the Anchor Hocking jars, I never thought to check to see if I shouldn’t. I didn’t have any break so I will probably continue to use them. I haven’t seen the ones from Aldi but now that I know I will probably only buy Ball.
Judy Laquidara says
We probably all have without even thinking about it. After talking to the Anchor Hocking people, I won’t use them again for pressure canning.
Judy Domke says
I know nothing about anything Aldi but I do know that I have have never had a fail from the Anchor jars. I have lots of tuna and chicken pressure canned in 1/2 pints no problem. I won’t buy any more because they are a bugger to get clean.
Judy Laquidara says
I’m going to contact them on Monday because I think the info I found on the internet may not be right.
Laura Haynes says
Judy Domke, is that because of the small size? Or is there something about the shape of them? Why are they hard to clean?
Judy Domke says
It’s the shape of the jar. Canned meat of all kinds has to be scrubbed off the jar and those little corners can be tough with my arthritic fingers.
Carolyn Sullivan says
back in the day LOL I’m so old…. My mom used the Mayonnaise jars, which knowing her were probably Miracle whip jars. I did too when I was canning in the 80’s I used both the water and pressure cooker indiscriminately. guess I was lucky they didn’t break.
Janice says
Well, that’s a Royal PITB!!! I’m shocked that they’re not all interchangeable. Learn something new every day.
Tee says
I bought a case too from Aldi but have not used them. I don’t like that they are not interchangeable. Bummer.
dezertsuz says
Your solution makes sense! I know a family who saves their mayo jars and uses them, and I think that’s got to be bad news one of these days. I always buy Ball when I can, and Kerr when I can’t, though I did get some called Golden Harvest once and they were fine, too. Probably those are all made in the same factory!