Tattler Re-usable Canning Lids

I understand there are canners who do not like the re-usable Tattler canning lids. I love them! There is a bit of a learning curve. They have instructions on the website. The only difference is in the amount of tightness used when placing the metal ring on the jar.

Obviously some of these pictures were taken with my old countertop but I’ve used the Tattler lids since before we left Missouri so it’s been at least 10 years.

I’ve never had one break or had to throw one away. I have about the same “failure to seal” rate with the Tattler lids as I have with regular lids, which isn’t high. I think when I canned about 40 quarts of chicken recently, I had one Tattler lid that didn’t seal but it’s always the same as when a regular lid doesn’t seal – something has gotten under the sealing ring and caused it not to seal.

Ease of Use:

I find them to be easier to use than regular lids. Some of the sealing material on regular lids is looking pretty thin these days. I simply place the ring on the clean jar top, then the white lid, then the ring. I do put the lids in the dishwasher. Tattler says they are dishwasher safe. I do not put the gaskets in the dishwasher.

Cost:

They are a bit more expensive than the one time use metal lids. If you’re someone who re-uses metal lids .. don’t tell me about it. I do not think it’s safe. I see the lids getting thinner and more flimsy each year and I’ve never re-used metal lids and would never do it. If you do it and you feel safe . . I’m not telling you that YOU shouldn’t do it but simply saying I do not recommend it.

I found metal lids (not Ball brand) for about $80 for 288 lids. That’s 28 cents per lid. I probably would not use these lids simply because I’ve bought off brand lids and have had more failures than with Tattler or Ball brands. It’s too much work, not to mention the cost of what’s in the jar, to risk a failure.

Kerr wide mouth lids are $3.18 for a 12 pack at Walmart or .265 per lid.

Tattler is having a sale today (15% off with code bf/cm) so that makes the cost if buying 200 lids/gaskets to be about .60 each so based on the best price I could currently find, if I use the Tattler lids three times, I’ve saved money.

Peace of Mind:

I have no reason to believe there would ever be a problem but what if . . something ever happened and we couldn’t get lids. It could be a problem at the manufacturing plant(s), a problem with getting raw materials. You never know. With plenty of jars on hand, it would be crazy to not be able to put food up because I didn’t have jar lids.

Then there’s the issue of the one time use lids. As you might imagine, we go through hundreds of jars of food each year. Why use something once when there’s something equally as good that can be used over and over.

I’ve read reviews from people who have been using the Tattler lids over and over for 20 or 30 years. I feel good about having them in my supply room.

I was running short on wide mouth lids and was waiting for their Black Friday sale so I ordered 200 lids with gaskets and another 60 metal rings because after a while, some of those do get a bit cruddy looking and I’ve tossed a few this year. That’s another necessary component of canning that I never want to be without.

I do not store my jars with the rings but if we are moving or when I’m taking foods between here and Missouri or here and Louisiana, I put the rings back on them just to prevent spilling in the car if they should lose their seal.

There are smaller trial packages of lids/gaskets you can order. For anyone who loves to can, I encourage you to at least try the Tattler re-usable lids if you haven’t done so.

I’m pretty sure they always have free shipping in the U.S. but check to confirm before purchasing!