Mason Ball/Kilner Jars & Replacement Discs/Lids

[SarzWix]

These are the jars which have a 2 part lid (disc and screw ring) used for bottling and canning.

I've just had a Lakeland catalogue delivered and they are now selling this type of jar (with a lot of fuss and hoo hah ) If you're thinking of buying them, have a look round first - Ascott Smallholding Supplies sell packs of 12 for about £6 less than Lakeland And cookability.biz sell them at £1.70 each, also cheaper than Lakeland.
However... Ascott don't sell replacement lids for them, and Lakeland do The only other place I've found replacement lids is on Cookability who are currently out of stock, or shipped in from the US via eBay.

If anyone knows any other suppliers of replacement lids I'd be glad to hear of them

[zazen999]

I don't know about replacement lids but Ikea do kilner jars at a fraction of the price of Lakeland.

[NOG]

Lots of independant kitchen shops do the replcement rubbers and parts.

[SarzWix]

It's not the sort with a hinged lid and rubber ring. These are a metal screw ring, and a flat metal disc that sits on top of the jar. Hang on while I have a look for a pic...

[Scottishnewbie]

Sarz, why are they so good please?

[SarzWix]

I use them in my pressure canner SN. They're a bit pointlessly expensive to use for jams, jellies, chutneys etc. But for bottling in a water bath or under pressure, these are the sort of jars you need.
I know one or two other Grapes have a pressure canner too, so I wondered if any of them had a better source of lids than me because you can only use them once.

[WrexTheDragon]

I use Charlies as they are local to me. They charge £1.47/£1.66 each for the complete 500g/1000g jars.
Deluxe Glass Preserving Jar 500ml (17oz)
Deluxe Glass Preserving Jars 1000ml (35oz)

I found Lakeland to be the best price at £3.99 for 12 replacement disks, while Amazon charge £7.44 for 12 disks and screw bands.
Lakeland - Replacement Kilner Discs
Amazon - Deluxe Glass Preserving Jar Lids for 500ml and 1000ml Jars

[SarzWix]

The Cookability ones were about the same price as Lakeland, they were 12 discs plus a couple of spare screw bands. Seeing as they're out of stock, I've ordered the discs from Lakeland, and just hoping that they fit the screw bands I have already!

[shirlthegirl43]

Anyone got more info on the pressure canning or water bath thingies please? I saw a preserving gizmo in Lidl a while back but couldn't quite understand what it did

[SarzWix]

Usually preserving utilises acid or sugar or salt, but pressure canning is for things low in those things. The pressure raises the temp in the jars past normal boiling point, and holds it there for long enough to kill off all the nasties, then as it cools the jar seals creating a vaccuum to keep the nasties out.
Bottling/canning in a water bath is useful for things which are high enough in acid to stop the nasties growing, and likewise, when the jar seals it stops any from getting in. Tomatoes are usually acid enough (especially with the addition of a tiny bit of lemon juice) to bottle on their own, but, if you want to add other veg like onions, celery etc (and therefore dilute the acidity) you have to do the pressure method.
It's not safe to do it in a normal pressure cooker because you can't tell what pressure you've reached inside the pan. I bought mine off eBay and had it shipped over from the States.

This probably explains better than me http://foodsafety.cas.psu.edu/canningguide.html

[shirlthegirl43]

So you would use it for pasta sauces and maybe apple puree instead of freezing?

[SarzWix]

Yeah, I made loads of Dolmio type sauce last year. PW uses his to make them with the meat in too, but I couldn't get a recipe that I liked for that. Jez made lots of salsa too. Hopefully we'll experiment a bit more this year, if I can afford more jars... I'd like to do some soups too when the winter veg starts being ready.

[shirlthegirl43]

Sounds good but I guess I will stick to freezing stuff for now - Madmax would have a fit if I tried to cram any more gadgets into the kitchen

[SarzWix]

He he he, the OH wasn't overly impressed either, especially when he saw the size of it But you can do the water-bath method in just an ordinary stock pot, with a tea-towel or something in the bottom to stop the jars from rattling together

[Alison]

Re replacement lids - have you tried Wares of Knutsfords at all, have had stuff off them in the past and they've been pretty good.