Find Free Lids For Canning Jar Storage

~ by Texas Homesteader ~

I’ve found many sources for repurposing lids to replace 2-part canning jar lids when storing food. Storage lids on the cheap, y’all.

Well, for FREE actually. Come see what purchased products I’ve found have lids that fit a standard regular-mouth canning jar.

(Note: Some links in this post will take you to other related articles for further information. But links preceded with * are affiliate links. If you click and buy something I could receive a tiny commission.)

Household Uses For Empty Canning Jars

I use canning jars for many things here on the Homestead. Everything from actual food canning to storing leftovers in the refrigerator to storing dehydrated food in the pantry.

Although I shy away from using glass in my freezer, many people repurpose canning jars to freeze foods as well. (using proper jar-style selection & headspace recommendations of course)

Since you can only use traditional 2 piece canning flats & rings once when canning food, I’ll often utilize previously-used canning flats & rings to top canning jars I’m using for other food storage such as refrigerator leftovers or panty storage.

But sometimes doinking around with a 2-part lid is inconvenient. Thankfully there are lots of easy options that fit those canning jars and they’re usually free!

Finding Free Shaker-Top Lids

Y’all probably already know I’m a big fan of repurposing various lids for convenience purposes. Remember my search for those valuable (yet FREE) parmesan cheese lids??

I have several Parmesan Cheese Lids that I’ve repurposed onto canning jars for various purposes.

I’ve got one of those handy repurposed shaker lids on a small half-pint canning jar that holds RancherMan’s favorite BBQ Spice Rub.

The large holes make it very easy for him to apply to the meat to be grilled. And the flip side has an area large enough for a measuring spoon if he wants to measure out some of the rub for his beer-based mop sauce recipe.

I also have one of those handy repurposed parmesan cheese shaker lids on another half-pint canning jar that I use to hold baking soda.

This one is kept in my baking supplies since one of the sides flips up for easy measuring with my measuring spoon.

Since the other side’s a sprinkle shaker-type lid I use that side for sprinkling baking powder on my pots & pans when I’m washing them and need a little extra Baking-Soda Scrubbing Power

Heck I’ve even gathered and used those repurposed parmesan cheese lids to make homemade spice mixes to give as Homemade Christmas Gifts.

My friends & family know I collect those lids and are happy to save them for me.

Using Canning Jars For Food Storage

But for regular canning jar storage of dry food in my pantry or leftovers in my refrigerator, I’d always just repurpose used canning flats & rings. But is there a better way?

I was thrilled when I found that you could buy one-piece plastic *Canning Jar Storage Lids. And I bought a box of them to use in my kitchen.

And use them I do! Especially for jars holding leftovers going into the refrigerator. They’re so convenient.

No more rummaging around for first the flat and then the ring. That lid is all one piece.

Grab one, slap it on the jar & GO!

Where To Find Free Canning Jar Storage Lids

I began to stumble across food items that were sold with lids that fit my canning jars perfectly. It was like getting FREE canning jar storage lids from various purchased products.

I mean, instead of recycling or just throwing it away, I might as well put those handy lids to use, right??!

It’s true that many brands of peanut butter are sold with lids that fit a standard-mouth size canning jar.

And although I’ve made my own Homemade Mayonnaise for years, I understand many mayo brands are sold in jars that have plastic lids that fit standard-size canning jars as well.

Using Mason Jars With Plastic Lids

There are several places where a one-piece plastic lid and a mason jar are handy for your food storage:

Storing Leftovers – I’m a big proponent of Using Glass In The Refrigerator. So I’m often using these one-piece lids when I’m using my canning jars for storing leftovers in the fridge.

Vinegar-Based Foods – When I make Refrigerator Sweet Pickles, or pickling okra from the garden or pickled jalapenos for RancherMan’s liking, the vinegar can react with some metal lids. So I’m happy to have these free plastic lids to top those jars.

Rust-Proof Jar Lids – For those who store food in glass canning jars in their freezer, these lids might provide a free resource for a rust-free lid.

Free Metal Lid Options

I’ve also found that jars of Classico pasta sauce and another product labeled ‘Safeway Select’ often have metal lids that fit standard-mouth canning jars too.

Although I don’t typically purchase those food products I have family members who do. They’re happy to save those handy lids for me instead of chunking them in the trash or recycling bin.

These metal lids are great for times when I’m making Homemade Yogurt In The Oven.

Although the incubation temperature I use when making yogurt isn’t really high, I’m more comfortable with a heat-proof metal lid than a plastic one for that purpose.

Wide-Mouth Canning Jar Lids

I’ve not yet found a readily-available free source for wide-mouth-sized canning jar lids. So I’ll still buy *Wide-Mouth Jar Storage Lids for those times when I need a lid for food storage in those handy wide-mouth canning jars.

But I’ll be watching for resources for free repurposed lids for those wide-mouth jars.

In the meantime at least for regular-mouth jars I have all the lids I need for FREE!

Can You Reuse Mason Jar Lids For Home Canning?

This question goes around the internet a lot: Can you use these repurposed lids to actually home-can your food?

There are some who re-use those repurposed metal lids from purchased food products to home-can their food. They remark that they’ve done it for years with no ill effects.

But canning lids are designed to be used only once. It’s not recommended to reuse a used canning lid for home canning. The lid may appear to seal but not actually seal appropriately. Or it may not seal at all.

The negative results of eating home-canned food that has not been processed with all safety measures in place can be devastating and result in severe illness or even death.

So no, don’t try to save a few bucks by reusing repurposed lids from jars of food you buy or even reusing used canning lids for food canning.

Use those repurposed lids to store shelf-stable foods in your pantry or leftovers in your refrigerator.

Or use those repurposed lids on canning jars for storing grandma’s button collection or any other small collection you may need to corral.

But never reuse any type of canning lid twice when canning your food.

Watch For Lids To Repurpose For Canning Jar Storage

So before you toss that empty jar into your recycling bin, eyeball that handy lid. Could it be a free resource for you to use on your canning jars to store shelf-stable food or other items?

Be sure to check ’em out!

~TxH~

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4 thoughts on “Where To Find FREE Repurposed Lids To Fit Canning Jars”

DD at

I want to reuse lids in ways you described and have saved dozens. However they all hold the smell of the original foodstuffs they were originally used for. HOW do you get the smell out of the lids! Peanut butter lids and every other used lid still smell like peanut butter or other smells after soaking, washing and even boiling them to get the smell out – to no avail! Help!

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1. Texas Homesteader Post author at
  
  Here’s what I do: I clean with soap/water/baking soda and let it dry. If there’s still a strong residual odor I place the lid in the sunshine, maybe even 2-3 days. After that there’s either no odor or just a faint that remains but it’s never affected the flavor of the food I’m storing in the jar and disappears completely over time. ~TxH~
  
  Reply ↓
Gramma M at

I even use the Classico pasta jars to can my produce. Regular lids and bands fit them, just as the original lids fit regular mouth. They are embossed “Mason” and have never given me a problem. Just the right size for my husband and I! Why buy when you can reuse?

Reply ↓
1. Texas Homesteader Post author at
  
  I’ve seen the Classico pasta jars but didn’t know regular rings fit them. But reusing instead of buying? I like the way you think!
  
  Reply ↓

~Texas Homesteader~

Working To Provide For Ourselves On Our Texas Homestead

Where To Find FREE Repurposed Lids To Fit Canning Jars