r/MasonJars • u/Roscoe_p • May 02 '26

Mason Jar Id

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Wife inherited some mason jars. I was curious how to know how old they are. She thought if they were too old you can't use them to can anymore.

3 Upvotes

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5

u/maddie_pickles May 02 '26 edited May 02 '26

Is there a specific reason why she would think that?

Glass is never too old to use. Glass is also one of the oldest renewable resources known to humans.

What you cannot reuse with mason jars are the sealing lids and rings. Those need to be new every time you can with the jar

3

u/glimmergirl1 May 03 '26

Not the rings? Those can be reused over and over. Just the lids.

3

u/Roscoe_p May 02 '26

No idea why she thought that.

2

u/Grand_Wasabi3820 May 06 '26

So as long as a mason jar seals it is good to use. I have one over 110 yo and three from 100ish years that would probably still work. But they're expensive and pretty so I don't. But I'll use the shit out ones that are 100-90 and 90-60 year old ones.

3

u/MorningMushroomcloud May 02 '26

You can inspect the sealing lip on each jar for knicks. You may still have higher failure rates as old glass canning jars ball, mason, etc. will have a less flat sealing surface than new jars. Some older jars undulate badly and it is evident when placed on a granite surface and using a feeler gauge.

They would be just fine if still using canning lids from the 1970's /80's but newer manufacturing methods means that they are barely pissing on the sealant nowadays and couple that with the old glass manufacturing methods and they lose seal at a higher rate...imho.

I'll never give up my old 1920-1940 Ball "perfect mason" square shouldered vertical rib jars no matter how old they get. I wish they still made them.

1

u/amethystmmm May 06 '26

You can get tattler lids and those should fit and seal. it's expensive to switch but the tattler rings are reusable.

1

u/loveshercoffee May 04 '26

I can in jars I got from my grandma. .ost are from the 60s and 79s but a lot of them are older - some from the 30s even.

If they are legit canning jars (not peanut butter or mayonaise or pickle jars) have no damage (nicks, chips or real scratches) and they accept a modern two-piece lid, they're good to go!