Mason Jars Not Sealing Properly

[Lumbridge]

I recently popped open a jar of R. McConnell Rich Dark Virginia that I packed about a year ago. I thought that the lid was sealed tight on the jar, but the once moist tobacco inside is now almost crispy dry.

I always make sure the lid and rim of the jars are clean and free of debris, and that the lid is centered on the jar rim before tightening down the band very firmly. The lid felt suctioned on when I pulled it off, but the contents still somehow became dessicated. I checked another jar of Sutliff TS-12 - also dried out.

Both of the offending jars are Ball/Kerr 8oz wide mouth jars/lids. I have not had this issue with the 16oz wide mouth jars. I'm wondering if heating the lids up a bit in the oven before sealing a jar might help produce a more airtight seal.

Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[Sig]

The only time I ever experienced this in over 2 decades of jarring hundreds of pounds, was one time when the jar itself was the culprit. It was difficult to see, but I could feel that the jar was not flat on top.
Putting the jar upside-down on a table showed the very slight warping around the rim.

 

[Skyfall]

I recently popped open a jar of R. McConnell Rich Dark Virginia that I packed about a year ago. I thought that the lid was sealed tight on the jar, but the once moist tobacco inside is now almost crispy dry.

I always make sure the lid and rim of the jars are clean and free of debris, and that the lid is centered on the jar rim before tightening down the band very firmly. The lid felt suctioned on when I pulled it off, but the contents still somehow became dessicated. I checked another jar of Sutliff TS-12 - also dried out.

Both of the offending jars are Ball/Kerr 8oz wide mouth jars/lids. I have not had this issue with the 16oz wide mouth jars. I'm wondering if heating the lids up a bit in the oven before sealing a jar might help produce a more airtight seal.

Has anyone else had this problem?

Did you use a jar vacuum sealer? Or just put the lid on with the band?

 

[Lumbridge]

The only time I ever experienced this in over 2 decades of jarring hundreds of pounds, was one time when the jar itself was the culprit. It was difficult to see, but I could feel that the jar was not flat on top.
Putting the jar upside-down on a table showed the very slight warping around the rim.

I think I'll start checking them on a level surface from now on.

 

[Lumbridge]

Did you use a jar vacuum sealer? Or just put the lid on with the band?

No vacuum sealer. Never been a problem until I used the 8oz wide mouths.

 

[mingc]

Mason jars are designed to seal by way of a vacuum created during canning by the cooling of heated contents. I don't think heating the lid only is sufficient to create a vacuum. Moreover, some blends out-gas to create the opposite of a vacuum. Sealed mylar bags are a better solution.

 

[Dave760]

Maybe I'm being too cautious, but I always let the jars sit for a few days and then check to make sure the rings are still tight. I haven't yet had a jar where I found a loose top but it only takes a few seconds to check.

When I first started jarring tobacco I would dip the tops into melted wax. As long as the wax covered the ring and the top of the glass I was guaranteed a good seal, but I believe that was overkill. Plus, when I open one of those jars I have to deal with the wax, which is a pain.

 

[Lumbridge]

Mason jars are designed to seal by way of a vacuum created by the cooling of heated contents. I don't think heating the lid only is sufficient to create a vacuum. Moreover, some blends out-gas to create the opposite of a vacuum. Sealed mylar bags are a better solution.

I was thinking about heating the lids with the intent of softening up the lid gasket so that it will better conform to the rim of the jar. If the seal is adequate, it should theoretically prevent any air exchange one way or another, even if the jars aren't vacuum sealed.

I agree about mylar. Anything not in a tin that I'm planning to store long term goes into mylar and is heat sealed. These were just some opened tins and bulks that I jarred up and forgot about for a year.

 

[Skyfall]

I was thinking about heating the lids with the intent of softening up the lid gasket so that it will better conform to the rim of the jar. If the seal is adequate, it should theoretically prevent any air exchange one way or another, even if the jars aren't vacuum sealed.

I agree about mylar. Anything not in a tin that I'm planning to store long term goes into mylar and is heat sealed. These were just some opened tins and bulks that I jarred up and forgot about for a year.

you can buy replacement lids that are regular or wide mouth fairly cheap. If you had an issue with them once, I would buy new ones. I use a vacuum sealer on my jars, never had an issue. If its a bad seal, the vacuum sealer wont stop until I fix the bad seal.

 

[mingc]

If the seal is adequate, it should theoretically prevent any air exchange one way or another, even if the jars aren't vacuum sealed.

I don't think the rubber, heated or otherwise, is intended to seal adequately without a vacuum. I wouldn't eat anything that was stored in a jar that wasn't vacuum sealed.

 

[Lumbridge]

you can buy replacement lids that are regular or wide mouth fairly cheap. If you had an issue with them once, I would buy new ones. I use a vacuum sealer on my jars, never had an issue. If its a bad seal, the vacuum sealer wont stop until I fix the bad seal.

Yeah, I'm going to start with fresh lids. I think I'll just ditch the half pints, since those are the only ones with problems.

 

[Lumbridge]

I don't think the rubber, heated or otherwise, is intended to seal adequately without a vacuum. I wouldn't eat anything that was stored in a jar that wasn't vacuum sealed.

Maybe a vacuum sealer is the way to go. I just assumed that the gasketed lid, with the rim tightened down firmly, would be sufficient to prevent air exchange. On my other jars, it's worked fine so far, which makes me suspect that the issue is with these particular jars.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

If the jar is wonky the ring will usually twist right off or keep spinning when you tighten it.

 

[Sea Lord]

To ensure the lid seals properly, put the tobacco in a jar and the jar in the oven at 200F (pre-heated at that temperature, first). Leave it in for 15 minutes, take it out, and screw the lid on as soon as possible. After an hour or so check the lid as the heat in the jar will loosen it some. Check it again a day or 2 later, just in case.
You should hear the pop! sound indicating the jar is sealed fairly quickly. If not, no worries, it will happen later.
I've done this with all my jars and never encountered any issues.

 

[Lumbridge]

To ensure the lid seals properly, put the tobacco in a jar and the jar in the oven at 200F (pre-heated at that temperature, first). Leave it in for 15 minutes, take it out, and screw the lid on as soon as possible. After an hour or so check the lid as the heat in the jar will loosen it some. Check it again a day or 2 later, just in case.
You should hear the pop! sound indicating the jar is sealed fairly quickly. If not, no worries, it will happen later.
I've done this with all my jars and never encountered any issues.

Do you bake them with the lids off? The tobacco doesn't dry out at all?

 

[skydog]

I feel like this thread has spiraled into overcomplicating things very quickly. Yes canning food requires a vacuum, no tobacco is not food. Plenty of folks have had years of good experiences with jarring tobacco with minimal to no failure. I've had tins lose their seal on me but never a jar. Whether it's a couple years or 10 years sitting in the mason jars that I just screwed the lid on, the tobacco is always perfect. I would guess you either had faulty jars as has been mentioned, or possibly even faulty tops.

 

[Lumbridge]

I feel like this thread has spiraled into overcomplicating things very quickly. Yes canning food requires a vacuum, no tobacco is not food. Plenty of folks have had years of good experiences with jarring tobacco with minimal to no failure. I've had tins lose their seal on me but never a jar. Whether it's a couple years or 10 years sitting in the mason jars that I just screwed the lid on, the tobacco is always perfect. I would guess you either had faulty jars as has been mentioned, or possibly even faulty tops.

Yeah, I suspect the jars. Kerr 8oz Wide Mouth jars. These are the only mason jar seals I've ever had fail. Two out of six dried out. I followed the same process when packing them that I always have.

 

[Lumbridge]

I picked up some 8oz standard mouth Ball jars today, washed and dried them, and transferred the contents of all of my Kerr 8oz wide mouth jars to them.

I popped the lids in the convection oven at 180F for about five minutes, and that noticeably softened the sealing gaskets without outright melting them. The lids readily gripped the jar rims and torqued down easily. I think this will provide a better seal than putting the lids on at room temp. I'll try to remember to update this thread down the road when I see the results.

 

[Sea Lord]

Do you bake them with the lids off? The tobacco doesn't dry out at all?

Yes, no lid when in the oven. The tobacco will feel a bit dry but it will be fine as the heat trapped in the jar will re-inject and maintain enough moisture.

 

[Sig]

Maybe a vacuum sealer is the way to go. I just assumed that the gasketed lid, with the rim tightened down firmly, would be sufficient to prevent air exchange. On my other jars, it's worked fine so far, which makes me suspect that the issue is with these particular jars.

Ive never used a vacuum sealer in decades. Like I mentioned, the only issue was the one jar that was the problem. Tens of thousands of pipers have stored tons of tobacco in millions of jars without issue.
I really don't believe the vacuum is the issue. The jar I had would not have sealed with a vacuum.