Mason Jars With a Latch
- Thread starter MonarchistPiper
- Start date
Maybe, but it could also be that ball jars in Europe are more robust than ball jars in the US? We don't have, or I could never find, Mason jars in Europe unfortunately.
my ball jars are green, it keeps the tobacco out of direct light. yes they are still out there flea markets best starting point.
I use a bunch of bail jars, but replace the gaskets with silicone gaskets. A good quality bail jar with a silicone seal will keep tobacco just as well as a mason jar. But I do not use them for aging, only decanting/regular usage. Just like anything quality is a spectrum, and bail jars can be anywhere on it. There are good ones and there a garbage ones.
A legit bail jar has serious heavy gauge metal which also seems a little springy. It takes pliers and a very firm grip to bend. They have thick seals. They aren’t cute country decorations.
I use both the Ball Mason screw lids, and these Kilner bail jars. The Kilner are a bit pricey, but you get what you pay for, I guess.
I think the main thing to remember is that if you use a bail jar it should be one that is designed for legit canning, not one for pretty kitchen storage. The ones above (and the ones I use) are the EU version of canning jars. They have a heavy seal that lasts for years. They are designed for heat canning like ball jars. In France some products as still sold in the grocery vacuum canned in these jars.
The seals last for years without drying up and its pretty clear when they are spent.
If its not made for canning its just for looks and probably trash. You can still buy the proper ones in the grocery in multi packs for those who can jams, meat, etc...
A good indication of quality is if its quaint, cute or clever looking. Avoid those.
My guess is you wont find proper bail jars in the US but I never looked for them since ball jars worked just fine.
Edit: I just took a look at amazon.com (usa). What they have listed under bail canning jars are trash and carry a large price. Same goes with kitchen canisters with bail closers, trash.
The seals last for years without drying up and its pretty clear when they are spent.
If its not made for canning its just for looks and probably trash. You can still buy the proper ones in the grocery in multi packs for those who can jams, meat, etc...
A good indication of quality is if its quaint, cute or clever looking. Avoid those.
My guess is you wont find proper bail jars in the US but I never looked for them since ball jars worked just fine.
Edit: I just took a look at amazon.com (usa). What they have listed under bail canning jars are trash and carry a large price. Same goes with kitchen canisters with bail closers, trash.
if you are looking for the older ball jars, look for the ones that have glass buttons no the side to hold down the lid. these are much harder to find. they work much better than the latter ones.
Not to be presumptuous, but I think he is referring to some of the older style had a small bump or nodule made of glass, that protruded out on the side. The wire bale would then slip down over this "bump" and it served as an anchor of sorts to hold the seal a bit better.
If I have missed the mark on this, I apologize.
If I have missed the mark on this, I apologize.
I use these for the tobacco I’m smoking. I thing they’re great and have had no issues. My only advice is to keep the seal clean as tobacco deposits on it don’t help.