Can You Use Ball Canning Jars In The Freezer

This is taken from the ball site the ones who manufacture the canning jars.

Can you use ball canning jars in the freezer. Always leave about 1 2 inch headspace when filling the jars with foods with a high moisture content because liquid expands when frozen. If you use ball jars here s a handy chart illustrating which of their jars are safe to freeze in. Also be careful bringing the glass from one extreme temperature to another. Now regardless of whether you go for ball kerr or quilted jars there s one thing you should never forget if you plan to put the jars in the freezer.

You can use kilner lids and screw bands with these when it is time to replace them. If the jar simply tapers from the neck of the jar then this jar is indeed freezer safe example. In addition to choosing the proper canning method it s also very important to use jars and lids that are safe for pressure canning. On ball and kerr branded jars which are made by the same mason jar manufacturer the freeze fill line is a thin line found just below the threads about an inch from the rim.

That extra space is critical because if you don t leave enough space when the food freezes and expands it will crack the jar. The glass used for ball and kerr canning jars is not tempered for oven use and is not meant to be used as bakeware. Can i use the jars in the oven for baking. You ll want to use wide mouthed canning jars like the one above that come in pint and half pint sizes.

The metal 2 piece lids that accompany these jars are also approved for pressure canning for home canners by the national center for home food preservation. Don t use jars with shoulders these jars will break due to the expansion that happens when food is frozen. We do not recommend baking in any size or shape of ball or kerr canning jars. I do not use wide mouth quart or half gallon canning jars to freeze with.

Rule 2 leave extra space at the top of the jar to allow for expansion during freezing. The entire line of glass ball jars and orchard road jars have been designed tested and approved for pressure canning. Use only straight sided mason jars and fill them to the freeze fill line. I only use wide mouth ball pint jars half pint ball and kerr jars and 4 oz ball jars that are all approved for freezing purposes.

Hi sandi you can use canning jars for freezer storage but you must leave head space. If your jar has shoulders under the neck like a human then the jar is not freezer safe for example ball regular mouth pints are not freezer safe. The packaging says that they are not freezer safe but there is a freezer line on the jar so if you want to freeze your food must not go above that line in order to leave room for expansion.