Canning is a time-honored tradition that allows you to preserve the flavors of the season and enjoy them all year round! It’s also a great bonding experience for friends and family in the kitchen because canning offers a unique opportunity for meaningful conversations and storytelling, especially when equipped with the best canning supplies to help the process run smoothly.
Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned canner, having the right supplies can make all the difference. In this guide, Blair and I found the best canning supplies available, including her favorite tongs and go-to canning lids, ensuring your canning process is efficient, safe, and enjoyable. And the best part? None of our top canning supplies break the bank!
Our Top Picks
- Best Canning Jars: Ball Wide Mouth Jars – $15.44 at Walmart
- Best Canning Lids for Ball Jars: Ball Wide Mouth Lids and Bands – $27.45 at Amazon
- Best Canning Tongs: Rainspire Canning Jar Lifter – $8.89 at Amazon
- Best Reusable Canning Lids: Aozita 16-Pack Plastic Mason Jar Lids With Sealing Rings – $8.99 at Amazon
- Best Canning Book: Canning for a New Generation: Bold, Fresh Flavors for the Modern Pantry – $30.30 at Amazon
The Best Canning Supplies
1. Best Canning Jars: Ball Wide Mouth Jars
First things first! You can’t start canning without the best canning jars and this pack of 24 by Ball is a staple for any canner. The wide mouth makes them easy to fill and their durable construction and secure lids ensure a perfect seal every time. They’re perfect for canning fruits, vegetables, and sauces with a perfect seal, plus they’re versatile enough for other storage needs around the kitchen.
2. Best Canning Lids for Ball Jars: Ball Wide Mouth Lids and Bands
Replacement lids and bands are crucial for maintaining a proper seal on your jars. Blair and I both love these flat lids from Ball with rings because they provide the best seal. These are designed to fit perfectly and are free from BPA, ensuring your food is stored safely. They are easy to use and consistently reliable for worry-free canning projects.
3. Best Canning Tongs: Rainspire Canning Jar Lifter
Safety is crucial when handling hot jars, which is why Blair loves non-slip tongs for canning, like this jar lifter. Its sturdy grip and cushioned handles make it easy to lift jars in and out of boiling water without the risk of slipping, making the canning process smoother and safer. If you’ve been canning for a while, you’ll wonder why it took so long to buy this jar lifter once you try it out.
4. Best Reusable Canning Lids: Aozita Plastic Mason Jar Lids With Sealing Rings
For pantry, fridge, and freezer storage that doesn’t require a vacuum seal, Blair loves these plastic reusable lids. They come with 16 sealing rings that offer a tight, leak-proof fit. They are excellent for dry storage and for use after opening your canned goods. The white color adds a clean and modern touch to your pantry organization, too.
5. Best Canning Book: Canning for a New Generation: Bold, Fresh Flavors for the Modern Pantry
This book by Liana Krissoff is a fantastic resource for anyone looking to explore new canning recipes and one of Blair’s favorites. She has made a number of the 150 canned, pickled, dried, frozen foods, and 50 inventive recipes for dishes using these foods with success.
Recipes are organized by season with beautiful photography, making it an interesting read, and the basic information on canning techniques, detailed instructions, and informative sidebars make it accessible for both beginners and experienced canners.
6. Best Canning Labels: Goyomi 2-Inch Label Stickers
Proper labeling is key to organized canning. Blair suggests these labels for noting the date and contents of your jars, so you always know what’s inside and when it was canned. They are easy to write on and stick well, ensuring your labels stay put over time. Plus, they look great on a pantry shelf.
7. Best Lids for General Storage: Ball Jar Wooden Storage Lids
Want to add a rustic touch to your pantry? Blair recommends using these stylish lids. They fit Ball jars perfectly and are ideal for storing dry goods. Their eco-friendly material also makes them a sustainable choice for your kitchen. Keep them in mind for gifting!
8. Best Pressure Canner: Presto Pressure 23-Quart Canner and Cooker
A must-have for canning low-acid foods like meats and vegetables (like green beans), this 23-quart pressure canner is praised for its reliability and large capacity, making it a great investment for serious canners. Its user-friendly design ensures consistent results every time, and since it’s made from heavy-gauge aluminum, it won’t warp after long-term use.
“It’s really simple to operate,” Blair explains. “The manual that comes with the canner has very specific instructions, and the pressure is easy to maintain by adjusting the heat on my stovetop.” The canner also includes a canning rack, so you can double stack the jars to hold 20-pint, 7 quart, or 26 half-pint jars.
Read more about Blair’s other top pressure canners for veggies and more.
9. Best Starter Set: Norpro Canning Essentials Boxed Set
If you’re a canning newbie, this all-in-one set includes all the canning supplies you need to get started. It includes a versatile funnel for mess-free jar filling, a sturdy jar lifter for safely removing hot jars from boiling water baths, and a magnetic lid lifter that securely grips sterilized lids without risking burns.
Additionally, the set features a bubble popper and measurer to ensure jars are properly filled, and air bubbles are removed, which is crucial for achieving airtight seals. Each tool is crafted from durable materials and ergonomically designed for ease of use.
10. Best Water Bath Canner: Granite Ware 21.5-Quart Water Bath Canner With Jar Rack
This water bath canner is perfect for canning large batches of high-acid foods, such as fruits and tomatoes. It’s durable and comes with a lid and jar rack that holds jars in place during processing, preventing them from touching the bottom of the canner where they could break. The rack also ensures proper water circulation around the jars for even heating. With a 21.5-quart capacity, this canner can accommodate up to 7 quart-size jars, 9 pint-size jars, or 12 half-pint jars at a time.
You can read up on Blair’s other favorite water bath canners for jams, jellies, and more.
11. Best Paring Knife: RADA Paring Knife
If you are cutting up hundreds of peaches at a time, this knife is a need, not a want. It’s known for its high-quality and high-carbon stainless steel blade, precision cutting, and lifetime guarantee. The knife’s lightweight design makes it easy to handle, giving you greater control and precision while reducing hand fatigue during extended prep sessions. Despite its high quality, the RADA Paring Knife is affordably priced, making it accessible to home cooks on any budget.
12. Best Magnetic Lid Wand: Norpro Magnetic Canning Jar Lid Wand
The Norpro Magnetic Canning Jar Lid Lifter uses a strong magnet on a long handle to safely lift sterilized canning lids from hot water and place them onto jars without risk of burns or contamination. This tool ensures a secure grip and maintains lid sterility, making the canning process a breeze.
13. Best Bubble Remover: Norpro Canning Bubble Popper & Measurer
During the canning process, it’s crucial to remove air bubbles trapped inside the jars after filling them with food since extra air can cause seal failures and spoilage. To use this tool, just slide it along the inside edges of the jar to release trapped air bubbles.
The other end of the tool features a stepped design with measurements, allowing you to easily measure and ensure the correct headspace, which is the space between the top of the food and the rim of the jar that prevents overflow and ensures a tight seal.
What to Know About Canning Supplies
Things to Consider When Shopping for Canning Supplies
When shopping for canning supplies, there are a few things to keep in mind, like size, lid quality, and function.
- Jar Size: First, make sure you’re getting the right jars for what you plan to can — wide mouth jars are great for things like pickles, whole fruits, and veggies like green beans, while regular-mouth jars work well for jams.
- Quality of the Lids and Bands: You want them to be sturdy and free of defects, so it’s best not to use lids more than once. If it’s rusty, toss it out. And remember that plastic lids aren’t designed for any preserves that need a vacuum seal.
- Function: There are tons of canning supplies that can make the process easier with different uses. For example, a jar lifter can help you safely remove cans from boiling water, and a bubble remover can prevent seal failures and food from spoiling.
What Is the Difference Between Pressure Canning and Water Bath
The main difference between pressure canning and water bath canning is the temperature and the equipment you need.
With pressure canning, you use a special pressure canner that gets really hot — around 240-250°F. This is perfect for low-acid foods, like meats and veggies, because it kills off all the nasty bacteria. For more details on pressure canning, check out Blair’s how-to recipe on canning green beans.
Water bath canning is a little simpler; you just submerge your jars in boiling water, which reaches 212°F. This method works great for high-acid foods, like fruits and pickles.
Where to Buy Canning Supplies
You can find canning supplies in a few different places. Big stores like Walmart or Target usually have a good selection, especially during the canning season. If you prefer shopping online, Amazon has everything you need, from jars to canners.
Don’t forget about local hardware stores or farm supply stores — they often carry canning supplies, too. And if you like supporting small businesses, check out local kitchenware shops or farmers’ markets; they might have some unique and high-quality options.
How to Sterilize Canning Jars
Sterilizing jars and lids before canning is essential to eliminate bacteria, fungi, and yeast. There are several methods to sterilize jars. Personally, I either run them through the dishwasher or boil them for 10 minutes in the same large pot of water I’ll use for processing.
Can You Freeze Canning Jars?
Yes, you can freeze canning jars, but you have to be careful. Follow these tips to avoid any problems:
- Make sure you’re using jars that are freezer-safe, like wide-mouth Mason jars.
- When filling them, leave enough space at the top — about an inch — because the food will expand as it freezes.
- Always let the jars cool to room temperature before putting them in the freezer. If you don’t, they’ll crack and make a big mess.
- Always use plastic lids or leave the metal lids slightly loose until the jars are completely frozen, then tighten them.
Can You Reuse Canning Lids?
It’s not a good idea to reuse canning lids for sealing because they’re designed for one-time use. The sealing compound might not work properly a second time, which could cause the food to spoil.
However, you can reuse the metal bands that hold the lids in place. If you have some lids that weren’t used for sealing before, you can use those. But to be safe and get the best results, it’s always best to use new lids each time.
Blair’s Favorite Canning Recipes
- Peach Jam
- Crockpot Apple Butter
- Fig Preserves Recipe without Pectin
- Christmas Jam
- Canning Green Beans
Prices were accurate at the time of publication.
