Re-posting my Tattler Lid post for March 2022 as more and more people turn to canning foods during these hard times of rising inflation and shortages on the shelves.
If you follow me on Instagram, you would have seen these photos posted yesterday - I was canning onions and using Tattler lids.
THE
LID CRISIS: If you are already a home-canner or you started to learn
the process during the Covid quarantines, then you know there was a HUGE
canning supply shortage last year. You couldn't find water bath nor
pressure canners; you couldn't find canning jars for love nor money and
finding the metal sealing lids was utterly impossible. The thing is, it
still is. Jars and pots and canners are back on the shelves for the
most part, but lids are still incredibly difficult to find. Enter the
Tattler lids.
Tattler
lids have been around since 1976 but never as popular as they are
becoming now as more and more people turn to them to replace the metal
lids they can't get their hands on. Many home canners have been using
them for 30+ years and love them; others tried them, had failures and
proclaim to anyone listening that they don't work and they hate them.
Mostly... that's user error.
Tattler
lids are plastic lids (BPA FREE) with rubber gaskets that can be used
over and over and over for years and years until they show wear like
drying out or cracking.
Many
people don't actually read the instructions that come with them and try
to can with them just as they do the metal lids they've been using for
years. With that, comes failure. There are also two versions of
Tattlers, the newer versions say EZ on them. Read the instructions that
come with your Tattlers and you'll do fine - and more than likely not
have any (or very few) fail to seal.
Note:
if you do have any fail to seal, just re-process them again and if you
still didn't get a seal, just put that one in the refrigerator and use
it up first over the next week or so.
I'm
not going to give directions on the canning PROCESS because I'm not a
canning expert and I don't play one on the internet. What I DO want to
mention is a couple TIPS FOR USING TATTLER LIDS that might help you with
your canning success using them.
TIPS TO REMEMBER WHEN USING TATTLER LIDS
1) Bring your lids and rubber rings to a boil on the stove, reduce to a low simmer and let them simmer while you pack your canning jars. Use them hot.
2) Be sure to wipe the canning jar edges
with vinegar to remove any grease or food drops/spills even if you
think you didn't splatter anything on the rims. They need to be clean
for the rubber to seal.
3) Leave more headspace than you do with metal. Metal lids only need about 1/2 - 1 inch headspace. Tattler lids like more. 1 - 1 1/4 inch.
4) Do NOT tighten the lids down with the metal rings like you do traditional metal lids.
Lay your lid and gasket on the clean edge. Put the ring in place.
Hold the lid and the jar in place with ONE FINGER on top. Now using
your other hand to start to tighten the metal ring. When your jar
starts to turn with the ring - STOP. If you've canned before, your
instinct is to think it's 'too loose!' and you need to finger tighten
the lid! YOU DON'T. As soon as that jar starts to spin with the
ring, it's tight enough. Even if you don't think so. Even if you think
it's sure to come open during the canning process. You cannot tighten
them to finger-tight like metal lids or your jars will blow their tops
or even break.
Process your jars as directed for the foods you are canning. There is just ONE more tip.
5) After
removing the jars from your canner, let them sit for about 2-3 minutes
and then using a towel to protect your hands and fingers, tighten each
lid down on your jars. NOW is when you use your regular "just
finger tight" twist that you WANTED to use when you first put the
lids/gaskets on.
After
you finger tighten them after processing, let them sit and don't
disturb them either overnight or until the next day. Basically, just
let them sit for 24 hours. Then you can remove the metal rings and
slowly pick up each jar by the seal to make sure they all are sealed
tight. The lid will also be concave so you can see it sealed - but make
sure you pick them up to test. If your lid comes off, then it's not
sealed and either re-process or just use it up first.
___________________________________________________
Just some photos of canning with the Tattler lids....
24 hours later....
Metal rings removed and seals tested - beautiful!
I ordered all my Tattler lids directly from their site (reusablecanninglids.com) but if you prefer ordering from Amazon they offer them there as well.
