What Type of Jars Do I Use for Peppers & Jam?

The right type of jar for peppers and bananas is important to keep your food safe and tasty.

Preserving some summer in a jar by putting up peppers or jams is a great way to have garden fresh flavors all year. If you are in a relatively short growing season, you can save a large amount of these tasty foods and enjoy the results for months to come. The proper type of storage jars are important for both jams and peppers for safety and good taste.

Basic Jars

Canning and preserving foods is a simple process in which the food is sealed in jars and processed with what is called a hot water bath. Sterilized glass jars designed specifically for preserving food are used. Basic canning jars are plain clear glass jars in a variety of sizes. There are several brands of jars available, and during the canning season they are widely available at grocery and home supply stores. The size of the jar needs to be tailored to the amount and type of food being preserved. For instance a half gallon sized canning jar would not be suitable for peppers unless a huge quantity of them will be consumed quickly when the jar is opened. Basic canning jars come in sizes from small jelly jars to a half gallons, with quart or pint jars being the most commonly available and used.

Decorative Jars

Jars with embossed glass designs, decorative lids and specially made areas to label them for gifting are available for preserving peppers and jams. Both of these types of foods are highly popular for gifting as some gardeners grow prized and specialty types of peppers, and jams are a popular item to give. Jelly and jam jars are especially easy to find in decorative styles, with themes to fit the contents. They tend to run smaller than typical volume size practical canning jars, however since jams are made in smaller batches this does not pose a problem. Peppers can be put in these types of jars as well, if a specialty type of pepper recipe is being prepared it will likely be a smaller batch and this type of jar would be the perfect container.

Openings

Preserving and canning jars come primarily in two styles of opening, standard and wide mouth. Jam and jelly jars typically have the wider type of opening as the jam needs to be removed with a utensil and a smaller opening prohibits this. A wider opening makes pouring the contents into the jar when preserving easier and less messy. Standard jars are perfect for the type of preserving done for recipe ingredients like plain preserved peppers that are to be used in cooking and poured into a recipe or bowl all at once.

Reusable Jars

Specifically made canning or preserving jars are designed to sterilize and reuse. Occasionally food products come in these same types of jars, and can be adapted for canning or preserving use, however, most grocery store food jars are not acceptable. The glass they are constructed of has too many variances in the lid area, and while the preserving lids may seem to fit there may be gaps or inconsistencies that will ruin the food. Use jars that are designed for preserving or canning to ensure safety and good taste. You can purchase used canning jars that are not chipped, cracked and are in good condition, and save your jars once emptied and use them next year.

References

• University Of California: UC Davis - Peppers
• Copd And So Much More: Summer In A Jar Making Jam
• Miss Vickie: Canning Jars

Resources

• Jam Jars: Brands