When you are canning at home, it can be very important to choose the right jars. It can be a good idea to look for canning containers made from tempered glass, as regular glass jars might crack when exposed to high temperatures. Try to find ones that have a two-piece lid consisting of a ring and a cap, because these will seal nicely and keep your food fresh. If you are doing open kettle canning, you may want to make sure the canning jars fit inside the pot and are easy to lift from the bottom.
There are different sizes of canning containers, and the one you choose can depend on what you are preserving. Ones that are around 1 quart (.95 l) could be good for bottling vegetables such as beans, corn, or stewed tomatoes. Canning jars that are 1 pint (.47 l) could be ideal for fruits such as peaches or apples. If you are making jelly, you may want one that is around 8 ounces (227 g).
Many canning containers are made from clear or light-colored glass, and this could be ideal if you would like to show off your finished product. These are also the easiest to find and may be less expensive than colored jars are. Even though this is the case, colored jars can protect your preserved food from damage caused by bright light, so you may want to use tinted containers if you do not have a dark place to store your canned foods.
Canning containers are normally sold by the dozen, so you should have an idea of how many you might need before you go shopping. You may be able to get a discount if you buy several dozen canning jars, but you, nonetheless, do not want to buy ones you will not need. It can be a good idea to know how much of a particular food you might be preserving, and then do some research to find out how many jars it will take to hold that amount of product.
When you are preserving foods, it can be helpful to know what other tools you might need in order to do this. Some common utensils used in home canning include special tongs, funnels, and spatulas. If you have little experience in canning foods, you may want to buy a kit with all the products you will need to begin canning at home. Doing so can ensure you have the right canning containers so you will not become discouraged with this new endeavor.