Hello! As a food preservation expert, I'm here to help you with your canning questions.

When it comes to reusing lids for canning, it's important to understand that the primary purpose of a canning lid is to create a vacuum seal. This seal ensures that the food inside the jar remains uncontaminated by bacteria and other microorganisms that could spoil the food or make it unsafe to eat.

Metal lids are designed to be used once. After the initial use, the sealing compound on the lid may not be as effective, and the lid itself can become deformed, which can prevent a proper seal. Using a reused metal lid could compromise the safety and quality of your canned goods.

Plastic lids, on the other hand, are typically used for storing food in the refrigerator and are not designed to withstand the heat processing required for canning. They are not suitable for canning purposes at all.

In conclusion, for safety and to ensure a proper seal, it's best to use new metal lids for each canning session.

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If you're planning on canning, you can reuse your purpose-made glass jars and screw bands, as long as they're in good condition. The metal snap lids, on the other hand, are made to be used once. Once the gummy, rubbery seal on the lid is heated and cooled, it can't make the same quality of seal again.read more >>