I am about to embark on the adventure of canning. I bought a 35 lb sack of green chili, and a box of jars and lids. On the instructions that came with the jars they said to remove the bands after the seal is made. Why? Don't you need the bands to reseal after opening? What do you guys do, bands on or off? Thanks

-- Tina (clia88@newmexico.com), August 08, 2000

Answers

The Ball Blue Book says to remove the rings because they "may become corroded, making the jars difficult to open." I remove the rings and keep some in the my lid bag, where they're handy to put on opened jars, or use a solid lid that fits the jar. 35# of green chilis, what are you going to use them for? Are you going to pickle them?

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), August 08, 2000.

It's also cheaper because you only need flats, not bands, for each new batch. The bands need to stay on until the lid seals (*ping*), but then you can take them off for the next batch of canning. But dont' put them back on until you're ready to open a jar because screwing them back on can (supposedly) break the seal.

-- Deborah (ActuaryMom@hotmail.com), August 08, 2000.

Rings OFF!!! It does save money when you only have to buy the flats the next run around. I leave my rings on for 24 hrs after they come out of the canner and then take them off, throw them in the dishwasher, and wipe the jar down with soapy water and a washcloth to get any reside off the might have seeped out during processing. If you don't take the rings off and wash the jars, it does get corroded and rusty and then you'll NEVER get that ring off. I've not heard that it can break the seal if you put them back on. I read that each flat is held down by 15 pounds of pressure per square inch of lid. That's why you shouldn't have any prob screwing the rings back on. The only ones that I put back on are the ones that have a design on them. Just my .02 worth!!

-- Misha (MishaaE@aol.com), August 08, 2000.

So what you guys are saying is take the bands off........O.K. Then do you just put other bands on when giving as presents? I hate to sound so dumb, but I have never canned before and had always seen cans with the bands on. Forgive me, and thank you.

-- Tina (clia88@newmexico.com), August 09, 2000.

The only dumb question is "Why didn't I ask before I %&*@$+# it up." Here's the drill. After the jars seal and cool, remove the bands for storage. If you're giving the jars as gifts, you can leave them on, as they will probably be used before corrosion is a problem (unless Aunt Jane just hates your Pickled and Spiced Rutabegas but is to polite to say so.) If you're unsure as to the length of shelf time the gift is likely to get prior to opening, just include a note that says something like "Remove screw-on band if you will be storing this for more than 3 months before use to avoid possible sticking. Don't forget to save for ease of later reclosure." Canning is a complex and sometimes obtuse skill and questions are par for the course, even for us "old hands". Feel free to ask, that's what were here for. If you don't believe me, just ask Hoot!

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), August 09, 2000.

I agree with all of the above. When I use them as gifts, I buy the relatively new plastic lids, and put them on over the dome caps. That way there is a good closure after they are open and in the reefer (military fridge). Leave the rings on, and it can become nearly impossible to get the rings off. GL!

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), August 10, 2000.

Thanks for all the good advice guys! As usual I got in over my head, I didn't realize how long it takes to roast 35 lbs of chili on the bbq. It was past dark when I finished and had burned up several as the light from the torch wasn't that great. After roasting comes peeling, you peel the outer skin that has hopefully separated from the chili "meat". Well next morning I began peeling, imagine peeling a sack full of hard boiled eggs, some come off good, others take forever and then you end up with only a piece of what you started with. I got discourged and took the easy way out, freezing. I will attempt this endevor again but next time I will have a better idea of what I'm getting myself into. I will post when I have sucess, and thank you all again.

-- Tina (clia88@newmexico.com), August 11, 2000.