I’ve heard that lids are not to be trusted to maintain a seal
if they are over two years old, is there any truth to this?
Hmmm....I’ve used lids for longer than that. I think it’s a conspiracy started by the people that want to sell you more lids, LOL!
When you hear the ‘ping’ of a jar sealing, no matter how old the lid, all is well.
I would imagine they’d wear out or get damaged eventually. Some people use new lids every year.
Your call, and I’m sure others will chime in with opinions on this. :)
Maybe technically, but nah.... As long as the lid is not rusty, you can sometimes maybe get up to 10 years, like if a jar gets pushed to the back of the shelf..... ;)
It really is best to rotate stock, but two years isn’t out of the question.
I thought you meant lids on the jar. Ooops.
I date my lids when I buy the boxes but have never had any trouble with the seal.
I suppose the rubber gasket could dry out some if they’re too old.
I wouldn’t hesitate to use lids over 2 years old. Might have pause about using lids over 20 years old though.
Believe me, you will know if it has lost the seal. I have cleaned out storerooms with canned goods that were 20 years old and some of it was still good, not that I ate it but my MIL did!
“I’ve heard that lids are not to be trusted to maintain a seal if they are over two years old, is there any truth to this?”
I’m sure the failure rate goes up with increasing age of the lids, but 2 years sounds like an arbitrary number. If you take care of the lids from getting scratched and inspect them before use, you can keep using them until the failure rate is unacceptable to you. I have some lids that are several years old. I’ve also had new lids fail on the first use.
Do you mean that new lids in the box more than two years old should be tossed, and new lids purchased before canning?
Or do you mean sealed lids on processed jars can't be trusted to stay sealed beyond two years?
In either case, if the lid seals when the jar cools, the jar is sealed; if you check the seal before opening a jar, it is obvious whether it is still sealed.
I have used new in-the-box lids that had been "lost" on a shelf that were at least ten years old, and all of them sealed, and stayed sealed, until the jars were opened.
When we bought this ranch, it had not been lived in for about 25 years, and there were several shelves in the basement full of canned produce, mainly corn label-dated 1972 that were still tightly sealed, and looked fine, and smelled fine, when we opened them and dumped the contents into the outhouse.
Bottom line: ALWAYS make sure each jar sealed before storing; ALWAYS make sure the seal hasn't failed before opening for use.
Others have mentioned reusing lids, but I have never done so, and I wouldn't recommend it.
I wouldn’t worry about them if they are a few years old. If the rubber looks cracked, dry and is falling off the lids then I wouldn’t use them but they would have to pretty much be antiques for that to happen.