05/31/2026
Don't forget to remove your rings after canning.
Once your jars have sealed and cooled, those rings have done their job. Leaving them on can actually hide a failed seal and can cause the rings to rust onto the jar.
It'll also help to see the top of the jar where the obvious signs of a failed seal will be. Keep an eye out for funky mold or discoloration at the top. I've only had 2 lids not seal correctly and was able to tell by how different the contents looked compared to the rest of the batch.
I always remove the rings, wipe down the jars, label them, and store them without the rings in my pantry.
It's one of those little canning habits that can save you a lot of headaches later.