Kitchen Garden Forum

lizzie wrote:I've tried soaking the lids in bicarb, boiling water, rubbing with salt, and using a brillo pad. Anyone got any useful suggestions please?

You could always use a "bonnet" lid, made out of a circle of cellophane or greaseproof paper secured onto the jar top with a rubber band. The only disadvantage is that you can't stack the jars.

Years ago I used honey jars in the course of my work which we would obtain from a local bee keeping supplier. They were very cheap and came with lids. They are capable of withstanding very high temperatures for sterilising, jars and lids both.

My daughter has a small but thriving business making preserves which she sells through Country Markets Ltd (WI market as was) and at other local produce markets. I grow the fruit and drive the car!
Jars have to be certain standard sizes and lids must always be new and we use: http://www.bottlesandjars.co.uk/
Very helpful people though more expensive than mint sauce! They do honey jars as well.

Thanks for the link Jude.............just what i've been looking for. Will check them out

Dear Lizzie, i took loads of nice clean jam jars and lids to the bottle bank today.

Only joking.

I've found some more sites that do lids of all sizes.

http://www.jamjarshop.com
http://www.alpack.ie
http://www.jbconline.co.uk (who look the cheapest)
cookability

Thank you everyone................sites are into my bookmarks.