Wide Mouth or Regular Mouth Canning Jars
My first canning jars were Regular Mouth. I don’t recall why at the time, but maybe that was the predominant choice at the store. I really didn’t give it much thought. The decision was simply choosing Pints or Quarts (most of what I have canned are in Pint jars). But each of the two come in either Regular Mouth or Wide Mouth lids. So, which one is better, or, what are the pros and cons?
Like I said, I began with Regular Mouth pint jars. Therefore, my focus on replacement lids were strictly Regular Mouth lids. But at some point, I began buying Wide Mouth jars. Why?
Pros and Cons of Wide Mouth versus Regular Mouth Canning Jars
Are there advantages of one over the other?
I found that I didn’t have to use the filler funnel as often as I had to for filling up Regular Mouth jars. Wide Mouth jars/lids are, well, wider! A larger diameter is easier to put ‘stuff’ in (at least in my general opinion).
- Wide Mouth jars have an opening of about 3-1/2 inches in diameter.
- Regular Mouth jars have an opening of about 2-3/4 inches.
It seems like Wide Mouth jars are easier to clean the Regular Mouth jars. The sides of WM jars are pretty much straight. Whereas RM jars have a curved shoulder on top, which may present some cleaning challenges – depending…
But here comes a potential ‘con’ from the pros and cons of Wide Mouth versus Regular Mouth canning jars. The comparative height and width of the jars, and how that may affect how many you can fit inside your pressure canner per batch. The RM jar is a bit taller than the WM jar. And the WM jar looks to be a bit wider than the RM jar, especially at the outer diameter of the mouth ring threads.
My All American (model 930) pressure canner will hold 19 Regular Mouth pint jars. But it will only hold 16 Wide Mouth pint jars.
I also have a Presto pressure canner (my first one). I haven’t used it in awhile and don’t recall exactly how many pint jars fit (WM versus RM). But I believe it was a similar situation… a few more Regular Mouth jars fit inside than Wide Mouth jars.
What about the cost differences, and are there any differences between the cost of jars and/or replacement lids? Well, lets have a look…
Doing a quick amzn price check, a case of Regular Mouth (Ball) jars cost less than the Wide Mouth jars. Same thing with the lids. Regular Mouth wins.
As of the time of this price check, RM lids were 23-cents each. Whereas WM lids were 35-cents each. So it’s clear that the apparent conveniences of Wide Mouth will cost you more.
72 RM Ball Lids
(amzn)
So you home canners out there, I’m curious to hear your opinion on the comparison between the two sizes. What do you use?
[ Read: The All American Pressure Canner That Will Last Forever ]
[ Read: Canning Outside – The Best Hot Plate or Propane Burner ]
