Reasons for Canning/Seal Failures

By Karen Blakeslee

Friday, March 13, 2020

When screw bands are too tight, the lid will likely buckle causing seal failure.

Canning food at home is a great way to preserve fresh food and reduce food waste. But, if problems occur, that food is wasted. Of all reported canning failures, 99% are due to user error. Here are the most common reasons:

Following old or unsafe recipes
Using untested recipes
Using old, unsafe family canning methods
Using the wrong jar size
Using improper processing methods for the food being preserved
Storing the canned food in the wrong type of location such as the garage, shed, crawl space, etc.
Adjusting the screw band too tightly
Not adjusting for altitude

Source: Newell Brands Inc., owners of Ball and Kerr products