Henry Shaw, UC Master Food Preserver Online Program Volunteer

It’s sometimes possible, but it’s not recommended. 

Can one reuse mayonnaise and other similar commercial product jars for home canning?  Some people have done so with some success.  But although it’s technically possible, it’s not advisable.

Commercial product jars are not designed to be repurposed for home canning.  The glass may not have the tempering needed to withstand the temperatures and processing times used in home canning and the jar could break during processing. Furthermore, the mouths and rims of commercial jars are often slightly different in size from those of home canning jars, so although canning lids may seem to fit, seal failures can occur.

How about those pasta-sauce jars that say “Atlas” and “Mason” on them (usually Classico® brand sauce)?  These are not actually home canning jars, and the manufacturer has specifically stated that that they should not be used for home canning. The Hazel-Atlas Company did make home canning jars from 1902 to 1964, but the company went out of business in 1964 and no longer exists.  True Hazel-Atlas jars are simply labeled “Atlas” but are always marked somewhere with an “HA” symbol, with the A tucked under the H (see image). The “Atlas Mason” stamped on the sides of pasta-sauce jars is just a marketing device. As is the case with other commercial product jars, one risks breakage and seal failure if they are reused for canning.   

Image credit: Henry Shaw, 2025.

Because of the risk of breakage (and thus loss of food) and seal failures, reusing commercial product jars is not recommended.  Should you decide to try using them, use them only for boiling water/steam canning; do not use them for pressure canning. Commercial product jars can, of course, be safely reused for storage of dry foods or (with appropriate air locks) as fermentation vessels. 

For more information on canning jars, visit the National Center for Home Food at: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/general-information/recommended-jars-and-lids/#gsc.tab=0

Disclaimer: This article has been adapted from an earlier article by the UCCE Master Food Preservers of El Dorado County. See: https://ucanr.edu/blog/coastal-gardener/article/can-i-reuse-jars-lids-canning .