Used Jam Jars - very dumb question

[expatinscotland]

I buy jam from a seller at a farmer's market.

For some reason, I always keep the jars and lids.

Now I know why!

B/c my destiny is to make my own mincemeat from a Delia recipe.

Can I use these jars to store it in?

As long as they are still airtight, yes.

Yes. Wash in hot soap water and then sterilise in a hot oven.

Don't know about re-using the lids though. You can get new ones from Lakeland.

yes

the lids will be ok if they're the metal-with-rubber-seal type but if you plan on keeping it till next year you might be better off with waxed discs, then cellophane discs and rubber bands in an old-school stylee.

They're just metal jam jar lids, no rubber or waxed discs.

Oh, no, now I'm all confused!

oh, am sure they're fine if they're metal, sorry for being confusing.

cellophane discs and rubber bands come into their own if you've lost the lids (or put them in a Safe Place )

I use the original metal jam jar lids when I make jam. I make sure the lids and the jars are hot, or as hot as possible and then they seal themselves as they do in the factory, ie you can't pop the dimple thing on the top of the jar, IYKWIM.

Oh cool!

I'm excited. They're just plain old jam jars. Don't know why I'd hung onto them, b/c I normally don't keep things.

Now I know!