6 Best Wide-Mouth Glass Canning Jars For Relishes Old-Timers Swear By

There’s a specific kind of satisfaction that comes from a kitchen counter lined with cooling jars of relish, the sharp, sweet smell of vinegar and spice hanging in the air. You’ve turned an overwhelming pile of cucumbers or a surprise glut of green tomatoes into something that will brighten up a meal in the dead of winter. But before you can enjoy that moment, you have to get that chunky, delicious relish into the jar, and that’s where the right equipment makes all the difference.

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Why Wide-Mouth Jars are Essential for Relishes

Getting a thick, chunky relish into a jar shouldn’t be a battle. Wide-mouth jars have an opening that is the same diameter as the jar itself, eliminating the "shoulder" found on regular-mouth jars. This simple design change means you can spoon relish directly into the jar with minimal mess, a small detail that saves a surprising amount of time and frustration over a large batch.

The benefit doesn’t stop at filling. When it’s time to enjoy your creation, a wide-mouth jar lets you get a spoon in easily to scoop out every last bit. You won’t be chasing that final serving around a narrow neck. This is especially true for thicker relishes like a classic chow-chow or a corn relish.

Finally, let’s talk about cleanup. Anyone who has processed dozens of jars in a day knows that easy cleaning is a non-negotiable feature. Wide-mouth jars are simple to scrub by hand because you can actually fit your hand or a sponge inside without awkward angles. It’s a practical advantage that you’ll appreciate long after the canning is done.

Ball Wide Mouth 16-Ounce: The All-Purpose Classic

When you picture a canning jar, you’re probably picturing a Ball pint jar. It’s the undisputed workhorse of the preserving world for a reason. They are readily available, affordable, and built on a century of trust.

This 16-ounce (one pint) size is the perfect utility player for most relish recipes. It’s large enough to be a meaningful addition to your pantry stock but not so large that it will take months to use up once opened. Whether you’re making a sweet pickle relish for summer barbecues or a spicy zucchini relish to get through the garden surplus, this jar is almost always the right call.

The two-piece lid system—a flat lid with a sealing compound and a reusable screw-on band—is the gold standard for home canning safety. The satisfying pop of a sealed lid is your confirmation of a job well done. For reliability and sheer, no-nonsense function, the classic Ball pint is the foundation of any canner’s collection.

Kerr Wide Mouth 16-Ounce for a Dependable Seal

In any group of seasoned canners, you’ll find a friendly rivalry between Ball and Kerr loyalists. Kerr jars are functionally identical to their Ball counterparts, but for generations, they were known for a slightly different sealing compound on their lids. Many old-timers swore that the softer, gray gasket on Kerr lids provided a more reliable seal, especially on jars with minor imperfections on the rim.

While both brands are now owned by the same parent company and their lids are largely interchangeable, the brand loyalty runs deep. Choosing Kerr is often about trusting the process and the tools your parents or grandparents used successfully for decades. In canning, confidence in your seal is everything, and for many, the Kerr name provides that peace of mind.

Ultimately, the choice between Ball and Kerr today often comes down to what’s on the shelf at your local store. You can use either with complete confidence. But don’t be surprised if a seasoned preserver tells you they’ll only trust their prize-winning pepper relish to a Kerr jar—that kind of trust is earned over generations.

Ball Wide Mouth 8-Ounce for Smaller Gift Batches

Not every batch of relish is meant for your own pantry. The 8-ounce (half-pint) jar is the perfect vessel for sharing your harvest. It’s the ideal size to tuck into a holiday basket, give as a hostess gift, or hand to a neighbor as a thank-you.

A pint of a potent relish can be intimidating for a small household, but a half-pint feels like a special treat that can be enjoyed without a long-term commitment. This smaller size encourages the recipient to actually open and use it right away. It’s also a practical way to stretch a smaller, more precious batch—like a relish made from specialty hot peppers—into multiple gifts.

Think of these jars for your specialty items. A spicy corn and black bean relish, a tangy green tomato chow-chow, or a finely minced pepper hash all shine in this smaller format. Using 8-ounce jars makes your efforts feel more like artisanal creations and less like bulk pantry stocking.

Ball Collection Elite Jars for Elegant Presentation

Sometimes, you want your preserves to look as good as they taste. The Ball Collection Elite series offers a more modern, stylish alternative to the classic embossed jars. With their smooth, squared-off sides, they provide a clean canvas that makes your relish the star of the show.

These jars are a game-changer for anyone who sells their goods at a farmers’ market or gives canned goods as formal gifts. A clean, well-designed label adheres perfectly to the flat sides, giving your product a professional, polished look. The vibrant colors of a corn or pepper relish are more visible without the distraction of logos and measurement lines.

The best part is that you aren’t sacrificing function for form. The Elite jars use the same standard wide-mouth two-piece lids as their classic cousins, so you get the same reliable, audible seal you trust. It’s a simple upgrade that elevates the entire presentation of your hard work.

Weck 742 Mold Jars: A Reusable Gasket System

For those looking to move away from single-use lids, the German-made Weck system is a fantastic option. These beautiful glass jars operate on a completely different principle, using a glass lid, a natural rubber gasket, and two metal clips to create a seal during processing.

The primary appeal is sustainability. The rubber gaskets can be reused several times, and the glass lids last forever. The seal is confirmed visually: after the jar cools and the clips are removed, the rubber tab on the gasket will point distinctly downward. If it’s straight out, you don’t have a seal. This clear, tactile indicator provides a different kind of confidence.

There is a learning curve and a higher upfront cost. The clips are only used for processing and are removed for storage, which can feel unsettling at first. However, for their elegant, all-glass look and reusable components, many dedicated canners find the Weck system to be a worthwhile investment for their most prized recipes.

Le Parfait Super Terrines for Rustic Pantry Appeal

Le Parfait jars, with their iconic wire-bail (or "lightning") closure, evoke a timeless, European farmhouse aesthetic. These heavy-duty jars are built to be used for a lifetime. The lid is attached, so you’ll never lose it, and the seal is created by a thick, orange rubber gasket.

These jars are incredibly versatile and are prized for fermenting pickles or storing dry goods in the pantry. Their robust construction makes them feel substantial and permanent. Like Weck jars, the gaskets are reusable, which appeals to a low-waste mindset.

While many people do use them for water bath canning, it’s important to note that confirming a proper, long-term seal can be less straightforward than with a two-piece lid. The wire bail must provide exactly the right amount of pressure. For this reason, many old-timers prefer them for pickles or things that will be eaten within a few months, while relying on the "pop" of a Ball lid for things destined for the back of the pantry.

Choosing the Right Jar for Your Relish Recipe

The "best" jar isn’t a single brand or style; it’s the one that best fits your purpose. The decision comes down to a few key questions: Who is this for? How long will it be stored? And what’s your priority—convenience, presentation, or reusability?

Here’s a simple way to think about it:

• For your own pantry: You can’t beat the reliability and cost-effectiveness of Ball or Kerr 16-ounce wide-mouth jars. They are the proven standard.
• For gifts or market sales: The Ball 8-ounce is perfect for sharing, while the Ball Collection Elite offers a polished, professional look that commands attention.
• For a sustainable, reusable system: If you’re willing to invest time and money into a different process, Weck or Le Parfait jars are beautiful, long-lasting alternatives.

Ultimately, the jar is the final vessel for hours of your labor, from planting the seed to simmering the pot. Choose a jar that gives you confidence in its seal and pride in its appearance on the shelf. That choice is a crucial final step in the rewarding process of preserving your harvest.

No matter which jar you choose, the goal is the same: to safely preserve the taste of the season. The right jar makes that process smoother, safer, and more satisfying, ensuring that the bright, tangy flavor of your homemade relish is perfectly captured until you’re ready to enjoy it.