The Ball Secure-Grip Jar Lifter is the best jar lifter for canning because its contoured, coated jaws lock around both regular and wide-mouth jars and will not let a pint slip back into boiling water, which is the one failure a jar lifter cannot have. A good lifter is cheap insurance against burns and broken jars, and the differences between models come down to jaw grip, handle comfort during a long canning session, and how the tool holds up to steam and heat season after season.

Quick Answer

The Ball Secure-Grip Jar Lifter is the best jar lifter for canning, with coated contoured jaws that hold hot jars securely at any angle. The Presto Home Canning Kit is the better buy if you also need a funnel, lid lifter, and bubble remover.

  • Best overall: Ball Secure-Grip Jar Lifter
  • Best value: Presto 7-Function Canning Kit
  • Best budget: Norpro Jar Lifter
  • Avoid: Bare-metal lifters with no rubber coating; they slip on wet glass

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Quick Picks

  • Best overall: Ball Secure-Grip Jar Lifter, Coated contoured jaws grip regular and wide-mouth jars securely, even tilted.. Check price on Amazon
  • Best value: Presto 7-Function Canning Kit, A full toolset with lifter, funnel, lid lifter, and tongs for one purchase..
  • Best budget: Norpro Jar Lifter, A simple, sturdy coated lifter that gets the job done for occasional canners..

Comparison Table

Jar lifter Jaw coating Best for Extras included Buy
Ball Secure-Grip Jar Lifter Non-slip rubberized Most canners None Check Price
Presto 7-Function Canning Kit Vinyl coated First-time canners Funnel, lid lifter, tongs, bubble tool Check Price
Norpro Jar Lifter Vinyl coated Occasional canning None Check Price
Granite Ware Jar Lifter Coated steel Water bath canners None Check Price

How We Chose These Kitchen Gadgets Picks

We compared jaw geometry, coating grip, spring action, and handle comfort across the widely available lifters, then weighed owner feedback from canners who put these tools through full harvest seasons. Models with reports of jars slipping or coatings peeling into the canner were ruled out.

Key Takeaway: A jar lifter has exactly one job: never drop a boiling jar. Coated, contoured jaws that grip below the jar neck matter more than any other feature.

Best Overall: Ball Secure-Grip Jar Lifter

Ball Secure-Grip Jar Lifter

Best for: Anyone lifting hot jars out of a boiling water bath or steam canner, from first-timers to heavy seasonal canners. Why it made the list: The jaws are shaped to cradle the jar shoulder rather than just pinch the sides, and the grippy coating holds wet glass firmly even when the jar comes out at a slight angle, which is where cheaper lifters let jars slide.

  • Key specs: Contoured rubberized jaws, fits regular and wide-mouth Mason jars, spring-loaded scissor action, cushioned handles, hand wash recommended
  • What we like: Jars feel locked in rather than balanced, the spring opens the jaws for you between lifts, and the handles stay comfortable through a 30-jar session
  • What we do not like: It is bulkier in a drawer than flat lifters, and the coating can eventually nick if you store it loose with sharp utensils
  • Who should buy it: Water bath and pressure canners who move a lot of hot jars and want zero slip risk over years of seasons
  • Who should avoid it: Someone who cans one small batch a year and already owns a basic coated lifter that grips well; there is no need to upgrade
  • Common complaints: A few owners find the scissor action stiff out of the box before the spring breaks in, and the jaw coating can stain with tomato and berry canning
  • Size note: Handles are long enough to keep your knuckles above the waterline of a deep stockpot canner, and the jaws handle everything from quarter pints to half gallons
  • Cleaning note: Wash by hand and dry promptly; trapped water inside the coated jaws is the main cause of hidden rust on any jar lifter
  • Alternative: The Presto 7-Function Canning Kit includes a competent lifter plus the funnel and lid tools every new canner ends up needing anyway

Check price on Amazon

Jar Lifter Buying Guide

Jaw grip is everything

Look for jaws that are contoured to wrap the jar below the neck and coated in rubber or vinyl, because bare metal on wet glass is a dropped jar waiting to happen. The lifter should hold a full jar securely even when tilted a few degrees, since real-world lifts out of a crowded canner are never perfectly vertical.

Handle comfort and spring action

A big batch means dozens of lifts over a steaming pot, so cushioned handles and a spring that opens the jaws for you reduce hand fatigue meaningfully. Handles should also be long enough to keep your hands clear of the steam rising off the water.

Lifter alone or a full canning kit

If you are starting from nothing, a kit with a wide-mouth funnel, magnetic lid lifter, and bubble remover costs little more than a standalone lifter and covers the whole workflow. If you already own the accessories, put the money into the best standalone lifter instead, because it is the tool where quality matters most.

Safety Notes

  • Test the lifter’s grip on a cold, water-filled jar before your first hot batch so you trust it under pressure.
  • Lift jars straight up and keep them level; tilting a just-processed jar can break the forming seal.
  • Keep your face and forearms out of the steam column when reaching into the canner.
  • Set hot jars on a dry towel or rack, never on a cold wet counter where thermal shock can crack the glass.

What to Avoid

  • Uncoated all-metal lifters that slide on wet glass.
  • Cheap lifters with thin plastic-dipped tips that peel after a few boiling sessions.
  • Using regular kitchen tongs as a substitute; they grip too high and too weakly.
  • Lifters with short handles that put your hand in the steam over a deep canner.

FAQ

Do I really need a jar lifter for canning?

Yes, if you water bath or steam can. Jars come out of water above 200 degrees, and no towel, tongs, or oven mitt grips wet round glass safely. A purpose-made lifter is the single most important canning accessory.

Can I use a jar lifter with a pressure canner?

Yes, the same lifter works for pressure canning once the canner is depressurized and opened. Let the jars sit in the opened canner for the rest period your recipe specifies, then lift them straight out and onto a towel.

What is the safest way to lift a hot jar?

Grip the jar below the neck with the lifter’s jaws fully closed, lift straight up, keep the jar vertical, and move it directly to a towel-lined counter. Never carry a hot jar across the kitchen at an angle or by the lid band.

Final Verdict

The Ball Secure-Grip Jar Lifter is the best jar lifter for canning thanks to contoured coated jaws that simply do not drop jars, with the Presto 7-Function Canning Kit as the better value for first-time canners who need the full toolset and the Norpro Jar Lifter covering occasional small-batch canning for less.

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