Cracked glass food jar - repairable?

DennC · 9 April 2019 at 8:28PM

Hi,

I have a Lakeland fermentation jar that's developed a couple of cracks. Are they repairable?

I have thought about using glue but I'm unsure if this is practical or food safe. I could of course just buy another one, however it is a good jar and it's served me well for sauerkraut, kimchi etc.

Regards

A tightwad!

tyllwyd · 10 April 2019 at 10:11AM

I'd say no, it's not repairable - cracks might hold bacteria, and because of the nature of glass cracks are likely to grow quickly and shatter the jar when it is heated. I don't know whether the glue you might use is food safe, and I think there would still be a danger of bacteria even if it is, and even without that, heating the glass is going to stress the repair (and also stress any other smaller cracks which are present but you can't see yet).

-taff · 10 April 2019 at 11:37AM

You could take it to a glass blower and ask if they can repair it, but ordinarily, I'd say no, you personally can't repair it enough so that the problem of stressing the glass when you pack it with food won't make it break completely.
What you could do is get in touch with Lakeland and ask them if they can suggest anything.

DigForVictory · 10 April 2019 at 11:58AM

Cracked glass & food are a very bad combination - not only do you not know what started the cracking (could have been at manufacture, could have been something fermenting within) but you want to go on using it?

Glass in food is really not a good mix - if the jar is a recent purchase it might be worth trying Lakeland, but if it is an old friend, do your future self a favour, by a new one & recycle the old.

vw100 · 10 April 2019 at 12:25PM

I knew of a lady who nearly died and the doctors did not know what the cause was. When they did a scan, they found a bit of glass lodged somewhere in the body - I don't have the full information. Apparently the glass must have come in something she had eaten or eaten from. Chuck it in the bin and buy a new one.