Best Pickling Jar Funnels for Canning, Jams, and Dry Goods

The difference is the size of the funnel's neck, which is sized to seat inside a jar's rim without slipping. A regular mouth funnel fits the narrower standard jar opening, while a wide mouth funnel fits the larger opening used on wide mouth mason jars. Many funnels, like the stainless 2-pack and the vented Norpro, are made to work with both, either by giving you one of each or by stepping down to fit either rim, which is the easiest way to avoid buying twice.

Both work, but stainless steel is the sturdier long-term choice for pickling because acidic brine and bright ingredients like beets or turmeric can stain plastic over time, while metal wipes clean and does not hold odor. Plastic funnels such as the BALIWELL or Norpro are lighter and cheaper and are fine for occasional use. If you pickle often or want the funnel to look new for years, a stainless pick like the 2-pack or the Bellemain single is the safer bet.

You do not need one, but a strainer insert is genuinely useful if you want to hold back seeds, whole spices, herb stems, or pulp while the liquid runs into the jar. Sets like the stainless 3-pack, the Delove silicone pack, and the FORJARS kit include one. If you usually pack solids and liquid together, a plain wide funnel is simpler and has less to wash, so choose based on whether you strain your brine or pour it straight in.

Not automatically, since jars come in regular mouth and wide mouth openings and a funnel is sized to one or both. A wide mouth funnel is too large to seat in a regular mouth jar, and a regular funnel wastes the extra room on a wide jar. The safest approach is a set that covers both, such as the wide and regular 2-pack, or a funnel designed to fit either rim, so you are not stuck when you reach for a different jar.

Rinse the funnel right after use so brine or jam does not dry inside the neck, then wash it in warm soapy water or run it through the dishwasher if it is stainless. For sets with a strainer, take the insert out and clean the mesh separately, since pulp likes to lodge in it. Let every part dry fully before storing so no moisture is trapped, and for plastic funnels a quick wipe after bright ingredients helps limit staining.

Silicone funnels like the Delove 4-pack are a good pick if you want something flexible that will not chip, dent, or scratch a jar rim, and they are food safe for filling. The trade-off is that they are less rigid than metal, so they can feel floppy when you are pouring a heavy stream, and silicone can pick up strong odors over time. They shine for gentle handling and easy storage rather than for the firmest support while filling.

A plain funnel can trap air in the jar as liquid pours in, which creates an airlock that makes the flow stall and glug. A vented funnel, like the Norpro, cuts a small channel so that trapped air can escape past the liquid, letting the pour run in a steady stream instead of stopping and starting. It is a small feature that makes a real difference when you are filling many jars with brine or a thin liquid.

We compared material, jar fit, whether a strainer was included, and how many funnels came in each set, then matched every pick to a real job such as covering both jar sizes, straining brine, filling narrow bottles, or handling a big canning batch. Every product shown is a real listing, and these are our chosen picks based on that comparison rather than on any hands-on lab claim.