Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Eating and Drinking => Cooking, Storing and Preserving => Topic started by: Rosy on December 13, 2009, 21:30

Title: which jars to use and how to seal
Post by: Rosy on December 13, 2009, 21:30

Hi

I am relatively new to preserving.  I started saving jars and made some jam and marmalade and I used the waxed discs and the jar lids to seal them but some had some mould on when I opened them. 

I then bought some kilner jars but was not sure if I should seal them when they were still hot or if I should let them cool down then seal them.

I know this sounds stupid but if I don't ask I will never know.  I have looked at recipes but they are not very clear.

Can anyone give me some tips please

Title: Re: which jars to use and how to seal
Post by: sunshineband on December 13, 2009, 22:21

I seal mine when hot because:

a) there is less chance for bugs to get in
b) as they jar contents cool a partial vaccum is created which helps keep the seal

Hope this helps  :)

Title: Re: which jars to use and how to seal
Post by: mumofstig on December 13, 2009, 22:49

With your first lot of jam, did you heat your jars in the oven, and poor boiling water over your lids to sterilize them?
Then when you have put your jam, marmalade or chutney in you screw/seal the tops down while the jar and contents are still hot.
Then, like Sunshineband says,  as the jars and contents cool the lids seal down causing a vacuum.

Title: Re: which jars to use and how to seal
Post by: sunshineband on December 14, 2009, 08:07

Sometimes I have trouble opening them they seal so well  ;)

Title: Re: which jars to use and how to seal
Post by: Poolfield2 on December 14, 2009, 20:25

Me too, I have had to tap them on the floor carefully til the lid gets a bit rearranged and then I can open it :)

Title: Re: which jars to use and how to seal
Post by: catllar on December 16, 2009, 15:05

I fill my hot jam-jars with hot jam, screw them down and turn them upside -down till they cool. Never use waxed discs, the jam forms its own vacuum against the lid. Never had a prob, touch wood.

Title: Re: which jars to use and how to seal
Post by: Poolfield2 on December 16, 2009, 15:37

That also means that the heat from the jam kills any bugs that got in between oven warming jars and putting on the lid, works for me too.

Title: Re: which jars to use and how to seal
Post by: catllar on December 16, 2009, 16:30

Yeah, hooray for hot jam jars! But mind the fingies don't get burnt!