It used to be that Weck jars were precious things, hard to come by outside of Germany. Then people started discovering how pretty and useful they are. Suddenly, stores from Crate & Barrel to Williams-Sonoma and beyond began stocking them.
No explanation is needed when it comes to storing dry goods in Weck jars, but when it comes to the actual act of canning in them, newcomers sometimes need a little help. A couple years ago, I wrote a step-by-step guide to using Weck jars, and while I have no intention of reinventing that particular wheel today, I do want to pluck out a few of the most commonly asked questions about canning in Weck jars and highlight them here so that they’re easy to access.
How do you tell if Weck jars are sealed? You can tell that Weck jars are sealed because the little tab on the rubber seal will point downwards. You can also test your seal in much the same way that you do with Ball jars. Once the jars are cool, remove the clips and grasp the lid of the jar. Lift off the counter an inch or two. If the seal holds fast, you’re golden. If it starts to lose its seal or breaks the suction entirely, that’s a jar that needs to be refrigerated.
Can you reuse the rubber seal? In all printed materials available in the US, they don’t recommend that you use the rubber seal for Weck jars more than once. However, I’ve been told the instructions printed in other countries tell you that it is reusable until it is stretched out or begins to lose its elasticity. Because I don’t like to take chances, I replace the rubber seal with each use.
Can you pressure can in Weck jars? I have not tried it personally, but I was told that it can be done, provided you add a third clip to the lid, in order to help prevent siphoning during processing.
Is it possible to buy replacement clips? It is! You can actually easily buy replacement clips, rubber rings and even lids for Weck jars. MightyNest, sponsor of today’s giveaway sells all the replacement parts in their canning section.
Because Weck jars are quite a bit more expensive than traditional mason jars, I tend to save them for my favorite preserves. These are the recipes that I like so much that I tend to either keep them all for myself or share them with only those people who are truly deserving.
Plum jam is one of my most beloved preserves, because its flavor reminds me of the rummy jam my mom used to make with the fruit from our backyard trees, in Southern California, when I was very young.
For this jam, I combined 5 cups of chopped plums (a mixture of yellow and red) with 2 1/2 cups of sugar. Once the juices started to run, I cooked the fruit and sugar over high heat until the fruit broke down and the syrup thickened enough to hang off the spatula in little pink windows. A squeeze of lemon juice went in at the end for balance. Processed for ten minutes in an array of Weck jars, this is one preserve I’ll be rationing this winter, to ensure it lasts until plum season returns.
If you’ve been contemplating adding some Weck jars to your kitchen, you’re going to love today’s giveaway. It’s provided by MightyNest, an online shop and community hub designed to help people find a world of products (everything from kitchenware to personal care) that are healthy and non-toxic. Here’s what MightyNest has put together for this giveaway:
20 quart canning pot with a rack designed to hold 7 quarts
6 1-liter asparagus jars
6 1/2 liter tulip jars
6 160ml mold jars
Weck jar lifter (these are great, because they don’t catch on the clips the same way that jar lifters designed for Ball jars can).
MightyNest is also hosting a giveaway of my book over on their blog this week. If you’ve not yet gotten your copy, make sure to click over to enter!
If you’re interested in entering this giveaway, here’s how to do it.
- Leave a comment on this post and tell me what one change you’d like to make to your kitchenware to make it healthier. If you’re stumped for ideas, head over to MightyNest and browse their many lovely kitchen items. You’ll be chomping at the bit for something new in no time (I want everything they sell).
- Comments will close at 11:59 pm east coast time on Friday, August 24. Winner will be chosen at random and will be posted to the blog on Saturday, August 25, 2012.
- Giveaway is open to US residents.
- One comment per person, please. Entries must be left via the comment form on the blog, I cannot accept submissions via email.
Disclosure: MightyNest provided the jars, canner and jar lifter for this giveaway at no cost to me. I have not been compensated for my time or this post. My opinions remain mine entirely.
Founded by two parents, MightyNest is an online store, resource center, and community dedicated to helping parents create healthy, safe homes. Our mission is to give families the ability to research, get advice, and buy natural, non-toxic products all in one place. From kitchenware to skin care, MightyNest’s safety experts have built the web’s broadest selection of products that are free from known toxic ingredients such as BPA, PVC, Phthalates, Lead, Melamine, Formaldehyde, Parabens, and more.
MightyNest is a place where people feel motivated and welcomed, not discouraged or judged; somewhere people are empowered to make changes in their lives, whether large or small. For the growing number of parents seeking high quality, healthy and safe alternatives to everyday products for their family, MightyNest is their most trusted resource.
I would love the opportunity to try Weck jars and get rid of alot of plastic in my kitchen.
I love your site. I would start using glass containers for taking healthier food to work during the day!
NO more plastics,LOTS more glass,ZERO GMOS!!!
I would love to stop using so much plastic storage in my kitchen!
No more plastic in the kitchen!
My family was originally from Germany and i have never seen these jars! I would love to try them!
thanks for this article…i have not seen these jars before and am always looking for something cute to use for the jars i give away..cant wait to get some!
Trying desperately to rid the kitchen of plastic. With a toddler & a kid in school, there are so many convenient plastic options for storing & transporting food. We’ve replaced plastic bags with reusable bags & are now attacking replacing the drawer full of plastic storage containers with glass.
I’d love to replace more of my plastics with glass, not only for health, but also because glass containers can be so pretty!
Gettong rid of as much plastic as possible. I even have glass straws!
I would replace my wooden utensils and do a better job of hand washing and “sealing” them. Never again in a dishwasher!
I would LOVE these. A change in my kitchen i’ve been slowly making is getting rid of my teflon pans and cooking with cast iron.
Just added a juicer to the kitchen! These would go great!
Changing out all my plastic containers for glass.
To make my kitchen healthier, I’d love to ditch the plastic containers! And have an organizational overhaul.
I’d like a dehydrator to make raw granola bars!
I would love to get rid of all things plastic and coated and chemical in my kitchen!
The one change I’d like to make to my kitchenware (to make it healthier) is to organize things a little better. Something Ive noticed is that all my meal plans don’t mean a darn thing to the family when food is in containers they cant identify easily. Glass is obviously the better alternative. These would be an awesome beginning.
What is more perfect that storing you wonderful homegrown goodies in beautiful Weck jars!!! It is the perfect decor for any kitchen. I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Weck!
I need to replace all of my non stick cookware!
I love canning…if I would change anything in my love of canning in the kitchen it would be to have newer canner and lots and lots of jars. Canned most my life until I got very ill w/fibromyalgia changed my world terribly. Couldn’t can or much of anything for 8 years…now can get back to what I love to do…CANNING!!! Still have health issues but day at a time…only 59 and love being back. Thanks for readding this, diana, chippewa falls,wi.
I’d get rid of my remaining plastic.
Getting rid of plastic has been a goal for four or five years, but there’s still an awful lot of it here.
I would love to change my pots and pans!
I would love to replace my nonstick pans with stainless steel.
I’m working on getting rid of my plastic food storage containers, replacing with glass.
Wow, what an awesome give away! I’d really like to replace my old hand-me-down pots. That would be awesome, pleaseandthankyou.
I would love to be teflon free!
I started trying to buy “no new plastic” (harder than it sounds!) so my kitchen upgrade would be a set of leftover containers made of glass to replace the remaining few plastic tupperware I have. Awesome giveaway and question! =)
*on a side note, I can with Weck jars and have for several years now (not exclusively, I wish!) and I was wondering what other folks do to open their jars~ I usually try to jam a butter knife in there and wedge it open, but every time I think, “there’s gotta be a better way”. Thoughts, anyone? thanks!
I’d like to cook more with my family and these jars would inspire me to plant a garden and start canning tomatoes. I also love the forms of these jars. Thanks MightyNest!
I would like to get rid of all my plastic storage containers and replace with glass!
I want to replace my plastic containers with glass for leftovers.
I would replace my canning jars with ones with BPA-free lids!
I have been looking for the right tools to start canning to improve my ability to eat locally year-round. I am also trying to eliminate plastic from my kitchen – no more zip locks or other plastic containers!
This would help me save my impending summer harvest surplus and have pickled veggies ALL winter!
My wish…..I need a pressure canner so I can begin canning more of my own healthy home grown veggies!!
I have been canning for over 15 years and am always looking for a better and more creative way to can. I especially love sharing my canned goods with friends and family. My only other request out my kitchen would be to have my 5 year old eat fresh fruits! He will only eat dried fruit.
I would get rid of all the plastic wrap and plastic food storage containers.
The thing I would like to do for a healthier life style is swap out all the plastic storage bins to glass and nonstick utensils to cast iron or stainless steel. I am new to canning would love to start making my own jams and jellies. Love the jelly recipe.
Thanks for the giveaway.
I am planning to make all my sons baby food so my wish is for some of these Weck jars to keep his food completely safe!! 🙂
Love weck canning jars!!! How exciting!
I would love to get the glass bakeware/storage containers that Mighty Nest sells. I love my glasslock storage containers, but would like ones with glass lids to bake in too.
Thanks!
I would love to replace all my plastic storage with glass storage.
I would like to get rid of all my metal kitchen tools (spoons, spatulas, etc) and switch to bamboo. Also finding an alternative to my “work dishes” of plastic would be nice.
I’m giving my plastic storage containers a new home in the garden shed to hold grass seed, garden gloves, etc and adding only safe glass storage containers that look so good in my cabinets and fridge….I so love these Weck jars since they are all glass …no BPA, and no more weird plastic smell in my food. For my wishlist…Weck jars and the glass water bottle would be awesome.
I think the most healthy thing I could do would be to use more jars/glass for storing and reheating my leftovers. I tend to just grab the plasticware, cover and throw in the fridge. So, I’m starting to use more jars and found a great website today that has some fantastic “Lunches in Jars!” Bought me some wide mouth pints and off I go this weekend to make me some lunches for work!
http://kristaandjess.wordpress.com/2012/06/15/jar-lunch-polenta-with-cream-cheese-chives/
Slowly ridding our kitchen of plastic.
I have been purchasing less processed food and as few GMOs as I can and mostly local food. I am also using less plastic. This is my first year of canning which will certainly help for all of the above.
I would like together rid of all plastics in my kitchen!!!
Great Giveaway! I’d like to make the switch from non-stick cookware to stainless steel.
Those jars are beautiful! I have all Kerr & Ball jars with just a few Golden Harvest. I make a Caramel Pear Butter that we horde since we can’t always get pears every year. It would look wonderful in those jars!
What a great selection of Weck ware! I, like so many others who posted, would love to get rid of all my teflon pans and replace them with stainless steel.
Love your blog, and your book!
Teach my mother to use half the sugar when baking!
I try to keep everything natural. I’m definitely getting rid of the plastic. Addiction to Ziploc bags has got to go!
Use less “throw away” plastic containers and use more glass containers with lids that keep the food fresh.
Like many others, I’m slowly swapping in glass for plastic, but I’m also on the prowl for a right-sized pot to use for water-bath canning in smaller batches. I always feel guilty heating up a big ol’ pot of water for just a couple-three jars.
I would love to stop buying canned goods from the grocery store and start canning my own home grown fruits and vegetables.
I’d like to have a stainless steel canning funnel.
I’d love to get rid of the plastic in my kitchen
I would love to replace everything plastic with vintage Pyrex.
Go glass!
I’m pretty crunchy, but my dirty secret is storing food, primarily fruits and veggies, in plastic zip bags in the fridge. I was just thinking tonight that I would like to totally transition to glass storage.
I feel bad every time I send my kids lunches in plastic…but just can’t stomach completely overhauling our whole food storage/lunching container system all at once. Little bits at a time, right?
I am in the process of changing over my storage container from plastic to glass, to avoid BPA. I would love to win some Weck jars & the canning kit.
I would love to get rid of the last teflon pan & replace it with cast iron, but someone else in my house won’t let me 🙁
I’d get rid of all the plastic!
Like so many others, we’re working to rid our kitchen of the last bits of plastic. I would love to replace our standard canning jar lids with beautiful glass. 🙂
More glass, less plastic (especially in leftover storage containers)
Getting rid of non stick pans.
I have to have these jars, thanks again for the give a way. These are my dream jars!
I want, want, want this
Liz