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.
Wow. Some many things I want to change to make my kitchen healthier. This first thing is probably to have more probiotics sitting on my counters.
I would love to replace all my cookware, I have slowly made changes to other areas of my kitchen, this would put me at ease! Thanks for such a fantastic giveaway, I have been wanting to start canning for so long and have just needed the push to get going!
I need to get a new non-stick pan, one with the newer safer coatings (and not chipping/peeling like my current one is). I’d also like to get into composting and gardening, which would obviously be good for me and the environment!
I love these jars. I would like to buy a juicer for my kitchen.
I would love to have a yogurt maker to make my own yogurt from fresh goat milk.
Anna, I’ve been making yogurt for a while now and use nothing more that a quart jar, stainless steel pot, large dish towel as a blanket and my oven prewarmed to barely 100° and then turned off with the light left on. Do it before going to bed and have fresh yogurt by morning.
Personally, I would eliminate all the plastic lunch/leftover containers in my kitchen, and just replace them with dedicated glass jars. We have tons, and I rarely use them anymore as I prefer jars, which don’t leak into my lunch bag. But I’m on the fence about throwing it out, and most of it is not in good enough shape to donate.
I’d love to replace my Tupperware with those lovely glass storage containers. Thanks for the great giveaway!
I’m hosting a canning party next week and made favors for everyone in small Weck jars to get them started…Peach Rosemary Jam! My healthy habit has been to replace plastics in my inventory of containers with Weck jars. My daughter got me started years ago.
Rid my kitchen of BPA!
I’d like to switch over to mostly glass food storage containers 🙂 My husband microwaves his food in the plastic ones and wrecks them
I replaced all my condiment containers with Weck canning jars; not only healthier but it looks way cooler and they stack so nicely. I made Sriracha Tomato Jam last night and it now sits proudly in a Weck jar in my refrigerator next to all sorts of other goodies. My other large healthy splurge was a Vitamix. I now take fruit on the verge of spoiling, freeze it and have terrific smoothies all the time. I make the best Gazpacho from my garden almost daily. I can make soups in minutes from whatever vegetables I have. I debated a long time before buying it, but it was worth every penny!
Goodness…yet another way to buy more lovely kitchen stuff!
Plum jam! Yum. I’d love to get rid of any plastic I’m still holding on to.
I’m looking for safer nonstick frypans.
Bummer that the contest isn’t open to Canadians – can’t find Weck jars anywhere here!
I’ve been using a few weck jars for dry storage, but had no idea you could can with them. Thanks for the education!
I’ve just recently found your blog and am planning to attempt canning for the first time. Tomatoes from my garden! I have no supplies, so I have a long way to go!
Like many commenters, I’m trying to have a mostly plastic free kitchen, but I just don’t have the inventory for it right now. Since Weck jars are our favorite vessels for leftovers, this would help a lot.
I would replace my non-stick frying pan with an old-fashioned cast iron pan. I love Weck jars for storage. So cool.
Glass or stainless containers for bringing my lunch to work!
I’m slowly switching out my plastic food storage containers for glass. I’ve started storing all my dry goods in large mason jars and I really like the look it brings to the kitchen, while knowing its a healthier choice!
I’m in the process of changing over any plastic or bags I use for storing my dry goods in my pantry and I would like to switch to glass containers.
I’d like to stop 100% with paper towels. I don’t use too many, but I still haven’t been able to completely part ways with them.
Ive slowly been making my home less toxic. Beginning with cleaning products, laundry products, storage containers and now the leap to lunch products for my 3 year old twins starting 3 days a week “school”. Since my IVF treatment, I began making healthier food choices for myself, nursed the babies for their first year and continue to make better choices for them and my family. I would love this collection as I would continue my progress and make a good example for my kids ands friends for healthier living.
I want to replace my cutting boards and keep separate ones for separate duties… one for veg, one for meat… etc. I love the kitchen in my new home, but we don’t have a dishwasher for sanitizing things, I rely on a kettle of boiling water. Separate cutting boards seems even more important now.
I would LOVE the glass microwave corn popper! I’ve never seen one! And just about one of everything else at this amazing site! I feel some serious wish listing coming on…
I’d like to completely eliminate plastic.
I just said goodbye to my microwave and now I am looking forward to getting rid of my plastic hot water pot too! I just bought a pretty, fancy tea kettle and can’t wait to use it! The next on the goodbye list: plastic bags.
Thanks for the offer – would love more Weck jars!
I would love to get stainless steel cookware to replace the non-stick stuff I have. And keep making my own preserves to avoid the store bought ones with preservatives and extra sugar.
I love that they have baby/toddler stainless steel flatware! I would totally get some of that to get rid of the last few plastic spoons we have. Do you know how hard it is to find “real” silverware in that size? All of it we have now is vintage because I couldn’t find it anywhere. Seriously though how have I never heard of this site?!? It’s so awesome. The toys, swoon. I’m in trouble.
We have made a lot of progress in this department, switching to Pyrex with glass lids for food storage and making tons of use of cast iron and stainless steel, but there is this one last remaining non-stick pan I just cannot live without. It’s a nice ten-inch-er and we use it for egg scrambles. I’d be lost without it–but I would so love to find a healthy replacement!
I’m trying to lose all the plastic containers…hard to do when I think, ‘but this might be useful when I don’t want the container back’
I’d like to decrease my reliance on plastic wrap. I’m already working toward that goal, but have a ways to go… The weck jars are absolutely stunning. I’m canning this week and would love to try some.
I’m trying to do a better job of packing lunches in reusable containers-plastic wrap and baggies are convenient, but the waste does pile up.
I hate to admit this, but I need my good knives sharpened & the old ones need to be replaced.
I would love to find the perfect size BPA free container for salads in school lunches… and this giveaway would truly be a dream come true! You see I adore Weck canning jars and have wanted them for almost as long as I’ve been married. The other things is my water bath canner has sprung a leak. This is the 3rd canner in 20 years so something more durable like this would simply be heaven! (it could be a belated anniversary present…)
Thank you so very much for hosting this giveaway!!!
I’d love to get some new pots and pans. Most of mine are from when I first moved into a “real” apartment after college over a decade ago. They’re all non-stick and could certainly use some updating.
I would love to donate all of my plastic tupperware away and replace with glass!
I have slowly been replacing anything plastic in our house with stainless steel & glass equivalents. Weck Jars are high on my list for more storage & this years new interest in canning anything I can get my hands on! Thanks so much for introducing me to MightyNest! What great products – I will definitely bookmark their site for future purchases!
Found your great web site when I read the Food in Jars blog. I have really embraced the canning thing! Homemade things make the best gifts! Absolutely love the Weck jars. So glad they are more readily available.
I would like to get rid of all the plastic storage containers and invest in glass ones.
Thanks for a chance to win.
We’re saving up to replace our cookware with safer, stainless steel options.
I’ve been working to replace my plastic containers with glass. Love the refrigerator dishes, and the large Weck Jars are fabulous!
I am wanting to replace my water bath canner and purchase a pressure canner.
Thanks for all the canning info you offer.
I have been slowly replacing my plastic tupperware with glass storage containers. If I do need to store leftovers in the tupperware, I make sure to put it in a glass bowl for reheating.
I’d love to replace all of the store bought juice my kids drink with home made – canned juice. I’ve done some of this with standard (Ball) jars, which don’t handle table use very well. So far I’ve canned grape juice, only to find my kids don’t like it…so I’ve been blessing my friends with unsweetened natural grape juice since last fall (a friend and I picked about 300lbs. of grapes in a 2 hr. span)
I am trying my best to do more storage of staples in glass jars and can and freeze more of my garden produce. This giveaway is fantastic.
I’d love to replace my cheapo plastic storage containers with glass.
What a generous give-away! So exciting, as I’ve been wanting to try Weck for awhile now. I too have long been a fan of MightyNest for awhile and have been grandually replacing my kitchen items with safer stuff. I finally have a good supply of glass storage containers, and would now really like to get some of the stainless steel lunch containers they have at MightyNest, since they’re so much lighter to carry.