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’m looking into biodegradable garbage bags. I’m almost done replacing all the plastic, I am also planning on using reusable bags for bulk food and produce.
I would like an alternative to the plastic Tupperware I store so much of my food in. I know it’s better not to re-heat food in them, but I never remember to use a glass container.
I have started reducing the use of plastics, so glass containers are a must and even better if they allow me to keep seasonal goods all year long 🙂
I am canning for the first time this Saturday, and I collect jars! I would love to win…
My daughter Katie and I are trying to eat healthier, real food (not processed.) We would LOVE to learn to can, and imagine doing some yummy things to keep us warm all winter, like spiced berries for our oatmeal and tomatoes for our Italian and Greek cooking. We hope we win!!! (PS Mighty Nest Rocks!)
What an awesome give-away. I’m working on phasing out plastics. I have a few glass containers I use for reheating leftovers, but we still store way too much of our stuff in plastic so I need more storage options. And I should really get away from ziplock for sandwiches.
I would like to replace my peeling nonstick pans. Use less plasticware and make more reuseable snack bags.
Besides canning more, I am also washing and reusing my ziplock bags.
I would love to switch all of my baking pans to stainless steel.
I’d like to be able to make ice cubes in something healthier than plastic.
Firstly, I’m obsessed with mason jars! Even had a mason jar themed wedding!! The thing I would want to change is an alternative to zip lock bags or Saran wrap.
We’re in the process of replacing all of our nonstick pots and pans. But I’d also love more wood and less silicone. We already don’t do plastic. There are about 100 things on their site that I would love to buy…
I would love to replace all of our cruddy cookware with cast iron. The one skillet we have gets used ALL THE TIME!
I’ve replaced most of the plastic containers in my kitchen with glass but I’d like to complete the transition along with replacing my remaining plastic cooking and serving utensils with stainless steel or wood
I’ve recently switched to using all glass containers for leftovers and I’d like to start using something other than plastic containers to freeze extra portions. I’m having a baby soon and am trying to freeze as much as possible right now!
An electric cook top,like one of those panni everything cookers in a certain catolog.
Thank you for the great giveaway! I louve Weck Jars
I definitely need to change over my pots and pans. I have been using the same stuff for 39 years that I have been married. I already have changed over plastic food containers to glass and only use glass for drinking and glass dishes for eating. Learned alot on MightyNest website…..great website by the way!
Melody
Awesome site, so many wonderful kitchen items! I am looking to get rid of plastic in the kitchen & around the house. I also am canning for the first time this year:) Thank you for the opportunity to win!!
I would like to replace the sauce pans that I have with ones that don’t have a non-stick coating. I have already replaced most of the plastics with glass and I love to can. Weck jars were be an amazing addition!
I’d love to continue to swap out all my little boys’ plastic plates, bowls and cups with glass. It’s a slow process and there’s been a few mishaps with some of the new glass cups, but it feels so much better to be ridding ourselves of the plastic!
i’m looking into homemade baby food for the spring – i’m hoping to be a new mom by the end of the week!
I’ve been pining after a silicone baking mat so that I can dry/freeze/bake things without the extra oil or wasteful parchment paper.
Reuseable vegetable bags…..i use the plastic ones for compost collection then throw them away! What a waste.
I’m still in the process of doing this – in order to make my kitchen space healthier, I’m switching from plastic food storage containers to glass food storage containers.
We are in the process of going all stainless Steel or cast iron for our cookware. Next purchase is a 12″ SS skillet.
We have done a lot of changing in our kitchen. We gave most processed foods. I cook with fresh and clean food. Lots of fruits and veggies…and we enjoy it.
I only learned to can three years ago, but it has changed how I eat and how I view food. The next step for me is getting rid of the BPA in the traditional canning lids. I’d love some Weck jars!
I use salt stone as deodorant instead of the store bought antiperspirant.
We switched to all glass bottles for our baby that we purchased from the Mighty Nest.
We use stainless steel or cast iron for cooking. No aluminum or scratched up tephalon pots and pans. We also switched to glass water bottles instead of the plastic ones. We also try to make more food homemade and eat less store bought/processed foods and we eat mostly organic foods.
We’re slowly swapping our old non-stick kitchenware for steel and cast-iron.
I’m working at finding ways to reuse things first, then recycle if I can’t find a good use. Awesome post and giveaway! thanks!
I’m building a compost pile from kitchen waste. The compost will fertilize the food I eat, which I’ll can in some pretty Weck jars. Then I’ll put the waste in the compost pile. I feel like this could be some kind of kids cyclical song. 🙂
I would love to replace all my aged plastic storage containers with glass. Oh, someday soon!
I’ve just sold my boyfriend on bringing his lunch in canning jars (he had so much fun with it!), one step of several in getting the plastic and nonstick cookware out of our kitchen. Someday I would also like to pressure can my own beans and soup, but for now, in addition to getting me over the hump and into regular canning, these lovely jars would make good homes for fridge storage.
We are antique collectors/dealers, both farm raised, so I have found it easy to go back to the old ways and vintage kitchen ware. We use many of our finds in the kitchen such as old glass containers with glass covers similar to those featured in Mighty Nest article, “12 Ways to Do Away with Toxins in the Kitchen”; granite ware (as long as it is not chipped or cracked); cast iron ware (the only ware I use when frying); crocks for fermentation; wooden utensils for cooling; etc. This year I am making it a goal to stock a winter larder with as much locally grown and home grown canned food as possible in addition to dehydrating fruit for use in the AM oatmeal and baking. In addition to antiquing, I am a avid thrift store browser. Came across a great kitchen buy in our local thrift store in the Spring — over 12 varying sizes of glass storage jars with rubber seals for $3. These are great for storing dehydrated food, spice rubs, honey, etc. but cannot be used to can. Thanks for this great post and the direction to Mighty Nest website. The number one change I would like to make in my canning and kitchen would be to have the opportunity to purchase and use resuable canning lids. I think the Weck jars would be just up my alley.
Would love to replace the many, many plastic containers for food storage with glass! Awe are also getting a couple of cast iron skillets. 🙂
One thing I would like to change in the kitchen to make it healthier is to go back to using less chemicals to clean with.
I would like to start using glass containers instead of plastic.
I would love to have a compost pile again, but sadly, that will have to wait until we move away from the current landlord.
Awesome giveaway. I have one weck jar that I love and would really like to add more to my jar supply. A change I would like to make to my kitchenwares is to save more leftovers in glass containers instead of plastic.
I’ve been trying to save glass jars from things i buy at the store like salsa or pickles, but I can never get the smell put of the lid. I’d love to start making and storing my own salsa, pickles, and more. These jars would give me a start and inspiration.
I wish I had reusable plastic or otherwise to-go bags, bags for my veggies, and zip-loc style bags.
What a great giveaway! I am trying to can most of our food to help cut down grocery costs. I would love those Weck Jars. Thanks!
I would like to get more plastic out of the kitchen, especially food storage containers. We have some glass, but it’s been a process to get everything changed over. Thanks for the giveaway!
I’ve been dying to try out Weck jars! While we’ve made a lot of progress switching out the plastic in our home for safer options, we still use ziplock bags for quick storage and transport. Though we wash and re-use them ( now I’m wondering if this is a good idea) and never microwave in them or anything like that, I’d like to explore some better options.
I would love to switch away from my dollar store plastic utensils (serving spoon, ladle, tongs, etc.) to bamboo or wood!
I would say the chiller pitcher with glass lid would be a great item to add to my kitchen. I have a few plastic pitchers that I sometimes use when we have groups over (and I also reuse juice jugs), but I’m trying to rid our house of all plastic (BPA friendly or not) so having a Lidded (important!) glass beverage container would be very useful.
I currently work for a farm and help to run one of their stands in Baltimore, Maryland. My goal this summer is to freeze and can enough produce and meat that I only have to go to the store through the winter to get milk and eggs! I love knowing where my food comes from and supporting the wonderful people who provided it for me!
We recently moved into a house on 5 acres and I am planning an extensive organic garden. Canning will be a critical part of preserving the hoped-for bounty. Although I became a Weck jar fan when we lived in Germany, I have never actually used them for canning. Having the whole set-up would be fantastic!
I would love to use the Weck jars because of the glass lids. I would like to get away from using the Ball lids which have BPA in them. Glass is way cuter too!
I’d love to add more fruit to my diet in the winter by better using my freezer space. Mighty Nest offers some great freezer-safe containers!
I would like to cut over to using glass exclusively for food storage. I’ve started the process but am finding I need more and more!
Not necessarily kitchen ware, but changing to more orgainic cleaning supplies is the thing I am trying to do.
The one thing I most want to do is ditch the plastic containers I use for storing leftovers etc and move to all glass. Second priority would be phasing out all my old pans and replacing them with cast iron. Oh, and to stop using plastic wrap/ziplock bags/foil for covering/wrapping food as it’s so wasteful. REALLY nice giveaway, by the way – lucky, lucky winner, whoever they turn out to be! (Please be me!)
I have only one hold-over from the old days of my cooking–and that is an electric skillet that has teflon. That is my next change, as soon as I get enough saved up for a stainless steel electric skillet.
I need more glass containers in the kitchen. I love Weck jars, they’re just so pretty!
I am slowly trying to replace all of my plastic Tupperware with glass.
I want to elminate the use of plastic storageware, and replace with glass.
Thank you!
We are slowly doing the same… switching over to glass jars for just about everything. Love it and my children do as well! Thank you for this post I did not know about Weck.
Wow, those jars are gorgeous. The main change I want to make in my kitchen is to stop using plastic food storage.
I had to leave all my glass storage and canning ware behind when I moved back home after 10 years in the UK – too heavy to ship – this would be a great start to rebuilding!
One big change I’d like to make in my kitchen is to have better storage containers for food and for packing lunches. There are tons of options on MightyNest that I just love!
I’d like to do more caning. The pot I own currently isn’t quite big enough; this one would be a marvelous addition! This is our first summer getting a CSA and I’d like to preserve what we can’t eat in a week for over the winter. I also like the idea of making my own preserves over store bought, so I have control over what’s in the can/jar.
I would like to get rid of the plastic containers in my kitchen and use either glass or the stainless steel containers that Mighty Nest has on it’s website! I love the Weck jars too!
Thanks for directing me to the Mighty Nest website and for a chance to win in this great giveaway!
I grew up canning and taught my daughter to can while she was growing up. my husband’s son and his wife are learning to can. While I might keep one or two of the jars because they are simply lovely to look at, I would give this set to them to encourage them in their canning habit.
I would love to have lots of the oval-shaped Glass Spice Jar, 4 oz. to put all my herbs and spices in rather than the plastic bottles they come in from the store.
For me it’s replacing the little everyday items that are always bought out of convenience. Switching to things like compostable trash bags & biodegradable sponges are small overlooks in my ‘slowly shrinking footprint’ life.
I have to go with those that are wishing to update thier pot and pans away from hte old non-stick coatings. I have been happy with the one or two (one cast iron and one SS) I have been able to replace so far.
I would love to start canning more. I already make all of my own jams and most of my condiments. I have started canning veggies, but haven’t really had the extra to finance a big canning operation yet. This would be a great start!!! I love those jars!!!
would love lots of Weck jars so I don’t have to keep buying one time use lids. My kitchen is really pretty healthy & green already so these are what would have the greatest impact. Thanks for everything!
Replace. Re-use. Re-cycle. I want to start using more glass. And also, I want to start using re-usable canning lids. Love those Weck jars, etc. !!!
I’m doing away with plastic!
I would love some Weck jars, so beautiful!! I have been switching to using glass exclusively for food storage, good quality cookware (no telfon!) and trying to no longer use zip lock plastic bags.
Ive been making salsa, pickled peppers, beets and more but am just beginning doing the jams. Just want to put everything in jars to preserve and enjoy!
A green replacement for plastic wrap! Not quite kitchenware but I use it regularly when making bread (all the time) and would love something more reusable/sustainable. Guess I’d better check out Mighty Nest now!
I would love to transition from all the cheap plastic straws my wife keeps around (they are fun to use, I admit) and change over to stainless steel or glass straws for routine use. Much less waste! That and I’d like to get a pressure canner so I can have canned home made stock instead of having to buy store stuff full of sodium!
I’d love to convert all of my food storage to glass and other non-rodent-penetrable containers.
Moving toward a healthier kitchen I am transitioning from plastic to non BPA containers for storage. Ridding my freezer of plastic is the most challenging.
I need to finally give up my plastic food storage containers. They’re so light to carry in to work, but sometimes I’m lazy and microwave in them.
I’m working on finding alternatives for the plastic containers in my kitchen.
It would be great to add some freezer-pop molds to my kitchen. Freezing my own pop with real fruit and greek yogurt would be a real improvement on a frozen treat!
Wow, what a generous give-away from MightyGoods. I’m loving the switch that I’ve made to almost all glass for kitchen leftovers (whether lunch or a half a red pepper), but I still need to switch to something re-usable when I want to take a small snack with me – so a snack bag or those little stainless steel round containers are in serious consideration.
I would replace coated cookware. I don’t have a ton of it, but I don’t like using coated cookware. I love porcelin-clad cast iron, but it is pricey. Also trying to rid my kitchen of plastic! It’s tough to do though!
I would like replace all of my plastic snapware with glass lock storage containers. Or, perhaps I can just start putting all my leftovers in canning jars!
I have moved entirely to glass for storage of dry goods (beans, etc.), but I would love to get a set of glass containers for things like leftovers – still using Tupperware-type ones for that (although I never reheat in them, at least! :]).
I need to quit the plastic wrap! I’ve found that using reusable snack bags and glass containers is just as easy. It’s obviously better for my health and the environment, so I really feel like I’m making a difference when I reach for reusable in place of disposable.
I would like to replace all the plastic in my kitchen with glass. These jars would be great to store food items in, in addition to my jam.
I would like to get my family eating more venison & bison meat instead of beef. We love venison but don’t get as much as we used to. I’m hoping bison will be a more available option when we have a red meat craving.
I’ve been gradually making my kitchen safer, but my travel mugs remain less than safe. I’d love to switch to safer materials.
This is my second summer canning. I love it. I would love to use the beautiful and functional Weck jars for my canning. I feel canning can be healthier than store bought, easier on the environment, and a delicious way to enjoy produce all year around!
I would love to get the plastics out of my kitchen and switch to glass, wood and metal. as i keep building up my canning collection its happening bit by bit
I’ve switched to bamboo cooking utensils. Since they can be difficult to find, I’m glad you listed the Mightynest website. The have a really good selection & I’ll be getting some soon.
What a wonderful gift from MightyNest!! I would love to have an electronic scale and thermometer for more accurate weighing and temp. I also love Weck jars. I don’t have any, but last Christmas I was shopping in Kansas City with a friend and we went to the Hardware store in Brookside and they had them and I came home telling my husband about how I saw the cutest jars that would be wonderful to have…well now I guess I have a chance.. 🙂 Thanks so much!
I would LOVE to get a bunch of their stainless steel plates, we have some cheap plastic plates that we use all the time with the kids, and end up using for most meals instead of our nice plates and I would love to toss the plastic and get these!!
I would like to transition over to no plastic at all. Get rid of all plastic bags and containers, hubby takes a lunch and needs some to heat and some not, with him glass breaks rumbling around in a truck, but am working on getting off of plastics.
I would like to reduce the number of plastic zip top bags we use.
I’m another one trying to replace all my plastic with glass. I’m also moving more into lacto-fermented foods as a good source of friendly bacteria. 🙂
I’m trying to move away from the BPA jar lids, and I consider the alternatives my pick for making my kitchen healthier! Wreck jars are pricey, love this giveaway!
I would love to replace my plastic travel mugs with travel mugs with silicone lids.