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 to replace all my baking pans with the new style that comes with the reusuable cover…no more foil covering.
I want to have more BPA-free storage containers for bringing lunch to work with me or storing leftovers.
I would love to add more glass storage to my kitchen.
Like most people, I’m trying to use more glass instead of plastic. I canned for the first time this year using Weck jars. They are a little tricky, but I really liked them. I would love to own more. It’s too bad that Ball still uses BPA in their lids. Booo.
I would like to continue to convert everything to glass, and use less (commercially) canned items
I would get rid of every plastic storage container I have! It’s taking too long to slowly replace them but I can’t afford to do it all at once.
Switching my pots to cast iron and getting rid of all the plastic.
I would like to use a toaster oven instead of a microwave. I would definitely like to replace all my plastic containers with BPA free products, preferrably glass! I would also like to replace my cookware with cast iron or stainless steal.
Trio Stainless Steel Food Container is a perfect addition. What a great web site….it’s hard to select.
Completely getting rid of plastic used for bringing home items from the bulk bins, and stop using freezer bags.
I use fabric, washable bar towels instead of paper towels whenever possible. I think they are more eco friendly making less trash,etc. I wash them with bleach but I worry a bit about germs. Still in a quandry. Amazing give away.
Getting rid of ALL plastic. I’m doing it sloooowly. My family appreciates it since it means that there are things they can buy me on christmas and birthdays.
I would love to replace all of my plastic containers that I tend to use for my kids’ school lunches. I like glass but they can get a bit heavy for a 7 year old to carry. A cast iron or stainless steel wok would also be a great addition to the kitchen.
a place or a way to stash my pots and pans without them getting bashed
To make my kitchen a healthier place, I’d rebuild the whole thing and include space for a small glass-fronted refrigerator specifically to hold fresh vegetables so that they don’t get pushed to the back of the vegetable drawers and lost until they go bad.
I would love to get rid of all my plastic gladware/tupperware and use only glass. We are slowly getting there!
I would like more reusable items. I know there are canning lids that are reusable. I am slowly getting a stock pile of some but it will be a while before I am finished. 😀
I want to get a good set of stainless steal cookware to replace my hodge podge of hand me down pots and pans.
I’m slowly (as I can afford) replacing my non-stick pans with le creuset enameled ones. Just keep looking in thrift stores and occasionally super on sale at bed/bath/beyond.
I would love reusable sandwich bags!
I have switched over most of my non-stick cookware and plastic tupperware to sturdier, healthier pieces, but there are still a few lingering Calphalon pots and pans that I turn to as back-ups I would still like to replace.
The one change I would make is buy more cast iron and stoneware cookware!
My favorite is my mother’s recipe for Prune Relish which I put into Weck Mini Mold Jars. It’s a great size for giving away as well as opening as a condiment with meats, cheese, etc.
I have been meaning to get reusable snack bags (maybe with “manly” patterns on them so my husband will use them…) and also find additional environmentally friendly cleaning products that work well for me. Love the Weck jars!
I would love to have more glass in which I can microwave leftovers. I always end up microwaving in plastic,…and even though it is BPA free I feel like the glass would produce a more evenly heated food that I would feel better about.
we got rid of our microwave a while ago and heat up our food in a more nature way. I would like to invest more in posh enamelware… and I love adding that fun splash of color to the kitchen.
I would love to eliminate as much BPA as possible from my kitchen. Slowly working my way towards that goal!
Eat less sugar.
I really would like to get rid of ALL the plastic in my kitchen.
I would definitely replace my non stick cookware. The non stick coating is starting to scrape off, and that just can’t be healthy! I would also replace my plastic storage containers with glass.
Getting all the plastic out of my kitchen would be a dream come true. I already use a lot of vintage bail jars for dry goods storage; but it seems like the plastic food storage contaners for the refrigerator or freezer just keeps lingering despite my attempts to get rid of it by sending leftovers home with everyone!
I would like to stop using so many quart yogurt containers to freeze soups and stocks in. I’d rather use all glass! I use glass jars and containers in all other ways but the yogurt containers are so easy and abundant!
I’d like to use less toxic cleaning agents.
I need leftover boxes that can go in the dishwasher! Easier to clean and much sturdier, plus no BPA.
A dishwasher that would get everything steamy sparkly clean…and more vintage Pyrex for leftovers!
I would replace most of my nonstick pans…some of mine are losing their finish, and using a stainless, enamel, or cast iron pot/pan just seems better.
I too am phasing out all the plastics in my kitchen.
I’d like another huge stockpot with a thick bottom.. I make my own broth, and I’d like more room for doing it!
Definitely eliminate all plastic/BPA containers and start over with some really good glass storage.
We’ve been slowly making changes in the kitchen. No more Ziplocs around here! I would love a nice big cast iron pan and lunch box items.
OOH they have stainless steel dinnerware! We have been looking for those. And those jars are just beautiful!
I need to get a smaller size cast iron because my big one is great but not practical for everything. I love cast iron because it heats so evenly and doesn’t wear out like other pans.
I would love to learn how to use cast iron. I use stainless steel, but I know how wonderful cast iron can be… I’m just afraid.
I would love a new, higher efficient refrigerator, but in the meantime I have started buying items in bulk, and using mason jars to store the items in the cupboard. I have also either replaced or stopped buying items that come in plastic.
I would love to replace all my plastic storage with glass, even though what i use is mostly bpa-free…
If I could change one thing, I’d get rid of all my plastic kitchenware all at once…I’m slowly transitioning, but it can’t come fast enough!
I’d love to get some reusable sandwich bags–I’m using containers for everything right now, but they take up so much space in my lunch bag, I’d love to have some bags to put things in!
I’d like to find suitable replacements for the last two non-stick pans in my cabinet. I use them mainly for cooking scrambled eggs and am spoiled by the easy clean-up and no waste factor.
i want a chest freezer so badly so that i can buy large quantities of grass-fed meat.
We’ve done quite a few things to make our kitchen healthier and more environmentally friendly over the last few years. The one piece that is still missing- I would like to get rid of the rest of my plastic Tupperware containers and switch to exclusively glass. All these Weck jars would be a beautiful step in the right direction!