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 my plastic travel mugs with travel mugs with silicone lids.
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’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 would like to reduce the number of plastic zip top bags we use.
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 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!!
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’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.
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
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’ve been gradually making my kitchen safer, but my travel mugs remain less than safe. I’d love to switch to safer materials.
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 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 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 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 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 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!
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.
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!
I’m working on finding alternatives for the plastic containers in my kitchen.
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.
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’d love to convert all of my food storage to glass and other non-rodent-penetrable containers.
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!
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!
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!
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.
I’m doing away with plastic!
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. !!!
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!
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!!!
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.
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 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.
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 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’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.
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 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!
Wow, those jars are gorgeous. The main change I want to make in my kitchen is to stop using plastic food storage.
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.
I want to elminate the use of plastic storageware, and replace with glass.
Thank you!
I am slowly trying to replace all of my plastic Tupperware with glass.
I need more glass containers in the kitchen. I love Weck jars, they’re just so pretty!
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.
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!)
Not necessarily kitchen ware, but changing to more orgainic cleaning supplies is the thing I am trying to do.
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!
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 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!