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 replace my plastic storage containers with vacuum sealed glass containers.
I need to switch to a glass water bottle.
I would like the bamboo utensil set to replace my plastic cheap ones. they cant be good if plastic comes off after each use. and some glass ware to replace plastic containers. thanks
I’d like to switchover to glass storage containers.
I would like to replace my plastic storage containers with some nice glass ones and also my plastic cooking/serving utensils.
I would like to find some nice glass storage containers to replace my mis-matched old plastic containers.
Working on canning all of my own food. I have a great garden this year for the first time and the harvest has been fabulous. Pickles are my favorite:)
PS LOVE your book!!!!
I really hate store canned foods and have been trying best I could to elimate any in our household. I much rather grab a jar of what I have canned and that way I know what is in it.
I want to learn the art of sourdough baking… I am working on it 🙂
I’d love to replace my plastic storage containers with glass.
I have never heard of glass water bottles before. They look great and I am going to be looking into getting one for myself and my children.
I’ve been using plastic yogurt and cottage cheese containers for leftovers, but I’d like to switch to glass. It’s so important to switch for health reasons, but it also reminds me of how my mom cooked. She always used those lovely glass containers.
The one piece of equipment I would really like is a dehydrator. When there’s a glut of fruit or vegetables, I can only freeze, pickle or preserve so much. Drying would be a great option.
Working on being totally self sustainable. Also working on eliminating the plastic.
I’m working on preparing more healthy meals AT HOME. I get lazy & we go out. Too many $$$’s and too high in fat~salt~calories. Also agree about changing out glass containers for plactic & plastic bags.
Learning more about canning and dehydrating. Making and using my own products.
I’d love to switch over completely to glass instead of plastic storage containers. But it’s so tempting to re-use quart sized yogurt containers when we’re finished with them!
I’d exchange my leftover storage from plastic to glass.
Replace the Rubbernade containers with something green that won’t chip as easily.
While it’s difficult to think up just one thing I would like to change to make my kitchenware healthier, I would have to say switching to all glass is at the top of my list. Not only is it beautiful, but it’s better for us, has more uses, and lends a sense of nostalgia and comfort that is often lacking in today’s society. I want my daughter to grow up with the warmth that I felt when pulling a jar of pickles or jam from my grandmother’s pantry.
I would love to replace my small nonstick skillet with a ceramic one. I would also like to eliminate more plastic from my “Tupperware” collection.
I’d get a better steamer for my vegetables. The one I have now is probably thirty years old and not a great shape for some vegetables.
I’ve try to use more glass containers (vs. plastic)–and, use reusable containers for water/ tea on the go…
I’d love to replace my Teflon coated baking sheets with something safer.
I’ve been doing lots to make my kitchen and our food safer and healthier but I just can’t seem to let go of my non-stick plug in griddle…I know, teflon is terrible! I need an option, I’m going to go see if they have something at MightyNest 🙂
I have the same pots and pans I was given 40 years ago, and have only added a couple of cast iron over the years for size. I only use glass containers for storage and being vegetarian, I am very careful to use only non gmo organics if they are available. I would like a larger dehydrator. The one I have is getting aged and with two new grand kids, I think its time to upgrade. I saw a wooden one a while back, very expensive but maybe the lottery will smile on me. Love this blog. Why is Amazon sold out of the book?
I love that you posted a plum jam recipe. I have 6 italian prune plum trees that each produce about 100 lbs of plums. My favorite recipe so far has been an orange plum marmelade.
I would like to plan healthy meals every night and use glass instead of plastic.
I would like oneday to have a large solar food dehydrator!
I’d like to say that I would start using the reusable produce bags…. But their glass containers are so gorgeous I know that’s what I would really want! No more storing in plastic then microwaving for me!
I’d like to find some reusable produce bags and ditch the plastic ones. And like many others here, I’d like to switch to glass storage.
One goal I’ve been working on is to eliminate as much processed or pre-made food as I can. I’m still having trouble with bread (I actually enjoy making it, but some weeks I get lazy and buy a loaf) and I’d love to make my own nut butters.
Hmm, well, in order to not sound like a broken record, I’m going to go with finding a way to clean my oven that doesn’t involve scary toxic cleaners (and replacing the rest of my plastic containers with glass)!!
Wean myself from old plastic containers, and purchase groceries in responsible packaging.
I make stinging nettle soup from my yard then jar it for my hubby to take to work. It’s VERY healthy and surprisingly nommy even though it’s just a simple weed! Very good alternative to eating fast food they order at work and it’s all contained and grown naturally in my yard.
I would love to add Weck jars to my canning supply. Also it would be great to have a larger food dehydrator. Really, there are so many things I would love to add to or to replace…one thing at a time, I suppose. 🙂 Thanks for the entry to this great giveaway.
I would love to get more glass containers for the refrigerator, to replace the plastic baggies we often use for odds and ends of food.
I’d like to move to glass containers for storing leftovers and using more jars for taking lunches.
I would like to have a small pressure cooker to make cooking beans a snap. I like to include at least 1-2 bean meals/week, and this would make it much more likely that I buy them in bulk instead of canned. More economical & healthy =) I’m a baby jam blogger…baby in the sense of sporadically and not at all the expert. I generally make a couple recipes/mo. and can lots of other produce in the summer. I would be estatic to win a set of Weck jars!!!!
It’s definitely time to replace my aging non-stick frying pans. The one ceramic coated pan I tried is chipping badly and has never been anywhere close to “non-stock”. I think I’ll be upgrading to good stainless and carbon steel to complement the cast iron I already have.
Other than that, I’m trying to replace the plastic with glass or metal storage containers.
I have started changing over to all glass storage items and my teflon is ancient, most of the new ceramic looks very tempting, and non stick to boot. I love canning and this would be a tremendous gift.
Love the store! MightyNest carrys many items I have purchased or eyed with open want locally ;). Always great to have a new resource! I have been wanting one of the Chemex coffee makers and will likely go that route when my trusty stovetop espresso maker loses its handle as it is threatening to.
Our kitchen is already pretty healthy, so I’d probably have to give the ice cream in the freezer to someone else. But that Weck kit really looks handsome. Count me in.
I would like to finish replacing all my pots & pans to stainless steel. I just have one aluminum pot to swich out – my popcorn popper.
I love when I find something that I really need that I didn’t even know existed — like a glass microwave popcorn popper. I have a stressful job in front of the computer and crunchy snacks, especially microwave popcorn, often get me through the day. This green kitchen gadget is awesome!
I’d like to get rid of the white beet sugar…maybe even the cane sugar. I’d also like to convert completely over to “friendly” cleaners…I’m almost there, but still use a chemical polish on all of my copper…I’m lazy…it works faster than salt and a lemon!
I would like a full set of glass refrigerator jars so I won’t have to store things in plastic containers.
Oh, I’m drooling over those Weck jars! I’d love to replace all my plastic storage containers to glass ones. I’ve started, but it’s a work in progress!
I’m using less sugar in my jams and jellies, and trying to use natural pectin instead of commercial pectin. With these changes, I’m getting used to a softer set, which I’m starting to love!
i would like to replace my plastic containers to glass containers.