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 am trying to get rid of all the tupperwear in the house! We have been slowly trying to go to all glass. We already went to all glass baby bottles and cups, this is the last leg.
I love taking our garden harvest and keeping food for the winter! I’d love to win these!
The whole kitchen, lol. We want to learn how to can, we live in the country and have plenty to teach us but need something to start with, less plastic, more stainless steal, Glass, and Wooden. 🙂
I’d like to replace my plastic cooking utensils with bamboo and silicone.
I am making an effort to store leftovers in glass rather than plastic containers!
I’ve been slowing moving to storing foods in jars…so eventually I would love to stop using plastic bag.
If I could replace all the plastic in the house, that would be awesome.
I really want to update all my pots and pans
I want to get rid of all the remaining (often half-melted – YIKES!) cheap plastic cooking utensils we still have — slotted spoons, spaghetti spoons, ladels — and make the switch completely to bamboo and/or silicone and metal, when appropriate. We’re making headway on switching entirely to glass storage, though. Only a couple of plastic containers left, and I’ve finally got my spouse trained to not put them in the microwave (at least when I’m around 🙂 …)
I’d like to start making bread instead of purchasing it at the store and I’d like to use more green cleaning options.
I need to use less plastic bags for storage.
These jars would be awesome for storage.
My one biggest change would simply be to keep the kitchen clean!
I have a few non stick pans to replace.
thanks for the giveaway! I’d also like to stop using plastic in our kitchen.
These jars are gorgeous! I can’t believe that I haven’t heard of these jars before.
I would love to replace all my old teflon coated pots and pans with stainless steel. I’d also love to replace all my plastic storage with glass.
I need the canning supplies that will get me totally away from plastic’s. I changed to glass on most other things in the kitchen…but haven’t managed that yet, so this prize would give me a good start there! :-))
I want to switch from using plastic bags for lunches to reusable.
I need jars! And more glass storage can always come in handy! My hubs and I were just talking about canning and how we can start so this would be amazing! I have never seen these jars before they are so cool!
I have been working on ridding the house of plastic. We are working on storing things in glass containers. Another are I would like to work on is ending the usage of non-stick pans.
I would love to get rid of my Teflon griddle and get a nice cast iron one. I am trying to get rid of all the non-stick cookware in my house!
I would like more glass containers for leftovers, so I can get rid of all my plastic.
i bought a few wecks jars last year and give them as gifts to
my friends for birthdays and what not. these jars are lovely to
look at and great fun to use. i’m slowly ridding my mothers house
of plastics. she hasn’t caught on yet!
I want to replace all of our unsafe, nonstick pans with cast iron and/or stainless!
I want to find a way of reducing plastic freezer bags. They are so convenient and I can’t seem to find a suitable replacement.
I would like to replace all my non-stick cookware. Great giveaway!
I would love to go completely plastic free, we are slowly trying to get there
I love mighty nest! I have been getting rid of all the plastic I can in the kitchen, I still have some storage containers i need to replace, and I need a sippy cup alternative for my almost 1 year old.
Some girlfriends and I are looking to start canning. We’re going to get big bushels of farm-grown, local romas and start with sauce.
No matter how many resealable glass containers I have, it seems like it’s not enough! I’ve been slowly ridding my kitchen of plastics and feel so much better doing so (no icky plastic chemicals in my food!).
My next project is to start canning.. to make preserves and tomato sauce. 🙂
Canning has been on my list for a long time. We have a garden and give away a lot of food, which is good, but I’d like to preserve it to use during the winter months. This is the year I am doing it!
I read earlier today that approximately 40% of all Americans’ food goes to waste. Preserving food using these jars would cut down on that a ton, at least in this household!
I want to show my daughters how to becoming Eco friendly, by switching to all glass food storage & Eco saavy at the same time, we shop for fruits & veggies at our farmers markets & I would love to teach them how to rely on the earth more for food instead of big companies who are only in it for the money. We have a small garden & canning is our next step in our healthy, Eco saavy expierience.
I would like a stainless steel canner so I can use it on an induction stovetop.
Hi! I need these jars! On June 1, 2012 my boyfriend and I decided to explore a vegan lifestyle. We’ve learned about soaking, sprouting, dehydrating, and fermenting, oh my. Unfortunately, in my attempt to avoid using plastic I bought mason jars but they were the cheap kind. My kefir never worked and my cashews got moldy in these jars. Crud. So much for buying cheap kitchen equipment.
I am working on getting rid of all plastic and replacing it with glass and silicone. Also, I have one more non-stick pan to replace but I’m pretty sure that will be very soon.
I want to use fewer plastic containers and plastic wrap in the kitchen — better for me and for the environment!
I have 2 areas I need to clean up in my kitchen. 1) All of my baking pans and cookie trays are non stick, and need to be thrown out, but I don’t know what to replace them with. and 2) I discarded all plastic tupperware, but replaced them with mason jars that have BPA lining! I had no idea at the time, and am so frustrated. I would love, love, love to try these Weck jars!
i am starting to gather ideas and supplies for once a month cooking, to make sure my family doesn’t eat junk on busy school nights. these would kick my butt into gear with learning how to can!
I would like to stop using sandwich bags, and replace my nonstick skillet.
I just love Weck jars – I visited Germany as a child every summer. My Oma and Opa canned all of their green beans, fruits, and pickles in only Weck…I remember sitting up late with them many summer nights, waiting for the last batch to finish. The basement shelves were stocked with rows and rows of sour cherries, mirabellen, red currant jelly…paradise!
I have taken on the rather expense task of ridding myself of as much plastic as I can. I use wooden or stainless steel bowls for salads, popcorn, ceramic for mixing, glass for spices, and now Weck for canning. I love these jars. I’d say they are heirloom quality with classic, timeless beauty!
I want to use more reusable bags for produce. And figure out a way to for less meat packaging. Also, a cast iron skillet! Love, Kristin
I would love to get rid of plastic containers and can more home grown food.
I’ve been getting rid of all plastic storage in our kitchen, but is a little investment to do this! I love the way my bulk grains & pantry items look in glass jars on the kitchen counter!
Removing all plastic from my kitchen, It is so hard to give up old habits. I am getting there slowly.
Since I found out about the BPA in my mason jar lids, I’ve been put off of picking. Would love to try these Weck jars for all my lacto-ferments.
Like many others I am slowly getting rid of plastic containers and using glass.
I would change from using a microwave to a convection oven.
I want to use more glass and stainless steel. I have slowly been moving that direction, but my tupperware are still soooo handy!
I would love to win these! I am hoping to do a lot of fall canning and would love the chance to use these!