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 just came off a 30 day juice fast and I am excited to start the rest of my life off right by displaying all the grains I am not going to use, preserves from scratch and healthy snacks to keep me on track.
There are still a few chemical products under the kitchen sink that I’m not thrilled about. I am trying to replace everything with more natural and safe options that work as well as their toxic counterparts! Thanks for the chance to win- my jars are rapidly depleting this time of year!
One thing that I am working on for my kitchen is finding a really good 6 or 7-qt. enameled cast iron dutch oven. I had one and used it all the time. Sadly, the coating started wearing off the lid, so I had to get rid of it and I am now looking for a new one.
I would definitely like to replace the non-stick cookware we have… I know it’s not healthy to use when cooking meals for my family. I’d also really love to start canning our fruit and tomatoes, so this give-away would be awesome!!
We just had our first child 12 weeks ago, and I am committed to bringing her up in a healthy, as-green-as-possible home environment. One of my (many) projects is to complete the transition of our kitchen storage from plastic to glass.
Biggest kitchenware change: reducing plastic and moving to glass storage!
I want to quit using the metal rings and sealers on the traditional jars. Been caning in glass for 35 years. The rings and sealers coming in from China leave a metalic smell and taste on my hands. Cant be good for the food or me.
I would love to be able to replace my plastic containers with glass!
I have a bumper crop of tomatoes coming in, and it is my hope to put enough up in glass to eliminate the need for canned tomatoes during the winter.
I want to get rid of all the plastic and only use glass. The dilemna? Glass is expensive and plastic is cheap. I am slowly adding more glass. This would give me a huge advantage 🙂
Trying to go all organic with no plastic. Learning to can is a wonderful experience. Going to farmers markets and then canning it up is wonderful! Really need that new canner! 🙂
I’ve moved much of my kitchenware to glass storage, but really need to update my pots and pans to stainless and cast iron.
Post college, I started to slowly replace all my hand-me-down non-stick pans and plastic tupperware. I’ve invested in a couple of cast iron skillets and plenty of pretty pyrex refrigerator dishes. My next move is to find a good cast iron sauce pan (it’s slow going, I am relying on thrift stores and antique malls for a deal). My mom swears by cooking rice in cast iron to boost the amount of iron in her diet.
I’d love to replace my non-stick cookware with something better.
I need to get rid of plastic baggies. My husband uses them for his lunch, and I really need to get those awesome, cute reusable baggies! Thank you for the giveaway!
One change is that I’ve got to get rid of the tupperware in my cupboard and stock up on glass containers.
I would like to cut down on my use of plastic and paper in the kitchen, as well as replace the one last remaining teflon-coated frying pan I have!
Working to rid my kitchen of all plastic storage containers.
I would love to add more BPA free glass jars to my kitchen. I want to start fermenting foods and the Weck canning jars would be perfect for this!
I would love to phase out all plastics in my kitchen, I’m almost there but still have a few tupperwares and plastic bags haunting my kitchen.
I have a tiny kitchen and it is so hard to maneuver appliances to get behind, under and way inside to clean them more thoroughly. As it is, the refrigerator door can only open just so wide and it is quite the ordeal to get the one drawer out for scrubbing. No fixing this issue easily. But one thing we are trying to do is use more glass jars for storage. They get cleaner with washing, therefore being less of a breeding ground for germs Winning this prize would be a huge treat and could only be better if it had come about a month ago…as that is how long I have been chained to the stove every night after work and every weekend! Thank you for sharing –
I am slowly switching out all my plastic for glass containers. Gosh this giveaway is beautiful!
I love canning and would love to use products without BPA, love these jars!
I just started making my own yogurt, which tastes wonderful. Next step, learning how to make my own preserves. This kit would be very helpful!
I would like to have a bpa free kitchen!
I’d like to be able to replace the plastic containers in my kitchen…if only I had more space. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
I would love to get rid of all the plastic containers in my kitchen… they are yucky and discolored and so not safe for the food we eat. And, don’e even get me started on the microwaving with them!
I have been getting rid of all teflon/non-stick coated pans in our kitchen and switching to mostly glass for storage/reheating rather than the plastics we used to use (and still will until we can afford to replace it all – piece by piece).
I would like to rid my kitchen of plastic entirely…disposable and reusable!
One thing to change? – this is it – the most major change i need it food storage. i can’t seem to shake the ziploc bag. i need help. These Weck jars are fantastic – thank you for the info!
I would definitely replace the Teflon-coated cookware. I also would like to use more glass storage containers instead of plastic.
No more BPA!
I would love to eliminate more plastic from my kitchen and start making my own baby food.
I would love to be able to invest in some cookware without coating or with a healthier coating, though that will be a long term change as it is quite an investment! On a smaller scale, I want to invest in more glass storage containers which Mighty Nest has a ton of!
I would like to change my cookware. I have mostly standard (though not Teflon) nonstick, but now that I know more, it makes me nervous. I’d rather get mostly ceramic or stainless.
Slowly getting rid of plastic in my home. Getting a few jars here a few jars there. Been reading up on canning. Ready to take the plunge. I wish my grandmothewas still alive to pick her brain. She canned every thing from her 4 acre! garden
I would love to replace the plastic storage containers! Thanks!
I would love to use more glass containers instead of plastic. Larger glass jars for creating herbal vinegars and such would be awesome as well!
We are steadily making some big changes in our kitchen, from replacing plastics with glass, to buying local foods from the natural grocer, to sending our children to school with lunch in bento boxes. These jars would certainly help us in our quest to make our kitchen healthier and our planet cleaner!
I would love to do away with my plastic storage containers. I love the tulip and juice canning jars.
We are, like everyone else, trying to get rid of plastic and transitioning into glass for storage and travel containers. Also, never opening the microwave door when there is a perfectly good stove underneath it! It’s pretty easy to access organics living in Brooklyn, now I just need my budget to catch up to be able to exclusively. Love the blog!
I always need more glass in my kitchen, but I really liked the nesting trio of stainless steel storage containers…I need to get rid of plastic storage!
I would love to win this food in jars set, how awesome.
I would like to eliminate plastic from my cooking and food storage entirely. Realistically, I think Ziplocs and their BPA-free kin are here to stay.
Love Food in Jars, so pleasantly surprised at the number of truly terrific recipes and amount of helpful information on canning –
I would like to change my canning process to include these BPA free seals. I’ve already swapped out most of my plastic and non stick cookware. Ooh – I hope I win!!
I am wanting to do away with plastic tubs and paper products. So far I am doing good with my dish rags next to the sink in a cute little basket. Now I just need to get hubby and DD to stop looking for the throw away stuff every time something spills. 🙂
What an awesome giveaway!! I’d love to replace the last of the teflon/non-stick (ack!) pans.
I would love to replace to plastic around my kitchen. I have also been staring to grow my own herbs but am planning a veggie garden so that I can eat organic and not buy food in cans.
I’d like to get more glass storage containers as I’m always running out of the big ones.
I would like to phase out plastic entirely. Its surprisingly difficult!