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.
That is a seriously awesome giveaway! I use glass for most food storage, but wish I could replace my rigid plastic Tupperware products for microwaving leftovers. But they are the only truly leakproof product I have found so far to keep my sack lunch from becoming a saucy mess!
I would just love to replace my last couple of plastic mixing bowls on my way to a healthier kitchen. I’m not sure I’ve seen a more lovely giveaway than this one!
We are trying to reduce the amount of plastic in our kitchen thru buying in bulk at the natural food store, and buying produce in season at the farmer’s market. I am a beginner canner & would love to have these products in my kitchen!!
I am on board with cutting back on plastic containers! (and disposables in general)
I’d like to wean myself off non-stick pans for things like eggs.
Those jars are so pretty…and expensive. I hope I don’t win because then I’ll probably be more inclined to add to the collection! 🙂
I would love to make the switch completely from plastic containers to glass ones. I have to admit, I’m HORRIBLE about taking my lunch to work every day in tupperware. It’s bad!
I have a collection of plastic ladles that I would love to replace, and I would love to get a set of Pyrex containers.
Thanks for this opportunity to win!
I’d get rid of the plastic containers.
I would add more cutting boards to my kitchen to make it healthier. I have four plastic ones–two for raw meats and two for everything else but in canning season, this doesn’t feel like enough. Thank you.
i have 2 things i am interested in doing-getting rid of the plastic and updating my non-stick oven pans. love the weck! thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
I’d love to get rid of my microwave. In fact, I’ve been thinking about it for a long time and this is just the motivation I need to DO it!
A canning pot is precisely what I need! This is the second year I’ve been able to have a(n ever expanding) garden and I want to start canning the surplus for healthy meals in the winter.
I dumped all my plastic left-over containers for ONYX stainless steel.
I would like to fully to commit to stop using plastic bags and containers. I’m getting there! I’d also like to make more products at home to reduce the onslaught of store packaging.
I have a 19 month old and 1 on the way. I would love love love to start a healthier diet for my family, including canning of garden fresh vegetables and fruits.
I have an 18 month old and 1 on the way. And I would love love love to start a healthier diet for my family, including canning garden fresh vegetables and fruits.
I would love to change out my plastic storage with more glass as well as my cookware. piece by piece I am moving in that direction, but it takes time.
I need to stop storing food in ziplocks and wrapping it in plastic. I’m working on building a collection of better, healthier and less wasteful ways to keep food fresh.
Love this site, by the way!
A new drip coffee maker, better water bottles, stainless steel food storage containers–and those wine glasses look amazing.
I’m still in the process of moving all my dry food storage into glass jars. We were invaded by ants this spring and that prompeted the ‘big change’
Wow, I have a lot of things I’m working on, but right now the most important is replacing all the plastic containers that I use to freeze food in. I do use glass for some items but would like to start using the stainless steel I have found online… it’s just a bit pricey for the amount of food that I freeze.
Thanks for all the great tips, recipes and a fun blog to read.
I’d get rid of all my non-stick cookware and utensils and upgrade to environmentally friendly items. Move away from all plastics too.
Plastic free, getting rid of plastic based utensils, maybe a few cast iron pans to start with!
I would like to stop using ziplock bags and cut down on paper towel usage as well.
I would love to get rid of my cheap plastic storage containers!
I am going to stop microwaving food in plastic containers.
I want everything they sell too! One thing I would love to switch out in our family is the baby utensils (I can only find plastic it seems) so the stainless baby utensils set definitely caught my eye.
I am working toward a healthier family by being a first year gardener. The joy of having fresh produce that I grew myself is awsome! My step toward a healthier kitchen has been being a very novice canner. The juice canning jars that come in two different sizes are so cute. I would like to add them to my new improved healthier kitchen.
I would love to toss all of my plastic food storage containers
I would like to acquire more non-reactive cookware.
I want to get rid of all my plastic storage containers. blech!
I would add a grain mill to make my own flour.
I would love to start canning more of my own produce or produce that we are able to get directly from farmers instead of buying those out of season strawberries from Canada after strawberry season ends for the kids. Right now we are in a tiny apartment with an even tinier fridge and freezer, so freezing extra food is impossible. But, canning! Oh, I could line all the shelves in our apartment with canned tomato sauce, jellies, jams, pickled veggies and anything and everything else I could dream up. Then I could put all of our food money directly into the farmers’ pockets so they are able to grow more, sell more and hopefully help more and more people buy local, fresh and organic (if possible). Ahhh, the dream….
We actually JUST made our kitchen healthier – hubby surprised me with a Blendtec for our 5-year anniversary! We’ve been making daily smoothies 🙂
I would LOVE to stop using metal canning lids and rings. They drive me crazy, not to mention the plastic coating on the inside of the lids…yuk!
Now that I know more about food storage, I would like to replace the plastic food storage containers with glass containers. This can be an investment as glass is more expensive than plastic, but they would last longer. Yes, I know glass can break, but over time my plastics ones have cracks in them. I’m not sure that’s not healthy.
I want to start using cast iron.
Oooooh! I would love to have some Weck jars to can in along with the large pot and rack. I am currently freezing most everything I put into my canning jars.
I need to upgrade my cooking utensils
I have admired the weck jars from afar for a long time….would love to win!
I’ve been in the process this last year or so of changing my pantry over to glass storage. I’ve also begun canning, and the only thing wrong with that is the metal caps. I thought Weck were difficult to find, but up to now have just been focused on learning the process of canning. The Weck jar lids being glass would solve the metal lid problem and they’re beautiful to boot. That would be a great step toward making my kitchen healthier!
I’d like to do the final purge of plastics in the kitchen. I’ve gotten rid of almost all in the past 4 years, but my husband loves ziplocks and plastic wrap too much to let me totally eliminate them. I’d love to throw them out and officially be done with the stuff. And I’d also like to have no more BPA in my canning lids — I had no idea until today that it’s in there!
I’m in the process of switching from plastic to glass food storage. I love canning, and I’d love to try these Weck jars; I’d never heard of them before!
I would like to go plastic free in my kitchen. Kitchen utensils, storage containers and all! I’ll have to take baby steps to get there, but canning jars are a good place to start!
I want to get rid of all plastic for storing and find great solutions for school lunches. Thanks!
It would be such a blessing to be able to open my pantry and have most of our foods canned and used on a daily basis. I can all year long. In the garden growing months I can or freeze everything possible. In the winter I make large batches of soups, chili’s, and sauces. My sons come home to visit and are able to take some of Mom’s Cooking home with them. Makes me happy. And helps keep them healthier.
I’d love to totally eliminate all the cheap plastic storage containers.
I would love to replace all of my non-stick cookware with something healthier. I’ve made a step in that direction with a cast-iron skillet that I do much of my cooking in, but for cooking some things I just haven’t found a good replacement for teflon coated pans.
I’m currently trying to replace my plasticware items. I’ve been slowly substituting bowls and cups with glassware and my utencils with bamboo/wood or metal. I would love to win but I have to admit I’m new to even the idea of canning and barely have begun gathering supplies to start with haha.
I’m sorry if you get this comment twice. My internet hiccuped when I submitted it so I don’t know if the first one went through or not. It never loaded right, so here I am trying again @__@;; sorry!