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.
Personally I’m trying to cut high fructose corn syrup out of family’s diet. I love making jam’s and jellies. I just made my first batch of spaghetti sauce and oh it was so good and my tummy loved it. I’m in the process of being tested for crohn’s disease. But I’ve noticed my symptoms are much less when I can eat foods I’ve canned personally. I would love to win this prize and would put it to use right away. I would love to can more and try these jars, they look very neat! I don’t know if my canner will make it much longer, it was a hand-me-down from my Grandmother and is quite rusted and looks like it could spring a leak anytime. Someone is going to be very lucky to win this giveway, I’ve got a stainless steel canning pot on my Christmas list!
My family and I are farmers, and I have not been good about food preservation in the past. I am trying to work on that, which is why this giveaway caught my eye. Nice site!
I eat at least one bag of microwave popcorn a night. I work out so I am not overweight, but I haven’t converted to popping my own in some type of vessel. I would love to have the glass popcorn popper! I am going to put that on my wish list for Christmas. I could probably save myself several hundred calories every night. My workout burn will extend further!
The bake n store glassware would be nice to have.
I can most of my tomatoes, to control salt and quality of original product. Pressure cook dried beans, and freeze for later use, again to control salt and original product. And I love pressure canning chicken stock so it is shelf stable and ready to go.
On the jam front, using lower amounts of sugar and making smaller batches of high quality jam with great fruit hopefully helps us be healthier!
I am using glass containers instead of plastic ones
After discovering that BPA is in everything from plastic to canned goods, I have been trying to eliminate all of these containers from my 5 year old’s food vessels. In my early 20’s I started canning and then stopped for a myriad of reasons. I’m now a 40 something stay at home mom who would love to provide the freshest most wholesome meals that I can. This canning package will jump start the plan!!!
I would like to replace my plastic storage containers with glass ones.
I would love to get rid of all the non-stick skillets that my husband insists on having…though the non-stick pots are long gone and have been replaced with stainless steel.
I am trying to phase out paper towels and plastic storage containers. Hard to do with a new born and a toddler.
I am slowly moving to storing everything in glass jars. No more open packets open to contaminants and bugs. More money saved to spend on healthier necessities!
I want new cookware – cast iron and enamel. A gal can dream!
I’ve gotten rid of *most* of the plastic containers in my house. I really need/want a better canning pot. This giveaway is truly dreamy.
I have been replacing all of my old plastic kitchenware with glass and bamboo as I can afford it and I long ago got rid of my coated non-stick pans and have been buying higher quality replacements…also as I can afford them. 🙂
I’ve been doing all my canning in a stock pot, using potholders for jar lifters and old mismatched canning jars with new lids. It would be so lovely to have some real equipment and beautiful jars to sit on the shelves….mmmm.
I am new to this canning business n I love it. Winning new jars would certainly make me look n feel like a pro.
Love the idea of a non BPA canning jar lid!
I saw an article where a family went completely green. Their pantry was a magnificent sight: All glass for snacks, canned goods and dried goods. I want to make that healthy change in my pantry as well, and I want to do this! I am s-l-o-w-l-y doing so. No more paper goods!
I’ve been lusting after a Chemex Glass Coffeemaker…but more practically I’m working on phasing out our plastic storage containers for glass or stainless. So many great options!
I LOVE these jars. Saw them at the market for the first time last week, but couldn’t find a maker. AWESOME timing!
We have elliminated plastic and chosen glass instead. Next, I will getting rid of the nonstick pans and hopefully go with more cast iron. I love a great seasoned pan! Also working on all the kid/baby gear! Amazing how much junk plastic is out there! Going bottle by bottle now…one glass for every 3 plastic! lol!
i have bought a lot of jars would love to try these
I, too, use a lot of freezer bags and even though I have begun to wash and reuse, it seems wasteful.
My healthier kitchen project is to get rid of all my plastic ware and replace with glassware. Slowly getting there you wouldn’t believe how much plastic you use!
Anything I can do to lessen my impact!
I’d like to switch from BPA canning jar lids. I love the idea of using Weck jars.
Getting rid of teflon (but it’s actually an excuse to buy more le creuset).
I’d really like to phase out my plastic tupperware in favor of glass. I always worried I’d break glass storage jars, but now I worry more about all the chemicals in the plastics.
I would love to get rid of the plastic food containers and move to all glass in my kitchen!
I’d like to get rid of aluminum cookware and plastic cups.
so hard to choose! But love the canning jars.
I would love to teach my kids about canning and these would be perfect!!!!
I don’t use any nonstick- only stainless, cast iron and copper cookware, which for me is major because most people I know use nonstick exclusively. But I would like to omit plastics altogether. I’m slowly phasing then out in favor of glass jars. I know lots of other people have already said that but it’s true.
I keep intending to replace my plastic water bottles with the glass ones that come in the little rubber covers. We have to buy our water since our ground water on our farm is potable but … well… not really, so we refill our plastic water bottles constantly.
Replacing old utensils like serving spoons with bpa free ones.
Ooooh! So great! What an amazing giveaway! I still have a few non-stick pans rolling around in the cabinet, but they are on the way out. The one other item would be kids’ sippy cups. Looks like MightyNest has some great ones!
I would like to phase out papertowels completely (but I really love Viva papertowels) and have been slowly getting rid of all my plastic tupperware type containers and using glass storage instead.
I would like to use fewer processed things!
I am working on phasing out plastic and using glass containers instead. Oh, and canning my own food helps!!
I’ve already replaced my plastic with silicone and glass. LOVE IT! I’d like a compost bin to sit on my counter and some new glass refrigerator pitchers.
These would be great to have and use!
I’m trying to replace all of my plastic items with glass or other more eco-friendly materials!
I’d like to start replacing most of my cleaning containers with jars. Those tulip jars might do well for my latest jar idea; vinegar and lemon/orange peel cleaner……hmm would be attractive!
I’d like to go away from plastic containers for food and move to glass containers. Is also like to get a better steamer, the one I have now is a bit of a pain to use.
Earlier this week, I discovered Weck jars on Mighty Nest. I would love to use the larger sizes for storing dry goods, especially bulk, so I can reduce the amount of plastic packaging and bags that we use.
I am trying to use all glass and stainless steel for my food storage and leftovers…slowly getting rid of plastics
I would love to have better options over plastic containers or plastic bags to freeze stuff in.
This spring I transitioned over to composting all kitchen waste. My next healthy kitchen goal is to cut out paper towels or plastic food storage containers. They’re both big projects to take on!
As Farmer’s and producers of high quality, organic goods we are always searching for great equipment!! What is not to love!! We are replacing all food storage items with BPA free glass, and we would love to replace our non stick cook ware with enameled cast iron!!
What a fantastic giveaway! I would really like to go from plastic to glass, and am in fact making some strides in that direction. But I’ve got quite a ways to go 🙂
I am slowly tryng to replace the plastic with glass been finding some old pyrex at second hand stores it is so great to use
I’m getting rid of plastic storage in favor of glass!