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’m in the process of replacing all of my plastic leftover tubs to glass.
I kind of want to reuse baggies! I feel like they are such a waste. We get a lot of stuff like that at BJ’s, so they are the nice quality ziplock ones. Maybe they can be washed and reused? If I am having pretzels everyday for a week for lunch, I do reuse that bag for the week. Hmmmm, interesting. I am also a paper towel hog. I can’t imagine my kitchen life without them cleaning up chicken goop and all of my other spills. I feel terrible, but they make the gross jobs easier.
Thanks for the giveaway!
I would love to replace my old cake and pie pans with the stainless steel bakeware they have.
I,too, need to convert all of my plastic storage containers to glass. I’d also like to update my cutting boards!
We’ve been working on ditching all plastic in favor of glass or stainless steel.
I would like to change out all my plastic containers for glass. Plastic w/BPH or not is dangerous.
Replace my dishes with glass or stainless steel.
I’d like to replace some of my containers with stainless steel ones. I like glass best, but my kids aren’t allowed to bring those to school!
I would like to switch to using glass containers completely to store food. Love the weck jars!
I just saw the stainless compost bin & would love to have that in my kitchen! We’ve started a compost “pile” eventually figuring out what kind of outside bin we want to purchase. I like many others here, would like to rid my house of plastic containers & really like the glass containers the Mighty Nest has! Thanks for this opportunity!
I’d get rid of our plastic utensils and non-stick cookware.
I’m trying to move all my leftovers into glass containers, and get rid of my non-stick pans for some nice stainless steel ones. These weck jars are beautiful!
I am making the gradual switch over to glass containers for freezing, leftovers, etc… but I have a few carryout plastic bowls that I still use once in awhile…
Another one for switching out the plastic. Almost done with the storage containers, just need one more set for left overs, but still need lunch box/bag compatible ones. Next on the list will be replacing the plastic spatulas and serving spoons.
Replace pots with stainless
I’ve been itching to replace all my plastic storage containers with glass for some time now.
I’ve been looking at Weck jars for a while. The clips intimidate me a bit, but hopefully next year I’ll grab some and give it a go! I’m mid-way through the process of eliminating plastic from my kitchen; need to bite the bullet and get some glass containers for taking lunches to work in!
I would eliminate all the plastic cups and get new glass ones, actually, the weck jars would make great drinking glasses when they’re not in use otherwise…
I would do away with paper towels and only use cloths or dishtowels
I need to stop reusing rickety plastic containers for leftovers. Glas is the way to go!
I’d love to get rid of my Teflon coated cookware and replace it with stainless steel/copper.
One healthy change: More glass/ceramic storage, less plastic.
I would love to replace some of my ancient, bulky plastic utensils with bamboo or another natural product. Thank you for the chance at a lovely giveaway!
I, too, want to switch comepletely to glass storage from plastic. I could also use some good freezer storage containers that can easily nest on top of each other in the freezer.
Plums are currently on sale here, I think I’ll make some jam.
To make my kitchen healthier- -I would love to have stainless steel bake ware.
I would love to be plastic free in the kitchen!
I love those jars! I also love the nesting bowls as well. What a great store.
I’d like to replace my pots and pans with stainless.
I’ve gotten rid of most of the plastic containers from our kitchen but still need to switch out a couple of the plastic spatulas and a couple of emergency non stick pots I have poking around.
i would like a homemade , healthy dish detergent , that actually works.
Like most I’d love to finish switching over to glass leftover containers. I’ve already switched over for spices and most dry goods but the leftovers are taking longer.
I’m working on cleaning out the oven so it’s not quite so carcinogenic, replacing the plastic seltzer jars, taking out the garbage far more often, and cleaning the mixer so it doesn’t contaminate my GF friends.
I just got a dehydrator, and can not wait to dry some of natures bounty, that way I know what is in my spices/food. I would love to eat healthy home cooked foods, and if I won the jars, I could put up more food for winter. The one thing I saw that I would love to have.. is the stainless lunch containers, do you know how many bags I have gone thru??? some of the plastic sandwich keepers do not keep your lunch well nice and I think those would be lovely, plus they are completely reusable.
I’d like to get stainless steel tiffins and for lunch to replace the any-old-yogurt/sour cream-containers I generally use!
Definitely working on making the swap to glass storage from plastic. I’ve got the dry goods in glass but haven’t been able to completely make the shift for leftover and lunch storage.
I’d love to ditch my Teflon pans! I love weck jars. I have 6 and didn’t know they make a lifter. Cool!
Making the switch to glass from plastic is a resounding resolution from a majority of comments here. I have to join the parade. My husband takes lunch every day and microwaves a majority of the time so I have been convicted about the dangers of plastic containers. After all, I actually like the guy and would love to have him around for a long time!
I guess I’m in the “replace plastic containers” camp – and I know if I made my own yogurt, I wouldn’t have MILLIONS of yogurt containers to repurpose!
I am slowly working towards using only cast iron instead of “non-stick”. I find it cooks better also.
I’d like to continue getting rid of plastic containers and figure out winter food gardening in zone 5.
I’d get rid of any non-polyethelene storage containers.
I’ve gotta get rid of that plastic
I’d like to completely switch over from plastic to glass for leftovers and packed lunches. I’ve started (with an 8-piece set) but need another set or two before I can say good-bye to my plastic containers completely.
I would love to switch over to all glass containers and BPA free food storage containers. I love how beautiful the Weck jars are!
What gorgeous things they offer. The glass food storage jars would be very welcome in my home. The Weck canning jars are lovely and the round-sided ones especially so! Thanks for showing me this terrific store! Outstanding plummy jam, btw :). I grew up on So Cal ripe fruit trees too, so do know what you yearn for. I’m in New England now and apricots off the tree are a sweet memory. Thanks again, for the new store!
I have been using Weck jars for a long time and I reuse the rubber seal if it still holds its shape and doesn’t show any fissures. To soften them before the use, I bring them rapidly to a boil in some water and ordinary vinegar as that is what the Weck book recommends. Testing the seal by having a look at the little tab pointing downwards works if you are using the new version of Weck jars, the so called “Rundrandgläser” (which you are showing above) but the tabs are pointing upwards or horizontally when using “Rillengläser” (looks like a key and slot joint) or “Massivrandgläser” (jar and lid just lay on each other without any “frame”). Even if Weck doesn’t sell those any more, they can still be found second hand a lot (and they need their own rubber seals and clips).
I hope that helps!
I’d make my kitchen healthier by using Weck jars instead of Ball lids.
I haven’t quite eliminated all of my plastic leftover containers, but I’m working on it! I love Weck jars, and use them for all sorts of canning and dry storage. This is a wonderful give-away! (pick me! Pick me!)
I really need a new set of knives.
2 things- I have to complete my switch over from plastic storage containers to glass and I would love to buy the stainless lunch containers for each of my four kids, with a back up for each so that I don’t have to wash it every night if we get too busy with activities, etc. Thanks for the hook up on their site! I am loving it so far and bookmarking it for future use. And I LOVE weck jars but haven’t used them… yet!