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’d love to store leftovers in glass containers- not used yogurt containers! Recycling is good, but plastic is scary, especially if you put something in hot. I’ve been eyeing glass “tupperware” for awhile now….
I would like a nice mandolin for making salads prettier and more interesting!
I really need to replace my pots and pans for newer healther alteratives.
Wow! This is an awesome giveaway! I’d love to have a cast iron skillet. I’ve been dreaming of a cast iron skillet!
What a GREAT! giveaway! Have been canning for almost 40 years. I have gone from canning as a necessity to it now being a hobby. I love it! and have gone through 2 canners and it is time to retire this canner. Would love to win this canner set and jars! Problem is, I give most of my stuff away as gifts. Would have a hard time giving these jars away! May just keep them for myself 😉
I have been using my canning jars for kitchen cupboard storage long before most probably thought about it…40 yrs ago. I do have only a few pieces of plastic in my kitchen, such as the original ‘Tupperware’ celery keeper…I have never found another storage container better suited for that purpose . I am switching all my extra large bowls for produce from the garden from plastic to the stainless steel ones. Those big plastic ones are nice to carry two or three dozen tomatoes or cucumbers in!
I’d like continue greening my kitchen by ‘greening’ my cookware, so would chose the Xtrema Ceramic Square Cake Pan for starters. Thanks for this opportunity. I’ve got my eyes, toes and fingers crossed!
Still working toward totally plastic free storage for produce and leftovers.. I find the fine mesh bags don’t keep greens from wilting in the fridge, I’d LOVE a solution!
I use Mason jars – big ones -for storing all sorts of dry goods and we re-use peanut butter jars and others for storing things in the fridge. A conversion to the really nice snap top glass storage would be heaven. But Weck jars are just gorgeous. My mustard would look especially inviting in one of those!
I’m trying to get rid of the plastic containers and switch to glass. These jars look really cool.
I am enjoying your blog and have added your page to my blogroll. Our farm CSA members are always looking for more tips about canning and you have done a beautiful job describing the process with both words and pictures. I, too, use jars to store as much as I can and you have inspired me to post a picture on my blog…which I may get to today 😉
Not only are the weck jars great for canning and storing foods. It’s great to be able to see what you have. I am so glad that Mighty Nest is giving this givaway, beacuase I also found things I wanted to buy. Such things as a Lodge cast iron Cleaning Brush, and they sell the replacement rings for the jars. What a score. Well I need to be going for I have some early morning shopping to do! 🙂
I’d love to get the grain blade for my vitamix so I can start trying to make flours!
Wow! What a great website! Found so much good information. Thanks so much for this post!!
I think different cooking utensils would be high on the list – I’ve pretty much changed over from plastic to glass, but these would be some frosting on the cake! My canner is showing some hard wear too…
Oh, to have a pantry full of beautiful healthy food in glass jars that would have the kids begging to explore! Less plastic and more glass in my life.
I too am slowly working on replacing out all of my plastic.
I’d love to replace all the metal baking pans with glass ones. And I’d really love some one-piece rubber scrapers and spatulas.
I’ve never actually entered a blog giveaway before because I’m convinced I’ll never win, but this haul is too good to resist! I’m a fellow Philadelphian and I love your blog, Marisa.
Like many other folks, I’d like to make my kitchen healthier by removing plastic. I’ve replaced some of my storage containers, but still have more plastic ones to get rid of!
I visited the Mighty Nest website, and now I am chomping at the bit to do some shoppin’! I love those glass storage containers with snap on lids… just bought a second set at Costco, but would love additional sizes. I also love those “old fashioned” glass bake and store containers with glass lids! I am part of that “get rid of the plastic” camp. Besides, those glass containers are so pretty, and I just love packing my healthier-than-eating-out lunches for work in them.
I would love to finally switch over all of my tupperware to glass. They are so much safer to cook, microwave, freeze, & store food in. It also wouldn’t hurt my feelings to have some Weck Jars to add to my kitchen!!
I want to switch out all of my plastic food storage containers for glass.
Oh the beautiful jars!
We’re hoping to continue to get rid of the plastic from our house. Next out, plastic straws. I can’t decide between stainless or glass though.
I would love to buy one of those Catamount glass microwave popcorn poppers. . .my family eats popcorn every day and this would be so much better than regular microwave popcorn. Thank you so much!
I would love to change out my two frying pans for well seasoned skillets. These glass jars are amazing and I would be so excited to add them to my collection! They would be filled with Roasted Red Pepper Jelly and Peach Basil Jam.
After a 20+ hiatus from canning/preserving, I have come full circle and am once again “putting up” my garden’s bounty. Winning this package would be the boost I need. I, too, have been replacing my plastic with glass. And I never have enough glass jars! this would certainly help.
I have switched all my plastic “tupperware” storage system to glass! Love it. I also want to replace my burned out immersion blender – you can do many healthy things with that including making your own soups (less salt); whipping your own cream (no additives).
Pick me, pick me! I love these jars — on my wish list. I have been replacing the plastic with jars in my cupboards — looks so much prettier (and healthier too!).
Grain Mill … I’ve been wanting one for 5+ years. =)
I’ve been wanting to switch all my plastic utensils to stainless or bamboo. I’m about half way there!
I am jonesing for this give a way!!!! 🙂 I have gotten rid of most of my plastic replaced with glass containers. I also replaced quite a bit of metal with bamboo. But there is always something else I could do I am sure….these nice new Weck jars would help too… 😉
I want to replace the last few of my aluminum baking pans with better-for-you (and better to bake in) options.
My goal would be to rid my kitchen of the non stick pans and then the plastic containers, in that order
I agree with those who want to switch to glass over plastic storage containers. I also use stainless steel bowls to mix in. I dont know why I have so much plastic. It just seems to breed and grow in my cupboards.
I’d like to eventually replace my non-stick pans with cast iron, and like many of the above, phase out my plastic storage containers with reusable ones (glass and/or stainless steel)!
I used to store bulk grains and flours in plastic bags in tins. A couple of months ago I started storing grains, brown sugar, and specialty flours (2 pounds or less) in glass jars that I label. I find I use these foods more frequently now that I can see them. I also love to see how organized they look in my cabinets. Today, I am inspired and will toss my small plastic containers into the recycling bin.
I would love to have a commercial grade juicer to speed through the process of making juice from all those pounds of tomatoes from the garden! Currently I use the old fashion foley food mill to press the juice from the pulp!
finish changing over my plastic I am down to a few pieces of BPA free but would totally like to remove it.
Switch to glass or ceramic storage for my bulk buy foods
I’d like to switch to all glass storage containers.
I’ve made over most of my cookware already, but I’m still addicted to plastic storage bags and plastic wraps. This time of year, I freeze a lot of produce from the garden, and usually use a ziploc style freezer bag, or a Foodsaver bag. I would love to switch over to a healthier option for those.
Over this year and last, I’ve begun canning. I read how the linings of store-bought cans, especially of tomatoes, may contain BPA. Because of this, I’m canning all of the tomatoes I think my family will need until next year. So far, I’ve got 35 lbs. stored away in my new Ball jars. Halfway home! After looking into Weck jars, I now read that the metal lids on my own canned tomatoes may contain things I don’t want in my jars. I’m now seriously thinking about gradually moving to Weck jars with their glass lids.
I am still trying to get rid of the plastic. I almost have enough glass now that at least I only have to use it for cold storage now, and have enough glass to-go containers for things that I warm up for lunch.
I have been dying to add some Wecks to my canning kitchen. Goodby plastic. Hello Weck.
I’ve switched to glass containers a while ago, obsessed with putting food in jars! I cook in cast iron, bake with stoneware and have quite a few bamboo utensils. What I need to complete this transition is to obtain items for packing my husband’s lunches…unbreakable things, reusable items!
I’d like to switch to glass containers for packing leftovers and healthy lunches.
I’m on a mission to get rid of a lot of chemicals. I just discovered my favorite dish soap has SLS in it, so I’m on a mission to find a new one that I love just as much. And I read that it’s possible to replace dishwasher detergent with baking soda. Can’t wait to try that as soon as good old Cascade is gone. It sure feels good when greener is cheaper.
I’d definitely love to replace my plastic food storage with glass. My nonstick cookware is also aged and suspicious.
Would love the glass juice containers for homemade juices and drinks. They really look pretty.
I too am in the replace plastic camp. The current plastic that we have is BPA Free, but ideally we want to switch all of it over to glass. Not only will it last longer, but it makes reheating things easier. No more emptying food from the plastic container into a glass bowl or pot to reheat…It would be better for our family and also save time in the evenings.
The link to Mighty Nest is definitely helpful! Thanks so much for including that. I didn’t know there were so many options for lunch containers 🙂
I’d like it if someone would invent a canning rack and pot that wouldn’t rust. The rust on my pieces concerns me. I’ve been told it doesn’t matter, but I don’t like it!