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.
On my donate list: all the “non-stick” pans, most of the plastic storage containers, and a ton of plastic mixing bowls. I just need to get a few hours all in a row to really clear out my cupboards!
I’d really like to ditch my old non-stick pan in favor of a cast iron skillet!
I really need a pot for canning qt jars. I have to do everything in pt jars at the moment, and it would be so nice to do somethings like pasta sauce and tomatoes in qt jars. I’d also love to get more glass storage, tired of the old plastic and a bit scared about it.
Thanks for all your great ideas.
We’re in the process of replacing our old plastic lunch containers with glass ones.
I’d definitely like to get rid of plastic all around. Stainless steel or glass only!
I got rid of the plastic containers for glass, but I still have plastic wrap & plastic bags – I’d love alternatives for those!
I’d love to replace all of my old, scratched non-stick pans with cast iron. Unfortunately, given the family budget, I’ll have to do it one pan at a time.
I would like to make peach preserves in the tulip jars.
Like many of the others, I too would like to replace my plastic food storage with glass. I have also been wanting some Weck jars, but haven’t been able to make the investment. I also need to get more reusable jar lids (to make it easier to seal and reseal once things have been opened) and would love some of those pour spouts for canning jars. I make a lot of liqueurs and infusions in canning jars and they can get messy pouring from the big jar openings.
My plastic cutting board has got to go. Bamboo is in my future!
Would love to get rid of the plastic in my entire house, starting with the kitchen. I am never sure what is leaching and what is not, and getting rid of it all would take care of that problem!
Ohhhhh my goodness, I have been dying for some Weck canning jars, but can’t find any near me! Plus, my canning pot is too small for quarts or even more than a few pint-sized jars, which has become a problem–this one looks about right!
I’d like to continue ditching plastic in favor of glass…it has been a slow but steady process thus far!
Another person chiming in for … more glass, less plastic for storage!
Probably more glass storage containers to replace plastic, also if I had a better seasoned cast iron skillet, I might replace a non-stick pan. Though both those replacements make for heavier boxes when I move!
Except for two, I just replaced all my teflon cookware with stainless steel and I love it! Melamine and plastics are the next things I’m losing. Glass storage here we come–wow those Weck jars are beautiful–I’d hadn’t heard of them before this blog. Glad I did!
The one change in my kitchen that I’m working on to make it healthier is switching out plastics for glass. Slowly but surely making progress! I see so many items on MightyNest…. I just wish my budget was as big as their selection!!
Teflon, plastic containers and plastic wrap and wooden utensils have just about disappeared from my kitchen. going with glass and stainless steel.
Oh wow! I adore Weck!
I’d love to switch from plastic food storage to glass and stainless steel -I just pulled some plastic out of the dishwasher that had that weird white bloom on it -what IS that??
I would love to get rid of all my plastic storage and start using all glass. Not only does it look and feel better, but it would be more healthy as well.
We’re trying to use more glass for storing leftovers. We have a lot of plastic containers from lettuce and lunchmeat that I’d love to do something with other than recycle though.
Oh what wouldn’t I do!! I’d like to get rid of all plastics and most silicones except perhaps a spatula and *maybe* a silpat (I’m not totally sold that silicone isn’t bad for us somehow… especially since some of it smells plastic-y). Change most cooking utensils over to wood/bamboo and metal. We already got rid of the nonstick pots, but I’d like to get more cast iron (love how nonstick they get!) so I wouldn’t be as tempted to use so much veggie oil and could save my expensive, high-heat oils as ingredients. Oh, and switch most of my pans to baking stones and glazed stoneware. I LOVE the heft and visual weight of stoneware. Can I just say I also love that Weck uses natural rubber seals! You can just toss them in the compost pile when they’re done. Oh, definitely also ditch the microwave, we barely use it anyway.
I’m working on eliminating plastic for food storage. I’ll probably still need to use some for taking my lunch to work, but I’m trying to use reusable containers instead of disposable baggies (although I did get a reusable snack bag as a gift… but I haven’t tried it yet!).
I have a few weck jars that I store things in but only the large ones for things like dry goods, and I make sun tea in them:) I haven’t wanted to shell out the money for the smaller jars to try to actually can with them, but I really want to bc I can then avoid the lids that come with the mason jars which hve BPA. I’ve been using the Tattler lids but even though thy don’t have BPA I’m assuming they have something else that’s not good!
My big push right now is to stop or minimize use of plastic for food storage. Slowly building a collection of glass and enameled containers and bowls. Jars work too of course! Home canning and preserving is also helping me minimize purchased metal-canned foods and whatever coatings are on those.
Like many of the other posters, I’d like to continue getting rid of plastic in favor of glass or metal in my kitchen. This is proving extra difficult with kids’ stuff, because there are a million super-cheap options for babies in plastic but glass or metal options are so much pricier!
I’ve been replacing my plastic food storage with glass, slowly but surely. The Weck jars I already have have been helpful in that respect!
I’d replace our teflon pans with a non-stick that won’t start flaking into the food.
i’d like to get a sharper (read: not so dull it’s a danger to use) mandoline so I would have more ways to prepare and eat veggies.
I’d love to switch from Teflon to stainless pans for cooking.
Oh goodness, that is an incredible giveaway! Wow! I have already switched my kitchen to using iron cookware, but the lunchbox and pack ware look so neat! I will need to order that stuff soon! Great site!
My biggest goal for the kitchen is teaching my 2 yr old how to eat healthy fresh food. Slowly changing over his kid plastic plates and cups to glass/pottery. Thank you for the canning inspiration.
I’d love to trade out my nonstick bakeware for stainless steel or cast iron…
I too have been moving away from plastic for food storage, and have been slowly weeding out the teflon from my cookware collection.
I would love to have more canning jars. I would like to start canning more than we do now. This way I can feel better about the food I make for my family.
I’ve been getting rid of plastic and switching over to glass, and at this point all my storage containers are glass only (yay for reusing jars!). I’m in the process of slowly replacing my measuring cups/containers as well to stainless steel and glass.
I would love to get rid of the plastic storage in my kitchen and go with glass!
I have a teflon griddle; the last teflon item in the kitchen. I would love to replace it, but just can’t part with it. It’s perfect for pancakes! I’m on the lookout for an equivalent non-teflon grill.
WECK!!!!
I’d like to figure out a way to wean myself off of plastic wrap. I’m constantly using it especially for bread baking.
I’d love to start replacing my plastic containers with glass and eliminating store-bought sauces and preserves!
Like everyone else, I want to ditch my plastic storage habit and my teflon crutch. I also want to find a way to source decent kitchen utensils that aren’t cheap and throwaway and dollarstore sketchy that doesn’t break my bank.
I would like to eventually get rid of all my plastic food storage containers and switch to glass.
more glass!
I’d like to find an alternative to the plastic bags I use to store the bountiful produce from the garden and the next few days of washed lettuce. I do re-use them, but I know that’s not quite enough.
i’d just love a gas stove, but then, that’s dependent on the apartment building – haha. in the meantime, the healthier option is probably more about the food i buy – and using all of it before it goes bad!
I would love to replace all my plastic storage containers with glass containers.
I would make a better effort to can tomatoes every year. Some years I make it, and some years (like this one) I don’t. Hate having to buy the store-canned stuff.
Definitely get rid of plastic and go with glass.
For some food storage, plastic ziplock bags are still the easiest and best containers. I’d love it if I could find an alternative for storing things like bacon and lunch meat in the fridge and vegetable scraps for stock in the freezer.
I’d love to ditch ALL my plastic storage containers and convert entirely to glass. Thanks for offering such a great giveaway! I’ve just purchased my first round of Weck jars and am loving them…
First thing I would like to do is to replace all of my storage containers with glass, instead of plastic (thankfully, the grandchildren are getting old enough that I don’t need to worry overmuch about breakables).
I already have a 15+ year old Vita mix for healthy smoothies, ice cream, juicing, grinding,etc. NOTE I did say 15+ years old and still running perfect even with almost daily and often during canning season heavy use. If you are on the fence about getting one – yes they are worth the price for the life of it alone. Don’t own any old Teflon and store most things in glass. My next major investment will be a grain mill. I grind grains in the vita mix now but while it does a good job to do a lot I have to take it kinda slow because it will heat the flour too much otherwise.
I love the wreck jars and would be extatic over winning this lot. I have some that my German mother in law gave me but even with the my hundreds of ball jars I never seem to have enough. I know my two pressure canners are among the most used items in my entire kitchen. But then we only buy a few canned items from the grocery stores and most of what I can is also grown by me.
I’d replace all my storage containers to glass.
glass storage containers, for sure!
the weck jars are so, so, so pretty. i think i’ll be making some plum preserves this weekend. 🙂
I am getting rid of all the toxic plastic storage containers and would like to try the new glass storage containers at Mighty Nest. I would love to win the wreck jars for my canning!
I’d love to break free of the Teflon hold my pots have on me.
I definitely use too much plastic and would like to find a safer alternative.
It’s a toss up between ridding my kitchen of plastic, and getting a high powered blender, mainly to grind my own grain. LOVE weck jars!
What an awesome giveaway. In my house we’ve been making the leap to glass food storage instead of plastic, but one thing I have my eye on @ MightyNest is the Logic cast-on griddle to make my pancake making teflon free 🙂
I would love to replace most of my plastic cooking utensils with wooden ones.
I plan on using more glass and less plastic. Starting with making breakfast-to-go….oatmeal in canning jars!
i want to completely finish my transition from plastics to glass containers. not only is it healthier for us….but it’s healthier for the planet too!
thank you for the lovely giveaway!
I like many others would like to get rid of all plastics and replace with glass containers.
I would like to change from buying (organic) baby food to making and storing my own baby food. I am of average skill in the kitchen but am so nervous about trying to make and store baby food that the Weck system would give me the motivation and courage to do what is best for the babies!
I’d like to start using fewer plastic containers and start using more glass.
I am changing out all my plastic for glass storage containers…these fabulous containers are the perfect size…Thanks !
After coming across your blog, I began making jellies, and trying to convert to jarring for healthier eating (no preservatives) for my family…. thank you for the chance to win! 🙂
We’ve eliminated nearly all purchases of store-bought items in tin cans to eliminate BPA transfer into our 1 year old. With one exception (refried beans), we’ve eliminated tin cans in our kitchen. Anyone want to share a recipe for refried beans?
The main thing I need to do and haven’t yet, is to replace my water bottles with safer containers. I have a few non BPA water bottles, but really need more because I don’t do dishes very often. I would love to try the Weck jars for my jams and preserves. And yes, I would use them for my special recipes and keep them for myself and not give them away!
I would love to switch over to BPA free storage like these Weck jars in my kitchen!
I am just getting started setting up my hope chest-I want to start off right with all manner of healthy kitchen supplies!
on my to-do list: i’d like to replace my cooking utensils (esp. whisker which rusts!) with stainless steel/bamboo/etc….
I am slowly replacing all my plastic with glass storage containers. I also need a few more pots and pans, and we are slowly accomplishing that!
I’d love to get rid of my old non-stick frying pans that may be flaking their coating off into my food and replace them with some nice non coated ones.
I am working on keeping all plastic storage out of my house. I like the glass so much better. I may occasionally re use a yogurt container to take a cold dip to a party (always end up losing my good glass stuff) but it never gets heated. The next step for a safer home will be making my own cleansers for kitchen and bath with only natural non toxic ingredients. Already experimenting. I would REALLY love the canning set though b/c it is something I have wanted to do for a very long time.
I’d love to replace my teflon frying pans with cast iron.
I just started canning my own food. It is much nicer to know exactly what I am eating!
The first thing that came to mind for a change in my kitchen is to use glass storage for food/leftovers. Then I read everyone else’s posts, and nearly everyone has the same goal!
I want to buy a non-toxic, non-stick griddle for things like grilled sandwiches, pancakes, etc. I’m planning to dehydrate veggies and also want to try canning.
Install an indoor grill !
I am on a quest to get rid off all of my plastic storage containers, and have just recently started canning – thanks for the inspiration! 🙂
We are in the process of detoxing our kitchen–eliminating plastic and processed food. The Weck jars are lovely and would be a great start to canning. P.S. Love Mighty Nest, items ship quickly and the glass we received was perfect and wrapped in brown paper instead of plastic. My daughter is having a hay day coloring it all.
I would like to get all of the non-stick stuff out. I still have a few in the cupboard, but have been trying to move over to cast iron exclusively…
Hate using plastic. Glass is healthier and green! I’ve been reuseing glass containers for years and have just started to can this year
I’m transitioning from plastic storage and slowly investing in glass storage containers. Thanks for the opportunity!
I really want their Lodge grill pan in cast iron. I’ve been working this year on replacing all my Teflon pots and pans and that is one of the last things I use regularly that I still need.
I’ve got a lot of things to can as my garden enters the final hurrays of summer. I’ve got salsa to make! Thanks for the giveaway!
We are switching away from plastic and using glass as much as possible. I’d love to win some wreck jars!
Change over to glass storage containers. Particularly when I bring something to work and want to heat it up – have to put in bowl or plate I keep at work = more dishes to clean up!
I’d love to get rid of all of my plastic and replace it with bamboo and glass. Maybe start with bamboo cutting boards?
In Southern California the glass jars are so expensive and somewhat unaffordable for most people. I’m making my way toward having nothing but them!
I would REALLY REALLY like to swap out all my plastic storage containers for the glass ones! aestetically pleasing and easier to clean!
I’m a coffee fiend and I’d love the chemex coffee maker. No plugging, in filters, and glass only brewing.
I really should replace all of my plastic containers with a BPA free option, but for now I’ve just been trying not to microwave them. I would love to try using Weck jars for canning and storage!
I keep on saying that I’m going to use jars for things instead of plastic containers. I know most manufacturers have stopped using BPA in their plastics, but the thought of heating up my lunch and it sitting in chemicals freaks me out. I use corning bowls now, but I need to invest in some more.
I’d love to eliminate the non-stick cookware from my kitchen (minus maybe one pan for eggs!). We’re doing it gradually but I can’t wait!
I’d love to get rid of my plastic and replace it all with glass (or at the very least bpa free plastic). Stainless steel bakeware would be lovely too!
I would love switch all of my baking dishes and pans to stoneware. I just got a pizza stone and my next purchase will be stoneware cookie sheets!
I remember being in the kitchen when I was little watching my Mother and Grandmother canning. The smells we delicious! I have not done any canning since I was in high school. I would LOVE to start this wonderful tradition with my children as well.
I already use mason jars instead of tupperware for almost everything, and stainless and/or cast iron pans vs non-stick, but I would love to have glass “tupperware” to use for those things that just won’t fit well in mason jars (like leftover pizza!).
Working my way to a plastic free kitchen. Wecks are a great idea.