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 am trying to make my kitchen healthier by reducing the number of plastic containers for storage. I’ve switched to a lot of mason jars with the white plastic caps.
I would love to get more non-reactive items like bowls and a few stainless steel pots! I also need to build my canning tool supply!
Not use plastic for storing food.
We’re slowly whittling down our plastic Tupperware collection in favor or glass containers. I’d like to make the full conversion soon!
Our next big kitchen goal is to replace our non-stick pots and pans with stainless steel. No more worrying about reactions, scratches, or chipping that could get into our food.
Growing and canning more of the foods we eat. Also trying to weed out the plastic used in the kitchen and going to using non-chemical cleaners around the house. This set looks awesome!
I would like to start transitioning to using glass containers rather than Tupperware. I’m starting the build a collection, but it’s a little cost- and space-prohibitive to do it all at once.
I’d like to try some of the Glasslock containers to replace my plastic ones for food storage. I’ve been slowly getting rid of plastic in my kitchen to make it healthier.
I would love to replace all the plastic in my kitchen with glass!
I would like to cook mire during the week. Once school starts up the evenings seem to disappear right into night along with my time to create a family meal.
We’ve been trying to do more local and more homemade. But we don’t have a good canning stockpot or rack, so this would be an AWESOME giveaway to win. My current stockpot can handle (barely) half pint jars, but nothing taller.
I would get rid of all the plastic. It’s hard to avoid plastic bowls and plates because I have young children, however they are the prime reason Id like to avoid harmful plastics. Can’t wait to checkout the store!
Hi Ya’ll,
My kitchen improvement involves using actual natural soap for cleaning and washing dishes more. Most commercially available kitchen cleaners are detergents and not the soap our grandmothers were likely to use. Detergent happens to be a relatively recent; they’re actually petrochemicals– ick!
I’d really like to switch from using plastic containers for bringing my lunch to work, to all glass containers. I have started buying some glass, but still have a lot of plastic ones to get rid of.
I would like to make my kitchen healthier by not relying on so many pre-made foods or packages/cans with a ton of extra salt/chemicals. Canning helps me do this!! I know whats in the jar and it helps me make a fast meal.
Like just about everyone else, I’d like to move to more glass storage instead of plastic. Love Weck jars, would love some 🙂
I looked through their site and really like the reusable coffee cups. Think of how much cardboard could be saved if we all used them…
As it’s back to school time, I’d like to use less plastic and disposable containers for lunches I send to school with my son and general storage for leftovers, etc.
Amazing!!! This would be my ultimate goal for how to outfit the perfect canning pantry.
Finish changing over from plastic to glass storage containers. I have been eyeing these jars, so beautiful!
I am also making the change from plastic to glass and I would like better quality silverware.
What an amazing set of products! I like the divided stainless lunch containers. I think they’d help eliminate a dozen baggies and tupperware containers at lunch each day. Thanks for letting us know about this company!
I’d like to use less plastic and more glass for storage. Love, love, love the weck jars!
I would love to have this. I can always use more jars and a new canner!
What a great giveaway! I would most like to replace the tupperware and ziplock containers we are still using for lunches. Mightynest has several things I would love to buy– the glass lock containers and the lunchbots containers. Between those, we wouldn’t need to use the plastic for leftovers or lunches.
I would like to be more aware of the food and the whole process of it .
I still see a pile of aluminum baking pans in the back of the cupboards I’d really like to replace with glass. I don’t use them often but there they sit. Some wecks couldn’t hurt either, in the quest for a healthier kitchen 🙂
I would like to get rid of the last of my plastic storage containers and my non stick cookware.
That is some giveaway! 🙂 I would really love to have a juicer (for fruits and veggies) and something better than my current citrus squeezer.
Love the Weck Jars. I keep home made yogurt in mine. Looks awesome in the fridge. Storing food in glass jars, vacuum sealed has been a quest all summer.
Thanks for the give a way!
I would replace ALL of my plastic storage with glass containers much like the bake and store glassware from Mighty Nest.
I would like to get rid of my plastics.
Not a unique comment by far, but reducing the use of plastics is certainly high on the list. That and cooking more veggies.
I would love a more efficient juicer–the one I’m using at the moment has seen better days!
We grew lots of flour and flint corn this year in our garden. We’d love to get a grain mill to process them for corn meal and corn flour!
I would change out my only nonstick skillet for a smooth cast iron skillet
I want to replace those last few teflon pots with good sauce pans, as well as the sauce pans that are discolored from having stuff burned solid into them.
I looking for a better method for storing/freezing single servings without using zip tops. This is a great offer from Mighty Nest – Thank you!
replace all my old cooking pots and pans that have missing lids and loose handles and aluminum cookie sheets have got to be replaced as well
I love the glass and stainless steel food storage containers. Thanks for providing the link to the MightyNest website!
I would get rid of all my nonstick pans!
I would trade in all my plastic storage containers for new glass storage containers!
I am moving away from storing grains in plastic bags and plastic containers, storing them in jars is so much healthier and much more appealing to look at.
I am looking for a healthier kitchen compost bin. We bring so much in from the garden, and produce a lot of veg scraps. It sits in a plastic container next to my sink all day and gets dumped once or twice a day. Then I have to spray it with disinfectant each time. I’d love to know what others that garden are doing.
I would only buy organic eggs, dairy, and meat.
I’m trying to move away from plastic storage in my kitchen to glass storage. Lots of beautiful ideas on MightyNest!
What a great giveaway!
The one thing I’d like to change about my kitchenware to make it healthier is to invest in a good steamer. I know boiling veggies leaches out nutrients, so I’d really like to steam more.
Ideally, I would like to replace all of my plastic food storage containers with metal, glass or some other non-porous material. Even with plastics that are labelled BHPA free, I’m still suspicious. I’m really stumped for finding a replacement for plastic when it comes to freezing.
What gorgeous jars! I’m gradually weaning my pantry/storage containers away from plastic—everything goes in glass jars and glass storage ware if possible. To be able to completely get rid of BPA aluminum lids in everyday canning would be a dream.
The change I am currently in the process of making to make our food healthier is to “put up” more local and buy less from the grocery stores. This year, in addition to our usual quarter calf that was raised by my FIL, I’ve ordered a local hog to split with my in-laws, as well as freezing local cabbages, brussels sprouts, onions (diced), peppers (diced). I’ve found a recipe for vegetable juice that I really like, which I can make with all local ingredients except celery – nobody around here seems to grow celery. So local, often organic or at least gently raised, and stored for the winter. It’s a work in process, I come up with a new idea for something to add every few days.
After an extended vacation, I came home to find the bread accidentally left on my counter still soft and fresh, with not a speck of mold! I’d love to ditch all of those preservatives and learn how to make good bread for our home.