Mason jars

Giospro · Subject: Re: Mason jars Fri Jun 19, 2009 11:58 am

Do you heat the jars or just tighting the jars by hand?

Al in Canada · Subject: Re: Mason jars Fri Jun 19, 2009 10:53 pm

woody wrote:

I'm in rural Canada. Need a few leads on where I can buy some of those spring loaded glass jars with the clamps on top. That's a poor description but I think you know what I mean.

I've got some Helmann screw top jars - but I've run out. I'm thinking I might be able to find some of these jars in Walmart - maybe Canadian Tire ? How do you cellar your's. Thanks

w

At this time of year the screw type jars should be appearing both in your local hardware and grocery stores, during the off season you can still usually get them from Canadian Tire.

The clamp type is my preference, and I got replacement rubber gaskets from Canadian Tire. My jars I have picked up from yard sales and thrift stores. The little jars are a little harder in this style, simply because they tend to be decorated and originally came with "gourmet" mustards and jellies, and people keep them and collect them.

By "Hellman's... jars" are you referring to the mayonaise jars? If so realize these were not made for multiple use, they relly don't have an adequate sealing system once they have been washed. The regular canning jars have a thin rubber seal on the inner lip of the cap piece, which the plastic lids don't, relying generally on on a coated piece of cardboard for the seal.

Buy extra lids when you get your jars. If you are using ones that have been used in canning make sure that the rings haven't been bent or dented, which is common to break the vacuum in opening. (If I seem overly particular about the seal, it is because during the summer we have a problem with humidity being too high, and during the winter our indoor humidity is too low. I think you probably face the same problems in Saskachewan as we do in Ontario.)

WARNING: Never use anything with a strong aroma to to clean your jars, especially glass cleaners with amonnia (like Windex)! Tobacco absorbs odors very easily, especially since it is going to be sealed in with the odor. (Burley is especially guilty of this "taste" grabbing.) You can get away from the this with adequate rinsing and drying, but allow enough "airing " time, because you can taste things in your tobacco that you would never detect with your nose when using a cleaning product. The Rubber rings and seals also hold the smells so be careful in cleaning these especially. (Some water supplies can also be a problem, chlorine in some town waters, and if you have well water you know what the problems can be. Sulfur anyone?)

babysinister · Subject: Re: Mason jars Tue Jun 23, 2009 12:46 am

85 percent of my jars are Ball or Kerr jars with screw on lids. Recently, however, while looking for widemouth jars, I found a brand called Hermetico in my local Walmart and bought several of them. If you make sure that the rubber gasket is centered on the jar lip before you set the wire lock, no aroma can be detecting escaping from the seal afterwards. I was going to provide a link to the Walmart page displaying this product, but it isn't advertised online, for some reason. I found the following listing at the Tableware inc. website, however:

http://www.tablewareincorporated.com/product/glassware/jar.htm

Texas Outlaw · Subject: Re: Mason jars Tue Jun 23, 2009 6:56 am

Giospro wrote:

Do you heat the jars or just tighting the jars by hand?

I used to boil the jars, fill them, wet the seal, then it would seal as it cooled. I discovered that if I just tighten the jars, when the tobacco does whatever it does, it also seals the jar.

You can always check to see if the jar is sealed by pressing the middle of the lid. If it pops in and out, it's not sealed or the seal has been broken.

_________________
You can't sell short.
You can't buy tall.
And, you can't teach cool.

HoosierPuffer · Subject: Re: Mason jars Tue Jun 23, 2009 10:18 am

Quote:

You can always check to see if the jar is sealed by pressing the middle of the lid. If it pops in and out, it's not sealed or the seal has been broken.

Good to know. Now I'm going to rush home and see if I can use my mason jars as steel drums. Very Happy