Weck Jars Canning Freezing

User Manual: weck-jars-canning-freezing Fante's Kitchen Shop

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These rules are listed in the approximate order of the canning procedure:
1. Before starting to work, examine all jars and lids for possible small chips, nicks and other defects by running your
fingertips around the jar rim. Should the sealing rim of a jar or lid be chipped or otherwise damaged, discard it, since it
will not permit an airtight seal.
2. Cleanliness is especially of utmost importance. Wash canning jars in hot soapy water, and then rinse them in clean,
hot water. If mold has formed in used jars (because they were stored in a damp cellar), submerge jars in boiling water for
ten minutes. Mold and fungus spores are not killed at temperatures below 212°F, so the temperature of a dishwasher
(about 140°F) is not high enough.
3. Carefully examine rubber rings before processing. Possible cracks can be best detected by holding the rubber ring
between the thumbs and forefingers of both hands and tugging lightly while turning bit by bit. A safe seal can only be
achieved by using perfect rubber rings. Always use new rubber rings.
4. Submerge rubber canning rings in boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Leave them in the hot water until they are
needed. It is not necessary to sterilize jars and lids unless the processing time is less than 10 minutes. (Fruit juices are
processed only 5 minutes, for example.) To sterilize jars and lids, boil them for 10 minutes.
5. When filling hot foods (example, precooked hot jam) into the jars, place the jars on a towel, rack or wooden cutting
board to keep jars from cracking.
6. What is the proper headspace?
Pack foods up to within ½ inch of the jar rim; add liquids as well as sugar syrups to the same height. Some foods can be
packed raw into jars with boiling liquid added. Other foods should be precooked and packaged hot with hot liquid into
jars. See each recipe for packing instructions.
7. Sweetening (natural and artificial)
According to long experience, recently confirmed by new research, sugar should not be added dry to the foods, but as
syrup. Add the required amount of water and bring the syrup to a rolling boil for a short time. Pour the hot syrup over the
food in the jars. Artificial sweeteners should not be used for canning. They can be added at the table.
8. After filling the jars, carefully wipe the jar rim.
9. When using the WECK Round Rim jars, apply the rubber ring to the sealing rim of the lid. It is best to apply the
rings before filling the jars. Leave the lids with the attached rings in hot water, until both can be placed together on the jar.
The uncomplicated sealing method of the WECK jars prevents dislodgment of the rubber canning ring and seals which are
not airtight can be avoided.
10. Closing the packed jars by means of spring clamps:
During processing, the jar is then tightly closed by means of two canning clamps made of rust-proof stainless steel and
having an exactly adjusted, permanent spring action. Hold the canning clamps, arranged directly across from each other,
into the stacking depression in the lid. Then press them down until they click under the protruding rim of the jar.
11. In the canner, the jars should be placed on a rack. It does not matter if the jars touch each other or the kettle wall.
They should not, however, be wedged into the canner so tightly that the jars cannot move at all; a little space for jar
movement is necessary for good results.
12. After you have placed the jars on the rack in the canner, fill water into the canner high enough so that the jars
are completely submerged in the water. If you place two or more rows of jars on top of each other, or if low jars are

processed together with high ones, the water level will always depend on the height of the highest jars. If two layers of jars
are being processed, a second rack must be used between the layers so that the water can circulate freely around all the
jars. The jars should be completely covered by one to two inches of water. The spring action of the clamps keeps them
sealed, and no water from outside can enter the jars.
13. Important:
When you start to process the jars, the temperature of the water bath has to have approximately the same temperature as
that of the jar contents. Jars filled with raw-packed food therefore must be started in warm water, jars filled with hot food
(in the case of precooked food) accordingly in hot water. In no case, however, should you add hot or boiling water to the
canner for jars filled with raw-packed food; the water reaches the prescribed processing temperature too quickly, but the
jar contents are not yet heated up to the required temperature. Thus, the thermostat merely indicates the temperature of
the boiling water, but not the temperature of the food in the jars. The results: the processing times prescribed by the
recipes are insufficient; failures will then be inevitable because not all the bacteria and spores have been eliminated inside
the jar; the processing temperature of the interior was simply too low. When placing the jars in the canner, it is absolutely
necessary that the food in the jars have roughly the same temperature as the water that is poured into the kettle. And
remember: always heat the canner slowly.
14. When processing your jars, carefully observe the temperatures and heating times specified in the recipe section of
the WECK Home Canning Guide. Do not cut down the processing times under any circumstances! The processing time
starts when the canner reaches a full rolling boil. The time needed to heat up the water in the canner does not count! The
thermostat then holds the set temperature by controlling the heating element which keeps the water at a constant
temperature.
15. When the required processing time is up, remove the jars from the canner. Place jars on a rack, wooden cutting
board, or towel, and allow them to cool down undisturbed. The jars should not cool down in the water bath, since in that
case the heating time is lengthened and the canned foods may become too soft or turn unsightly due to overcooking. Nor is
it advisable for the same reason to cover the processed jars with a towel. Keep jars away from a cold draft, and avoid
placing them on a cold surface or cooling them quickly by means of cold water.
16. Very important:
After removing the processed jars from the canner leave the canning clamps on the jars until the jars are completely
cooled. When the jars are cold however, it is absolutely necessary to take off the clamps. They are now no longer required
to keep the jars sealed. If you remove the canning clamps, you can easily check to see if the jar is actually sealed by trying
slightly to lift off the lid (so-called lid-lifting test). In the first few days after processing you should carry out sealing checks
of your jars by this lid-lifting test and always before you open each jar. Note: in the seal on the WECK jars, the pull tab of
the rubber ring on the sealed jars quite clearly faces downwards. If you arrange the jars correctly on your shelves, you can
simply check them by visual inspection to ensure that they still face down. This facet of the seals will prove the stackability
of the WECK jars and arrange them on top of each other.
17. In the storage area, the jars should not be subjected to direct sunlight. The room has to be kept frost-free. It is not
necessary that the canned jars be stored in a cool basement or cellar. It is sufficient if they are kept at room temperature.
18. In order to open your canning jars, pull the protruding tab of the rubber ring, until you hear a "ps-s-st",
indicating that air has been sucked into the jar. The vacuum in the jar has thus been equalized, and the lid and rubber ring
can now be easily taken off. Never use sharp objects, such as knives, scissors, or screwdrivers, since they will damage the
jar rim or lid. If the rubber rings sticks to the jar or the tab is torn off, the jar can be opened easily by attaching three
canning clamps and placing the jar upside down in hot water for several minutes.

© 2010 Weck Jars, A Division of Glashaus, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 800.345.7381 | 450 E. Congress Pkwy #E, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

How the WECK® method works and what goes on
inside the jar during processing
The WECK canning method which has proven its reliability
over the past nine decades is based on two simple principles
which act together. They are based on laws of nature and can
neither be altered nor improved.
First Principle:
The natural, normal spoilage of fruit is caused by
microorganisms (e.g. yeast, bacteria, mold, spores, etc.) which
are present in large numbers in foods as well as in the air.
During processing, all these microorganisms living in the food
being canned and in the air trapped in the jar are killed. The jar
is sealed off from the surrounding air by means of the lid,
rubber ring and spring clamps.
Second Principle:
During the heating process, pressure higher than normal is
created in the jar. As a consequence, hot air, steam and
sometimes even small amounts of liquid are forced out of the
jar between the rubber ring and the jar rim. The lid and rubber
rings which are fixed on the jar by means of the spring action of
the clamps act similarly to a one-way valve, i.e., they allow air,
steam and sometimes even some liquid to escape from the
interior of the jar, but do not allow air and cooking water to
enter the jar from the outside. As the jar is cooling down after
processing, a vacuum is created inside. The normal pressure of
the air surrounding the jar presses the lid down onto the jar
rim and onto glass; this pressure causes a firm and permanent
seal of the jar.
How the WECK jar stays sealed and how it should be
opened
Jar ready for processing
Lid and rubber ring applied and clamped on with two spring
clamps.
Jar during processing
The jar contents expand due to heating. Pressure is created
within the jar. The spring clamps allow air, steam and
sometimes even some liquid to escape from the jar, but not to
enter it.
Jar after cooling down
A vacuum now prevails in the jar. The normal pressure of the
surrounding air outside the jar presses the lid down on the jar,
thus firmly sealing it. The spring clamps required during the
canning process are now unnecessary and should definitely be
removed after the jars have cooled down.
The processed, cooled-down jar remains sealed exclusively by
means of the normal air pressure exerted on the jar lid. No
additional mechanical device or force is required.

© 2010 Weck Jars, A Division of Glashaus, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
800.345.7381 | 450 E. Congress Pkwy #E, Crystal Lake, IL 60014

If you want to open a jar: Simply pull on the tab of the rubber
canning ring away from the jar until you hear a "ps-s-st"; this
sound indicates that air has entered the jar, thereby destroying
the vacuum which was created by processing, and releasing the
lid from the jar. The lid and rubber ring can now be easily
removed.
Reasons why jars become unsealed:
Case 1 occurs
If the jar, the lid or the rubber canning ring is defective or even
only slightly damaged, and you failed to detect this before
processing. In this case, air surrounding the jar may enter it
and equalize the vacuum created in the interior of the jar
during the heating process. Thus, the lid loosens shortly after
processing, in many cases even while the jars are cooling down.
Case 2 occurs
When the jar, the lid and the rubber canning ring are perfect,
but not all the bacteria in the canned food have been killed (for
example, the temperature was too low or the heating time too
short). In the course of time (several days, weeks or even
months after processing), gasses will push the lid up as soon as
they have reached the same pressure as the air outside the jar,
which until that point had kept the jar sealed.
Why is it absolutely necessary to remove the spring
clamps after the processed jars have cooled down?
After processing, the spring action of the clamps is replaced by
the natural force exerted on the vacuum inside the jar from the
pressure of the air outside the jar. If you were to leave the
spring clamps on the jar, you would not, by trying to lift off the
lid, be able to test whether the jar was properly processed and
sealed or not. This simple, but extremely important seal-test
(the "lid-lifting" test) cannot be performed when using jars
with a thread type, a wire-bail type of closure or any other
mechanical sealing devices.
Is there any other reason why WECK does not
produce home-canning jars with mechanical sealing
devices?
Yes, and it's a reason of utmost importance: Your personal
safety. In case the contents of a jar should spoil for any reason
(for example, as described in Case 2) the gases formed by
spoilage inside the jar must be free to push up the lid so that it
lies loosely on top of the jar. This warning signal is so clear and
strikingly plain that it is best suited to protect you and your
family from the dangers of consuming spoiled canned food
unknowingly. For this extremely important reason of personal
safety, a reason which is still more important than the practical
ones mentioned above, WECK has consistently refused to
produce jars with mechanical wire bail seals for home-canning
purposes. In case of spoilage, these mechanical seals cannot
produce the strikingly clear warning signal of the loose lid.

Glashaus Inc.
Representative: J WECK GmbH u. Co.

FREEZING IN GLASS
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
Freezing in a glass container is an excellent way to keep foods air tight and prevent
Freezer burn. Jars with large mouth openings and straight sides should be used,
and lids should be tight fitting. WECK Round Rim jars with plastic “Keep Fresh “
covers are perfect for freezing foods. The ¼ liter mold jars and the 1 liter tulip jars
have straight sides and 3.875 inch opening, and the “Keep Fresh” lids fit securely
on the jars.
When glass jars are used for freezing, all basic freezing principles apply. In
addition, these two guidelines should also be followed:
1) Leave proper headspace to avoid breakage. Foods expand when they
Freeze, so headspace is very important.
2) Avoid extreme changes in temperature. Hot foods, such as soups,
should be cooled before putting jars into the freezer
BASIC FREEZING TIPS
>Select produce of optimum quality
>Work quickly and in small quantities
>Freeze foods as soon as they are packaged
>Set freezer at 0 degrees F. or below
>Leave space between jars during freezing so air can circulate and foods freeze
quickly.
>Store jars close together when food is frozen for best freezer efficiency
FREEZING FRUITS
1) Wash and drain fruit before removing pits or cores. Cut into pieces if
necessary.
2) Treat light-colored fruits with ascorbic acid or anti-darkening agent to
prevent browning.
3) Pack food into jars leaving proper headspace.

HOME CANNING
Stackable Round Rim Jars

FREEZING FRUITS, contd
Proper headspace for freezing fruits:
Syrup
Pack

Dissolve 1 part sugar in 2 parts water, then chill. Pack fruit into jars and
pour over fruit. Leave ½ inch headspace for ¼ liter and ½ liter jars and 1
inch for 1 liter jars. Seal

Sugar
Pack

Coat fruit pieces with sugar then pack into jars leaving ½ inch headspace.
Seal

Tray
Pack

Freeze fruit on a tray for 1 hour then pack into jars. Very small headspace is
needed since fruit is already frozen. Seal. (This method is also called IQF
or Individually Quick Frozen.)

Dry
Pack

Firm fruits, such as blueberries, can be packed directly into jars without first
freezing on a tray. Leave ½ inch headspace. Seal.

FREEZING VEGETABLES
1) Wash and drain vegetables before removing skins or hulls. Cut into pieces if
necessary.
2) Blanch vegetables before freezing to inactivate enzymes. Follow times in
blanching chart. Use 1 gallon of water for 1 pound of vegetables.
3) Chill vegetables in ice water for same time as blanching time, then drain or let
dry on paper towels.
4) Pack vegetables into jars:
Dry Pack

Pack vegetables into jars leaving ½ inch headspace. Seal.

Tray Pack
(IQF)

Freeze vegetables pieces for 1 hour then pack into jars. Very little headspace is needed since vegetables are already frozen. Seal. (Vegetables
remain loose with this packing method.)
BLANCHING TIMES FOR VEGETABLES

VEGETABLE
Asparagus, med.
Beans, green & wax
Beans, lima & pinto
Broccoli flowerets
Brussel sprouts
Cabbage shredded
Carrots , sliced
Cauliflower, flowerets
Corn
Eggplant

TIME*
2 min.
3
3
3
4
1½
2
3
5-6
4

VEGETABLE
TIME*
Green
2 min.
Kohlrabi, cubed
1
Okra, med
3
Peas, edible pod
2
Peas, green
2
Potatoes, new
3-5
Summer Squash
3
Turnips, cubed
2
*Blanching times given are for boiling water. Double
times when using steam.



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