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Manta Ray a l'Anglaise · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:57 am Post subject: Jam Jars

Modern jam jar lids will reseal, so as long as the lid is not damaged the jars can be used for preserving, just like Kilner jars, but easier and cheaper.

I preserve fruits. . . . .apples, rhubarb, plums, gooseberies, pears etc.

Apples (cooking) peel, core and slice apples into a large microwaveable bowl, cover with cling film and put on full power for 5 minutes, uncover and gives a good stir, recover and put on for another 5 minutes. I'm talking quantity here - I use my Kenwood bowl and each bowlful usually takes about 12 minutes for the apples to be cooked to a pulp, it will fluff up and spill over if you're not carefull. Fill the jars with the hot fluff

wipe any spills from rim and put the lid on, don't overtighten or else it will be a pig to get off, but do tighten.

I use - where possible 2lb jars, new lids can be purchased. I find a lid last 2 or 3 times depending on what's in the jar eg rhubarb, only once.

The lid will feel tight if you try to press in the middle if it has sealed sucessfully - if you are re-using one with a "pop" you will hear it pop as the contents cool and a vacuum is formed. if you can press it down then it hasn't sealed - try again with a new lid or use the contents (dump the failed lid).

I cook to a pulp - rhubarb and gooseberry and then jar. Plums I cook then cool and get my hand in the pan to carefully stone them, then I re-heat and jar.

Any of the above are ready at a moments notice to use in crumbles and pies, much easier than having to think in advance to thaw out. Also you could turn them into jam or chutney when time permits.

Pears you could peel and halve and then poach in a favourite sweetened wine stock and then jar for an instant luxury pudding.
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Nannyp · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 12:08 pm Post subject:

Here en France, bottling (canning in the US) fruit and veg is still a common thing. So, I can buy packs of kilner style jars in small and larger sizes, new rubber seals and this year, I bought a boiler thing (like a small metal dustbin) and a gas ring which attaches to a gas bottle. I intended to bottle all my cherries (we didn't get any due to frost). I also inteneded to bottle runner beans and my blackberries.....and I haven't! They're in the freezer. I might do some bottling at another time, and practice using my equipment.

I made chutney with the pears, and like the cherries the apples didn't survive the last frost (on the blossom) so we have had a rather empty fruit year. Next year should be better....I live in hope.
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NannyP's Hens

MissMuppet · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 12:38 pm Post subject:

Pickled runner beans??? q20

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Manta Ray a l'Anglaise · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:12 pm Post subject:

I know they do much more bottling en France but using jam jars in this way eliminates all that faffing around with water baths and timing everything. . . . and of course buying the rings in this country is sooooooo expensive, they may be cheaper over there

However now you've bought the equipment. . . you really ought to practice, perhaps at some point though you might like to try a jam jar?

Sorry to hear the fruit harvest has been so dismal.
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life is just one damned thing after another. . . .

Nannyp · Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:41 pm Post subject: