Winter doldrums...Jelly and Jam making time at my house

[ninnymary]

Oh Annette, you sound like a wonderful person! I've seen you post on the bean thread but I sure would love to see you here more often posting on other threads. You have a lot to offer to this group. I love your outlook on life. At 61, I don't feel old either!

Mary

 

[digitS']

have to jump a few hurdles at times, well maybe not jump more like step over LOL.

I'm more at a slow motion tumble .

would feel like an interloper in this great family you all have created.

Nonsense! (And, I mean that in the kindest way possible.)

Steve

 

[Jared77]

Agreed you're a welcome addition to the family!!!! Family like you we pull out the fine china for! At least till you're comfortable then...well.....you know where things are so go help yourself

Far as my freezer goes it's big and old. 8cubic ft maybe? I've never measured it. It holds a lot of stuff so I'm happy with it.

 

[bobm]

My wife has been cooking and canning since she was knee high to a grasshopper at her mother's side. For the first time,after canning our HOME GROWN strawberry and blueberry jams, jellies, and the two combined... this year she canned 6 batches to give away as Christmas presents as well as for us. She has used the same pot for the last 30 years and used her mother's recipe. Well, as it turns out that when two of the recipients opened a WELL SEALED jar, there was MOLD on top of the jam and jelly. This morning I opened a well sealed jar of strawberry jam... yup another jar with a little mold on top. I had opened 2 other jars from the same batch with no issues. She has no idea as to why. Anyone have a similar problem or any ideas as to why ?

 

[Nyboy]

Only things in my freezer ice cubes ( store bought) 3 bottles vodka xmas gifts.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Mom used to have mold on a lot of her jelly. She did not always use the best recommended practices, such as she would often reuse lids. People that grew up in the depression did stuff like that. We'd just scrape the moldy top jelly off and use the rest but that's not recommended.

From what I've read online, the normal causes are not a good seal or too much air space at the top. Of course keeping everything as clean as you can helps too. I always wash the lids although you are not supposed to have to but I try to be as clean as I can. The jars get sterilized well and even the rings soak and get a good washing, using power on the inside threads especially. I'll be buying some more wash cloths because I've shredded some washing rings. I've canned a lot of jelly since moving her in 2007 and have not yet had a moldy jar of jelly or jam.

 

[aftermidnight]

@bobm are these topped with wax, if so it might be that the wax didn't completely seal, I always tilt my jars a little to make sure the wax makes contact with all the glass rims and I wax as soon as the jars are filled, I also sterilize my jars in the oven before filling. A little hint, pour a little wax on top of the jam or jelly, let it set up a bit, coil a a piece of string onto and let it hang over the edge pour more wax, so easy to pull the plug when opening a new jar.
Annette

 

[bobm]

She always uses NEW lids and boils all lids, rings, and jars at a rolling boil for at least 15 min. to sterilize them. She fills the jars to about 1/8th of an inch from the top of the jar, cleans the top edges then puts on the lids and then screws on the rings. NEVER had this type of problem ever.

 

[aftermidnight]

@bobm Maybe the lids were faulty, when opening did the lid pop, still under pressure? The rubber seal might have let go. Unfortunately not much is made the way it used to be.
Annette

 

[bobm]

Yes, the lids popped . When she made the jellies, and jams there were 4 jars that never sealed so I put them in the refrigerator to eat. All of the other jars were quality controled to make sure that they were sealed before they were put away and awaiting for the Christmas present giving times.