Jam Storage Question

[susiewoosie]

I'm really new to making jam and I'm wondering how long jam will last if you use a waxed disc and a fabric circle instead of a lid?

Any help would be great thanks

[WrexTheDragon]

Use both a wax disk and a lid and you may get 2 years, if they last that long.

[susiewoosie]

Thanks but do you know how long it will last without the lid. Its just that I have lots of jars but hardly any lids

[WrexTheDragon]

It's hard to say as lots of things will effect the shelf life, sugar content, hygiene, storage.......

If kept in the fridge, you should get between 6-12 weeks, but be prepared to scrape some mould of the top as it gets older.

Lids are a key part of preserving, I would ask your friends if they have any spare.

[susiewoosie]

Yeah I guess I will be on the hunt for lids. 6-12 weeks isn't long enough. Thanks again

[roitelet]

You need an airtight seal and the cellophane sold for covering jam will work. Make it damp and stretch it on to hot jars and as it cools it shrinks. If you want to you can put a fabric cover over it which will help to protect the cellophane. So long as the cellophane isn't damaged you should be able to keep it for a year at least.

Lids are better though. We are eating 4 year old jam with out mould!!!!!!

[SarzWix]

As roitelet said, you need the cellophane circles as well as the wax discs. A fabric circle won't prevent air from getting to the jam, so they are only for decoration really. You should be able to get cellophane circles from Lakeland or many of the other online preserving equipment suppliers.

[Pumpkin Becki]

You can also buy packs of lids from Lakeland. Its worth a look, though jar tops can be all sorts of sizes.

[susiewoosie]

Hmm I think I will buy some lids from ebay. I hope to make pounds and pounds of jam next year and I want it to last.

[SarzWix]

Check out Ascott Smallholding Supplies as well, they do lots of sizes of lids: Spare Glass Jar and Bottle Lids

[susiewoosie]

Oooh thanks will have a look

[Sanjo]

Have just received my second lot of lids from Wares of Knutsford. They do loads of sizes and they were (relatively) cheap.