preserving jars

[Percy T]

When my veg start to grow I would like to preserve some of it.

Can I recycle jars brought with jams etc?

[Flummery]

I make jams, jellies, pickles, chutneys etc and all with recycled jars. Make sure the lids are sound and if you are making anything with vinegar in it, check that the lids have that sort of waterproof coating inside, rather than cardboard.

[rustylady]

You surely can. Just make sure they're clean and the lids fit properly. Jam, pickle, and cooking sauce jars are excellent.

[Protea]

Lakeland sell replacement lids that i've found fit most jars - i managed to recycle loads of jars last year. I'm not too keen on re-using lids as the rubber seal won't be so good second time round (they also tend to be dolmio jars i re-use and the lids have got a red stain on them!!)

[Percy T]

thanks

I was hoping I could as I started to collect jars about oct last year, and have quite a few.

I have mainly collected marmalaide jars hoping to store sun dried toms in and passata jars which I use a lot of so was hoping to make my own and accordingly am going a massive amount of toms.

never done this before, but hey will give anything a go.

any advice you have would be much appriecated.

[Alison]

I quite happily use old jars and their lids without any problems although I do always use the wax discs on top as well as the plastic circles on top of the jars and let the jam cool before I put the lids back on. Don't know if that's what I'm supposed to do but it's what my mum did and it seems to work for me.

[Digger-07]

Where do you get waxed discs from?

[pigletwillie]

Lakeland sell tham amongst others.

[Dobby]

what about Douweegberts coffee jars what could we put in them

[Flummery]

My dad used to use them for jam and marmalade Dobby. I found I could never make them stay shut properly.

[yoanbob]

in your shed , staple or tack the lids to the underside of a shelf, fill jar with nails, plant lables, whatever and twist the jars up on to the lids. instant storage that doesnt take up exta space

[JazzDuke]

Recycle jars but never recycle lids, always use new,

[muckdiva]

what about Douweegberts coffee jars what could we put in them

I couldn't make these work for jams either, the lids kept coming loose. But, they make attractive jars for dried beans and such.

[swampie sue]

I have read that you do not need wax discs when using lids, also on the village a program on Sunday this was confirmed by the women's institute judges, they said," that it encouraged mold growth". I for one do not use the discs unless making jam with the cellophane discs.

Good Luck

Swampie Sue

[NOG]

Go down the bottle bank and make a withdrawl.