What preps are you doing this week? part 2.

[Deeps]

Thanks for the advice Decaff, I wasn't aware of that, we've reused some and not had any problems (yet anyway), I'll pass it on to Her Maj.

[featherstick]

It's not recommended to reuse shop jars for jams or waterbath canning as they are made for single use, they are fine for storing dehydrated food in though with new lids and oxy absorbers.

Hope this helps [/color]

I've have made hundreds of jars of jam using recycled shop jars and lids and I have had very few problems. I very occasionally get a jar that doesn't seal because the gasket has lost its compliance but that is easily dealt with - you eat that jar first. I'd say some of my lids are on their third or fourth use. It's easy to tell whether a lid has sealed - it will depress in the centre as the jam cools. The lids with pop-up buttons are the best - you can hear the button pop down again as the jam cools and the vacuum forms - one of my favourite sounds.

I have only ever once bought new jars when I had a sudden glut and no empties.

I wash the jars in hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly and then dry in the oven at about 70 degrees. I sterilise the lids in hot water until I need them, lifting them from the water with tongs and giving them a quick shake to get excess water off. I used to sterilise the lids in the oven with the jars but this did damage the gaskets so now I use hot water.

Hope this helps : )

[Brambles]

As Featherstick says, using jars of any sort for jam, jelly, pickles and chutney and re-using them is fine.

HOWEVER, for bottling/canning you really must use jars rated for the job. These jars are generally thicker glass and are able to stand up to lengthy boiling or pressure canning. Once you have the jars, they can be re-used time and again, the sealing disc needs to be replaced for each process though. Some of my Kilner jars are circa 1950's and still good.

[7 lives]

oops pressed the wrong button and my post disappeared!
Am new to prepping so have done very basic stuff this week
Sorted out pantry labelled the cans with use by dates and made list of more to get.
Went to Wing Yip and got 2 large sacks of rice as we eat a lot in our house=not too sure best way to store it!
Got emergency medical kit together plus wind up torches etc
Dehydrated our apple glut together with our favourite-pineapples picked up cheap.
Cleaned the camping cooker and checked the gas cannisters.
Love prepping!

[Decaff]

It's not recommended to reuse shop jars for jams or waterbath canning as they are made for single use, they are fine for storing dehydrated food in though with new lids and oxy absorbers.

Hope this helps [/color]

I've have made hundreds of jars of jam using recycled shop jars and lids and I have had very few problems. I very occasionally get a jar that doesn't seal because the gasket has lost its compliance but that is easily dealt with - you eat that jar first. I'd say some of my lids are on their third or fourth use. It's easy to tell whether a lid has sealed - it will depress in the centre as the jam cools. The lids with pop-up buttons are the best - you can hear the button pop down again as the jam cools and the vacuum forms - one of my favourite sounds.

I have only ever once bought new jars when I had a sudden glut and no empties.

I wash the jars in hot soapy water and rinse thoroughly and then dry in the oven at about 70 degrees. I sterilise the lids in hot water until I need them, lifting them from the water with tongs and giving them a quick shake to get excess water off. I used to sterilise the lids in the oven with the jars but this did damage the gaskets so now I use hot water.

Hope this helps : )

I use the ring and disc type of lids for mine so the discs can only be used once but are cheap to replace, rings can be used over and over along with the jars. I keep a supply of screw lids for when the disc is opened as you can't reseal them.

I agree the pinging of the lids sealing is a magic sound!

[Decaff]

As Featherstick says, using jars of any sort for jam, jelly, pickles and chutney and re-using them is fine.

HOWEVER, for bottling/canning you really must use jars rated for the job. These jars are generally thicker glass and are able to stand up to lengthy boiling or pressure canning. Once you have the jars, they can be re-used time and again, the sealing disc needs to be replaced for each process though. Some of my Kilner jars are circa 1950's and still good.

Wow!! 1950's!!! That's what you call good quality jars

[Brambles]

Indeed they are. They were my mum's. I just wish I still had her 4lb jars that she used to use for salting beans as well, but my sister had them

[Arzosah]

Loving the canning/lids discussion. Along with electricity, it mystifies me, this discussion is helping a lot.

My own preps - eneloops batteries and charger have arrived, and I'm decluttering to make space for winter preps - upping supplies even further so I need to visit the shops as little as possible over the flu season.

[PreparedKent]

Re-stocking this week in light of the financial crisis.... 40kg of Chicken Feed and lots more canned food to re-stock the "ebola cupboard". 1000 extra air gun pellets and more crossbow arrows.

On a more interesting note, bought a new Cold Steel Knife to go with the rest, I'm a bit of a cold steel nut (got half the catalogue ) so latest addition is the Peace Maker II which is only an inch and a half bigger than the Peace Maker III I've had for a couple of years but it looks HUGE.

Also, it was my birthday last week so the misses bought me a new .22 air rifle... Its a hell of a lot more accurate than my last .22 so I'm very happy at the moment

[preppingsu]

Been refilling the shelves after a few lean months (that's what the shelves are for!!!!).

Used Tesco coupons to stock up on flour and sugar. Ordered a good shop.For delivery. Off to Lidl tomorrow for canned goods.

Aiming to get another 2 laying hens, eggs are so useful!!

And getting ready for back to work on Tuesday.