Relishments

Savoring life in the Berkshires

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • About
    • Start Here
    • Relishments Around the Web
    • Flexitarianism
      • Cookbooks
  • Recipes
    • Recipe Reviews
  • The Berkshires
    • Boothbay, Midcoast Maine and More
    • Adventures in Other Places
  • Contact
    • Sponsor

Mixed Results

Published on July 31, 2013 By Emily. Updated on July 31, 2013

Yesterday morning Brian and I made blueberry jam with the berries we picked late last week.  I wasn’t going to write about it because I expected the process to look just like last year’s post, except in our new house.

But life doesn’t often go according to plan, does it?  For the first time in my canning experience, I had jars that didn’t seal.

So I did what any 21st century food blogger would do; I went to Twitter.  All my thanks to Julie and Marisa for quickly replying to my concerns about how long to wait before checking to see if the jars sealed. 

How long should I wait before checking to see if my canning jars are sealed? I’m concerned about some. @savvyjulie @foodinjars

— Emily P. (@relishments) July 30, 2013

@relishments @savvyjulie just until they’re cool enough to handle.

— Food in Jars (@foodinjars) July 30, 2013

@relishments I usually check after an hour or two, just by pressing on the middle of the lid. If it flexes, it didn’t seal!

— Julie Grice (@savvyjulie) July 30, 2013

Out of the 7 jars I processed, there were 3 that didn’t seal.  Unfortunately I can’t remember if those jars were the ones with the old lids from storage or the new lids from the supermarket.  Though that may have had nothing to do with it anyway.

blueberry jam

I hemmed and hawed for a little bit about what to do with the unsealed jars.  Reprocessing was an option, but I didn’t want to go through reheating the jam, rewashing and sterilizing the jars and reprocessing.  Also, there was some indication from the internet that the texture of the jam might change if I reheated the pectin.  Ultimately I decided to put the jars in the fridge, for the moment, and I will transfer them to another container today to be frozen.  I’ve never frozen jam before but as Brian and I will be the only ones eating it, if the texture doesn’t quite hold up that should be fine.  I wasn’t planning to giveaway too many jars this year, so the four that did seal should suit our purposes in that realm.

Besides the jars not sealing, canning in the new kitchen went really smoothly.  You may recall that I was worried about the lack of counter space adjacent to the stove, as a full half of our apartment’s counters were on either side of the stove and I did most of my canning work there.  But there was just enough room to fill the jars and it wasn’t a problem to carry them to another area of counter to cool.  I’m not even sure what I was worried about.

Related Posts

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
My Canning List
Canning Kick Off 2011
#98: Participate in Pimp My Preserve
Did you enjoy this post? Share it!

Filed Under: food Tagged With: canning, mistakes

« Highlights: Summer Vacation
The Time My Sister Gave Me a Kale Recipe »

Comments

  1. lisa fine says

    August 3, 2013 at 2:44 pm

    I remember a batch of strawberry jam I once made, and many of the jars didn’t seal. I ended up eating a lot of it and giving it away, telling people to eat it within a few weeks.

    I’ve made freezer jam too, and it’s really good and easy! I usually just let a jar at a time defrost in the fridge or on the counter, and eat it within 2-3 weeks.

    • Emily says

      August 6, 2013 at 6:39 am

      So nice to know that I’m not alone! Thanks for the tips.

Welcome!

photo of EmilyWelcome to Relishments! Follow along with my adventures in cooking and eating in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts.

The Berkshires
Recipe Index
CSA Menu Plan
First Time?
 

Support Relishments on Patreon

Just so you know…

I’m just a girl who loves to cook and eat. This site is not a source for nutritional information.

Relishments is affiliated with various sponsors. Some product links on this site are affiliates; I may get portion of the sale. All opinions on this site are honest, regardless of revenue opportunities. Find out more about my policies here

relishments

Emily
Despite the cool temperatures and wet weather, we Despite the cool temperatures and wet weather, we had another fantastic year at @freshgrassfestival. I can never get over how, in addition to all the incredible music, the event features a great venue (@massmoca), delicious food from mostly local vendors, a great local beer tent and bar stocked with @berkshiremtdist and a kid-friendly atmosphere including a @kidspacemm art tent.
Shout-out to some of my favorite acts of the day @ajleebluesummit, @cj_field with @gregcaproni and @theblacklegacyproject.

Looking forward to next year!
.
.
.
#WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #NorthAdams #NAmazing #FreshGrass #FreshGrassFestival #bluegrass #MassMoCA
I am literally weeks behind in my work life and my I am literally weeks behind in my work life and my blog posts, but I just hit publish on my end of August/beginning of September meal plans! Some blogging progress is better than none! Click the link below or visit my profile to see how we used these 2 CSA pick ups from @mightyfoodfarm.
.
.
.
https://www.relishments.com/blog/august-slipped-away-csa-meal-plan-153/
.
.
.
#MightyFoodFarm #EatLocal #EatSeasonal #VermontGrown #CSApickup #CSAshare  #KnowYourFarmerKnowYourFood #MenuPlanning #MealPlanning #igers413 #igers413_food #BerkshireFoodies
It's always a beautiful day at the @coastalmainebo It's always a beautiful day at the @coastalmainebotanicalgardens.
.
.
.
#Maine #CoastalMaineBotanticalGardens #Boothbay
We made our annual trip to @thebistrobox in Great We made our annual trip to @thebistrobox in Great Barrington today, bringing along our 6 year old for the first time. 
Pictured: onion rings, pressed Cubano, BOX burger, raspberry mint iced tea/ (huge) side of fries, grilled hot dog, strawberry lemonade. Everything was delicious and my daughter especially enjoyed trying out the lawn games.
Until next year!
.
.
.
#igers413_food
#igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #EatLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #GreatBarrington #TheBistroBox
New on the blog: a list of everything I made for d New on the blog: a list of everything I made for dinner this week. A double @mightyfoodfarm CSA pick up plus hosting my in-laws for dinner resulted in me actually planning quality meals.
.
Get the recipe links at https://www.relishments.com/blog/twice-as-good-csa-meal-plan-152/ or click the link in my profile.
.
#MightyFoodFarm #EatLocal #EatSeasonal #VermontGrown #CSApickup #CSAshare  #KnowYourFarmerKnowYourFood #MenuPlanning #MealPlanning #igers413 #igers413_food #BerkshireFoodies
I had the opportunity to visit the Bridge of Flowe I had the opportunity to visit the Bridge of Flowers in Shelburne Falls this morning. It was as beautiful as I remembered and a great morning for hanging out with some friends.
.
.
.
#igers413 #ShelbourneFalls #BridgeOfFlowers #WesternMass #WesternMA
Brian and I finally made it to @ the week before w Brian and I finally made it to @ the week before we went on vacation. I loved the atmosphere, decor, location and, of course, the beer. All eight beers we tasted were delicious and I'm looking forward to going back soon. 
More thoughts on the blog at the link in my profile or at https://www.relishments.com/blog/hot-plate-brewing-in-pittsfield/
.
.
.
#PittsfieldMA #MassachusettsBrewery #igers413_food #igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #DrinkLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires
I made my first ever trip to @seconddropfarm in La I made my first ever trip to @seconddropfarm in Lanesborough this morning to pick blueberries with my daughter. We had a lovely time at the farm, and especially enjoyed the short walk to the lush blueberry bushes, and the beautiful flower and lavender fields. We didn't participate in pick-your-own flowers today, but it's definitely on my radar for the future.
We are looking forward to some muffin baking soon! 🫐
.
.
.
#igers413_food
#igers413 #BerkshireFoodies #InTheBerkshires #EatLocal #WesternMA #WesternMass #Berkshires  #VisitTheBerkshires #LanesboroughMA #SecondDropFarm #PickYourOwnBlueberries
It's good to be home, but we had a great time with It's good to be home, but we had a great time with Brian's side of the family in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina last week.
.
.
.
#WrightsvilleBeach #NorthCarolina #WilmingtonNC
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in