The Skyland post., 1945-06-14
OPENING FRUIT
JARS EASY WHEN
YOU KNOW HOW

So you can't get 'em open? Well
maybe you thought that circular
with the jars was advertising mat
ter and threw it away without read
ing. Don't worry, we will tell you
about opening jars and sealing them
too, because chances are that part
of the trouble with opening is due
to- failure to follow instructions for
sealing. Sufely you know about
sterilizing everything, leaving plenty
of head space, and having the rub
bers wet. So we willskip that part.
There are two types of home can
ming jars, and all have trade name
lettered in the side. The ones with
screw-thread necks are Masons.
Those with glass lids held in place
with wire balls are lightning type
or Ideals.
Mason jars are used with one
piece zinc caps and rubber rings, or
with two-piece metal vacuum seals,
or with glass top seal caps. The
glass top seal is sometimes called a
three-piece cap because it is made
up of glass lid, rubber ring and metal
band.
When sealing Mason jar with
zinc cap, place a rubber fiat on the
sealing surface (you may call it
| shoulder or ledge), screw the zinc
cap down tight, then turn it back
about half an inch. This is done to
prevent steam forcing the rubber out
/ of place or causing the cap to bulge.
The cap is screwed tight as soon as
! the Jar is taken out of the Gamer.
Use Pliers to Open Jar
The easiest way to get the jar
! open is to use pliers to pull the rub
ber out. Small dime store pliers are
best for this because friend husband
won't be tempted to borrow them
when he has to fix the fence. If you
have no pliers, the next best way is
to run the sharp point Of knife un-
der (not over) the rubber, wiggle
the knife Sidewise (not up and
down., then unscrew the cap. II you
can't manage this, turn the jar up
side down in hot water for five min
utes before unscrewing.
When sealing Mason jars with
Glass Top Seal Caps, put the rubber
fiat around the rim on the under side
(top side has the name on it OF the
lid, then place the lid so the rubber
lies fiat between the top Of the jar
and the lid. Screw the metal band
tight and then loosen by turning it
back one-fourth turn. This band
must be loose while the jars are in
the Gamer. Failure to keep this IN
mind has caused lot OF painful
burns.) They are frightened after
processing. The metal bands should
be taken off the jars the next day
after the canning is done. Yes, II
the manufac cturer's instructions are
followed, the jars will stay sealed
without the bands. When ready to
open, run the sharp point of knife
between the top of the jar and the
rubber. Move knife sideWise as
moving it up and down is likely to
damage both jar and lid.
Opening Vacuum Seals
When using Mason jars with vac
uum seals, place the lid white side
down so that the sealing compound
rests on top of the jar. Screw the
| metal OAHU LlSl1I do IL WILL SS Wv -.
ordinary hand pressure and leave 1t
that way until the next day. Then
take it off and leave it off. No, you
don't tighten the band again after
processing. Metal lids, especially
those which are slightly rounded or
domed, are flexible. The compound
is softer than a jar rubber. The
flexible lid and soft compound per-
init steam and air to seep out during
processing. That's why the bands
are frightened before processing and
need not be frightened again.
When ready to open the jar, nip
the lid off with a bottle opener, or
punch a hole in it and pry it off.
The hole is all right because vacuum
seal lids should never be used a
second time.
When using a lightning type or
Ideal jar, put the rubber fiat on the
sealing surface. Keep the lip out OF
the way of the wires. Place the lid
so that it rests on the rubber. Then
pull or push the long wire up until
it fits in the groove on top of the lid.
Leave the short wire up while the
Jar is in the Gamer.