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Farm Kitchen:  Help! Anyone online who knows about canning?  |
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country lawyer
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
1022 Posts |
 Posted - Oct 11 2006 : 2:56:21 PM
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I've peeled, sliced and made the filling. I've just poured the apple pie filling over the apples and realized that I don't know what the "remove air bubbles" instruction means in the recipe for apple pie filling. I just this very moment took a chopstick as MaryJane recommended and simply went around the side of the jar. Is that enough? Do I need to look for bubbles? What size bubble is okay? What have I gotten myself into?!? Any immediate help would be greatly appreciated. Yikes!
"All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well."
Julian of Norwich
"The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time."
James Taylor
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2006 : 3:05:04 PM
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A chopstick will work and I use a paring knife blade....as long as you go around nicely, kind of pushing on the apples so the bubbles can rise to the top, and then wipe the top of your jar so that nothing is on the rim after you go around. I bet you are doing (or have done) fine!
Peace |
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country lawyer
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
1022 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2006 : 3:07:23 PM
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Thanks! The first time is always the most challenging! There are still small bubbles in there. Is that okay? You are a life saver....(apple saver too, really)
"All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well."
Julian of Norwich
"The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time."
James Taylor
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2006 : 3:23:35 PM
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Small bubbles are okay. At least mine always have them, and I have not had a problem. As long as you leave some space at the top of the jar for expansion and cooling, it should be fine.
I used to stress so much about "do I have it clean enough, and do I have all the bubbles out, and does the jar seemed sealed.....and then I began to realize that all was fine as long as you take all the precautions you have read and heard about and then, if you do not feel things are sealed, refrigerate them and use them within a couple of months.
Peace |
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country lawyer
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
1022 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2006 : 3:26:23 PM
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Many, many thanks. They are in the "water bath" now. I'll let you know the results. Keep your fingers crossed. You know, I think lots of things are better learned from a person rather than from a book...
"All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well."
Julian of Norwich
"The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time."
James Taylor
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Oct 11 2006 : 3:32:41 PM
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When the jars come out of the water bath and are sitting on the counter on their cooling rack - listen for that "ping" sound as they cool! It means they are sealing and the lids are contracting.. If you do not hear a ping, look at the jars and see if they have a concave look to them that sounds solid when flicked with a fingernail.
Isn't canning fun?
Peace |
Edited by - jpbluesky on Oct 11 2006 3:34:00 PM |
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country lawyer
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
1022 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2006 : 03:34:35 AM
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Asserting my 5th to that last question.....
"All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well."
Julian of Norwich
"The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time."
James Taylor
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2006 : 04:58:53 AM
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Duly noted. :)
Peace |
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country lawyer
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
1022 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2006 : 10:46:44 AM
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In this quiet, calm, "not canning" moment, I wanted to thank you, JPBluesky, for coming to my aide yesterday. I had so much time invested in the project at the point I called for help here that I think I would have died if I messed it up! You know, I read the tip at the bottom of the page in MaryJane's book and had no idea what I would be doing with a knife to the jar that would crack or chip it. "Remove the air bubbles?! What is that??!!" I screamed. Then, thank goodness, I thought of this forum and all the wisdom here. Thanks so much for your assistance. The jars of apple pie filling are beautiful. All that work only made 6 quarts. But.......bad news, I do have air bubbles inside. Not gigantic ones, but small ones. Does that mean that my canning day was a bust??? Gosh I hope not. I'd almost have to give up my FarmGirl aspirations to hear that.....
"All shall be well and all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well."
Julian of Norwich
"The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time."
James Taylor
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Libbie
Farmgirl Connection Cultivator
3579 Posts
Anne E.
Elsinore
Utah
USA
3579 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2006 : 11:13:00 AM
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Farmgirl to the Rescue!!!!!! You two make one heckuva team....
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2006 : 4:32:42 PM
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I have bubbles in my last batch of salsa too. I don't think it matters much unless you are going to take it to the county fair for the judging, unless you have so much air that the jar doesn't seal properly because the headspace is too much and not enough vacuum builds up. If your button pops down, indicating a good seal, and you can turn the jar upside down and nothing leaks out, you are OK.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Oct 12 2006 : 10:20:54 PM
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Rebekah -- I did my first canning a couple of weeks ago when I made apple butter. It turned out great. I love hearing that "ping" sound when the jars are sealing. I did applesauce this past weekend and it didn't turn out. Don't know if I processed it too long or what. The water wasn't boiling when I put the jars in so they sat in the hot water for 15 minutes before the water boiled then I processed them for 20 minutes after that. The jars sealed but the applesauce looks funny -- kind of grainy and has separated. So I'm throwing it out. This is all a learning experience and I'm really enjoying it. I bought the Ball Blue Book last weekend and am going to try some of the recipes in there for Christmas gifts.
Handmade purses and bath delights at www.rusticcottagecreations.com |
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MustangSuzie
True Blue Farmgirl
634 Posts
Sarah
New London
Missouri
USA
634 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2006 : 03:43:54 AM
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Congrats on your first batch of canning! 
Sarah |
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country lawyer
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
1022 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2006 : 08:11:11 AM
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Thanks for the expert help! Y'all are great!
Another question...I had planned to take one of these jars to an elderly woman (whose now deceased sister actually planted the apple trees decades ago). She is a retired home economics teacher. Should I be embarassed about the bubbles? I do have a good seal; I checked using Brenda's advice. But, are the bubbles not acceptable? I'm such a novice about this stuff.
By the way, I still don't know what the motion or action is that I should have taken to remove them. Is it a forceful motion? Or, just easy and consistent? Oh Lordy, what in the world am I doing?
(I sure need a home economics course! Do they still teach that? I hope so for my daughter's sake!)
"The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time."
James Taylor
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2006 : 08:32:27 AM
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Rebekah -- just slide a skewer or a knife GENTLY along the sides of the jar. Maybe in the middle too. You just don't want to disturb the contents too much as you'll make more air bubbles.
The home ec teacher will be so happy and touched by your kindness that she won't be looking for bubbles! You're stressing about your canning the way I stress about my sewing -- LOL!
Handmade purses and bath delights at www.rusticcottagecreations.com |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2006 : 08:47:16 AM
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The bubbles do not matter. My stewed tomatoes have bubbles too.
Sorry I did not explain thoroughly about inserting the knife next to the glass along the sides of the jar and pushing in gently. That push is what releases the air bubbles. You repeat that same thing around the jar several times.
Anyway, your results sound great and I bet they will be tasty too!
Peace |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2006 : 1:40:26 PM
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I think the thing about bubbles is that you can get more "stuff" inside the jar if you release all the bubbles. Then you use fewer jars to store more food, that is more economical...especially if you have a big family like farm families of the past. These days I tend to use more pint jars than quarts for most things, and I like the smaller quantity because the opened jars don't spoil in my refrigerator before I use the contents all up....
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
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bramble
True Blue Farmgirl
2044 Posts
2044 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2006 : 1:57:31 PM
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Rebekah- I think all of us here have stories to tell about canning gone wrong...way wrong! Don't feel bad that you didn't know about the bubbles, I once left the spices in a whole batch of spiced pears and Man O Man...they were more than SPICED! (They were supposed to be strained out before putting the syrup in the jars) Not to worry, your bubbles are still edible!
with a happy heart |
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MustangSuzie
True Blue Farmgirl
634 Posts
Sarah
New London
Missouri
USA
634 Posts |
Posted - Oct 13 2006 : 2:02:40 PM
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Isn't it something about the bubbles can cause the jars to break during the canning process? Not sure if I'm thinking right on that.
Sarah |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
Posted - Oct 14 2006 : 1:24:17 PM
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Sarah, that seems possible. Your question made me wonder, so I did a quick google search and came up with this booklet published by Mississippi State University, it gives a variety of reasons for getting rid of the bubbles and answers a lot of other "frequently asked questions" too.
http://msucares.com/pubs/publications/p0993.pdf
Speaking of canning gone wrong - I once canned some hot peppers because they were so hot they caused a fever blister on my lip when i used them fresh - didn't want to waste them so I canned them - then I was afraid to open the jar. They sat on the shelf for 15 years and through two moves. When I got married again my new husband asked "why is the lid on this jar so rusty?" He finally threw them out for me! LOL they probably could have been used for insecticide in the garden or something, they were toxic...
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
Edited by - brightmeadow on Oct 14 2006 1:27:58 PM |
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country lawyer
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
1022 Posts |
Posted - Oct 16 2006 : 07:08:15 AM
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Sorry to have abandoned the "canning conversation", but I headed out of town in a hurry. Thanks for the all the info and the link. I am still planning on sharing a jar with the elderly home ec teacher. I will definitely pick out the jar with the fewest bubbles. I'm also planning to go and pick another bunch of apples this week. Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go...I'll be canning once again! I feel much better prepared this time. Thanks to y'all! Wish me luck.
"The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time."
James Taylor
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Farm Kitchen: Help! Anyone online who knows about canning? |
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Help! Anyone online who knows about canning?
