It was at the end of a hot day, and heating up the kitchen (and what seemed like the whole house) wasn't a pleasant thing to do right before bedtime. (Phew!) But the bounty was worth it.
Just as I was filling the very last pint jar . . . POP!
The whole bottom of the jar cracked off. The boiling hot jam could have done real damage if it had gone on the floor and splattered my bare legs. Or it could have exploded in the canner. As it was, not a bad mess to clean up!
I remember making jam once and asked my wife to stir it for a few seconds, as she did it spat on her hand which made her jump and send molten jam through the air right onto my head! I didn't swear though (much...)
ReplyDeleteKev - Omigosh! That splat of jam could have landed in your eye and really done damage. You hear of terrible accidents (especially those involving children) that happened in the "olden days" and I'm always aware of such when I'm working with that bubbling hot "lava!"
DeleteClose call! There is nothing more dangerous than molten hot jam! If it would have been me, it would have either broken in the canner at full boil, or as I was gingerly transporting it across my sandaled feet.
ReplyDeleteSusan - I once had a jar of bread and butter pickles break in the canner. That was enough of a mess to clean up. I can't imagine the mess a jar of jam would make!
DeleteI guess you were lucky it was the very last one! The rest of the jars look......YUMMY!!!
ReplyDeleteSue - You're right! It wasn't nearly as bad to stop and clean up the mess when all the rest of the jars were in the canner and ready to do.
DeleteYou have to hate that noise as much as you love the plink of a jar sealing!
ReplyDeleteFiona - Obviously you've heard the sound yourself! :o(
DeleteOh dear! Thankfully I haven't had that happen, but I did manage to burn a whole batch of tomatoes that were becoming homemade ketchup. I was so sad that I asked my husband to dump it out in the field for me. I'm glad you weren't burned! -Jenn
ReplyDeleteJenn - Although we love doing it and get so much satisfaction from canning and preserving, when we lose a whole batch of something like you did, it sure does take the wind out of our sails, doesn't it?
DeleteGlad you didn't get splashed by the jam, but the rest of the jars look gorgeous. We don't can jam here in Europe, we put the hot jam in warm jars then put a jam seal made of something or other on top. As the jam cools it pulls that seal down, which should keep the jam from going mouldy.
ReplyDeleteVera - About the only preserving my mom did was to make grape jelly. She poured melted paraffin over the top of the jelly in the jars and that sealed it. (More than one way to skin a cat, huh?)
DeleteOh my goodness. I have had a jar or two of tomatoes break in the water bath. I learned a quick lesson to let them sit on the wire rack to let the jars heat back up before submersing them. So glad your's didn't burn you. All the jam looks so pretty and I'm sure it's as delicious as can be.
ReplyDeleteLaurie - That sounds like a good precaution to take . . . as you do with your canned tomatoes.
DeleteWe haven't opened any of the jars yet, but I did have a small saucer of leftover jam and it is good!
I have to honestly say I never thought a Mason jar (or similar type) would EVER crack, burst or bust! I assumed they were indestructable! Glad you didn't get burned...cautionary tale for those of us making jam. Btw, I made some strawberry/cherry jam the other day, not from my harvest, I'd got them on sale and we couldn't finish them fresh. Before I sealed the jars, I sprinkled a wee bit of cherry brandy on top, I can't wait to try it out!
ReplyDeleteRain - Your strawberry/cherry jam sounds delish! And with that zing of the cherry brandy . . . that on a piece of toast sounds like a great way to start a morning! ;o)
DeleteMama Pea,
ReplyDeleteAll those beautiful strawberries you harvested from your garden made into homemade strawberry jam, looks delicious. Mighty fine job my friend, I know you slept good that night after all the work.
Love and hugs to you and yours,
Sandy
Sandy - My daughter, who loves the fresh strawberries, seems to be a little concerned I'm using too many of them to make jam! Which is funny because she likes having the jam, too. ;o}
DeleteHow fortunate that you weren't hurt or had a worse mess to clean up.
ReplyDeleteI can't remember if I have ever had that happen in canning. But I have had jars break like that in hot water when I am prepping the jars. Luscious jam!
gld - Yes, I've lost a few jars over the years when sterilizing them before use. That's an easy clean-up compared to having a full one break in the canner!
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