Like everyone else who is on Pinterest, I have a love of mason jars. Luckily for me, I have inherited a whole wall of them. This year I have a pressure canner, in addition to our big pot for water baths, so I’m planning on expanding all the things I can. I want to move beyond jellies and jams and get into broths, meats, soups, salsas and vegetables. I have no more freezer space.
In my research of all things canning, I came across some people talking about “Weck” jars. I recognized them instantly, because I had seen a few at a kitchen store in the city, and fell in love with them immediately. I didn’t realize back then that they were actually canning jars. I just thought they were really cute jars. I had seen them used on a blog to store homemade chai tea leaves as little gifts.
So here’s what I found out about Weck jars. They’re the German version of the traditional canning jars. They’ve been around for over 100 years in Europe, so it’s not exactly like they’re the latest thing. You can water bath can with them, pressure cook with them, bake in them, etc. etc.
The more I looked into them, the more I loved the simplicity of their design and the quality in which they are made. These things are so cute! They come in some great shapes, and I’m getting a bit obsessed with them.
The mason jars break from time to time. I give my canned goods away as gifts, and don’t expect the jars back. My supply goes a little down each year. So, I’ve decided that when I replace them as needed, I’m replacing them with Weck jars. (Of course, they will break just like the mason jars, but I still just love them.)
There are only to “cons” that I have found in using a few Weck jars this season:
1) It takes some extra care to put the rubber rings on the caps before putting the caps on the jars. It’s not hard to do, but it is a bit trickier than just slapping on the cover of a mason jar and screwing it on. You have to hold the rubber ring on the cover with 2 hands, being careful not to let the ring fall off. You can try as many times as you like, so it’s not like you have to get it in one shot. It just takes a little extra care.
2) I can’t write on the lids with permanent marker like I can with mason jars. I actually need a label. Until then, I’m storing my goods in an organized fashion, and labeling the shelves, not the jars. I’m still on the lookout for labels I like. I do like that I can see through the lids, and just feel more assured that there is not mold growing, and everything looks fresh.
The additional “pros” that I have discovered since starting to use these jars in canning are:
1) These jars make a super tight seal. The rubber rings are thick and sturdy. The metal clamps are the same. It just feels solid and quality made all in all.
2) I can stack these jars easier than the mason jars. That may just have to do with the spacing of my shelves in our cold room, but I can fit more on my shelves. I like that.
3) I like how there is no little curve on the top when trying to get out jelly or apple butter, or anything else. The straight sides make for less waste and less tedious scraping.
One of my favorite aspects of these Weck jars is that I have figured out how to use them to do some great fermented foods. I’ve figured out how to turn them into fermentation crocks without any extra materials or manipulation. So far I’ve used them to make fresh sauerkraut, homemade apple cider vinegar and lacto-fermented pickled carrots for some cheap, fresh probiotics. More on that on Thursday…
Amanda says
July 1, 2014 at 3:47 pmI love them too, but I feel like I looked into them and found them a bit pricey! You? If you’ve found a good source, I’d love to know! I’ve also tried to source reasonably priced Kilner Jars.
Gretchen R says
July 1, 2014 at 4:29 pmAmanda, they are pricier than mason jars. That’s why I’m buying them in very small batches over time. 🙂 I’ve found the cheapest places are the Weck Jar site, as well as Crate and Barrel. Which one is cheaper depends on how many you order, and the various shipping that applies. Weckjars.com has cheaper jars and more expensive shipping, while Crate and Barrel doesn’t have the variety, you can buy smaller quantities easier and they have flat rate shipping. So it depends…
Mom says
July 2, 2014 at 3:31 pmSauerkraut? Wow, Papa would be excited about that! Do the rubber rings need to be replaced every so often? Are they easy to get?
Matt says
October 14, 2015 at 4:23 pmIf you fit all of the following criteria, you may be able to save TONS of money on Weck jars: (1) You are willing to spend at least $350 (plus shipping), either for yourself or with friends as a group-buy, AND (2) you have access to a FEIN (you have a business or are friends with a business-owner).
If you meet those two criterion, ask Weck about purchasing their jars wholesale. My wife and I are planning to do just this—-the payback-period will be between 5-8 cannings vs. buying Ball jars and purchasing new lids. In the long run, Weck jars are actually cheaper than Ball (especially if you re-use the rubber gaskets).