spoiled jelly

[bookwormom]

Remember how I recommend unorthodox canning procedures, using twist off tops and filling to the rim without using a pressure canner? Well, maybe it is just dumb luck, because I have had very good results for the last 25 years or so. But a couple of days ago I was given a jar of jam in a proper Ball Mason jelly jar with a pretty picture on the lid, and I am sure the lady who made it followed instructions to the T. I opened it up this morning and what do I see? Mold growing on it.

[kirby-magoo]

I don't think that just because the jam was in a "proper jar" means proper procedure. Maybe the jar was not sterilized and processed less than 5 min. From my learning, sterile and 5 min in BWB is okay, or 10 min and not sterilized jar. Maybe she used the "open kettle" method of putting boiling jam in a jar and inverting the jar for a bit, then turning upright.

I took a class several years ago, taught by a locally well known lady with a business making small batch, specialty jams and marmalades. I was totally shocked at her method. She took the jars from boxes and put them into the oven @250. ( I do this too--BUT I wash them first and the jars "bake" while I get everything ready, at least 45 min) Then when the jam was finished, she took trays of jars from the oven, took the unwashed lids from a bucket, screwed them on tight, and inverted the jar. Yes, they "sealed" we heard the pings.

The class was each given a jar of the newly made jam. I set mine on a shelf and checked it for signs of spoilage. Within 3 months the jar still appeared to be sealed but had some sort of fuzzy growth on top. Tossed it.

I am a firm beleiver in the BWB for fruits and jams and my PC for everything else.

k

[leera]

My guess would be that the jar was not sterilized.....could have been an old batch too.......was it dated?

Most likely was due to improper cleaning/sterilizing though.....

I've never taken any classes,but have always washed the jars,then boiled and kept them hot until filled,then followed the canning times in the book.......haven't had a problem yet.....

[Diamon_Girl]

Hi! I'm new here, been lurking for quite a while. This post has brought me out from behind the curtains to say, EW! :o EW! :o EW! :o
It's quite obvious the woman who was instructing that class has never, ever worked in a factory or a place that manufactures anything.
I don't care what it is or what it does, but if it was manufactured and it's even remotely involved with the comsumption of food or drink WASH IT!! It may "look" clean, but do you know where it's been? Do you have ANY idea how it was made? What chemicals may be dripping out of the machine that is was made in? What it may have come in contact with between it being made and landing in your local store? Don't get me started on what it could have come in contact with in the backroom of your local Big Lots or where ever it is you buy your canning jars!!
Trust me, I'm not paranoid, I work in a factory and I used to be a manager at a nursery and craft store...
EW! :o EW! :o EW! :o