BHM's Homesteading & Self-Reliance Forum
Posting requires Registration and the use of Cookies-enabled browser

09-14-2017, 08:03 PM
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 13
|
|
Exploding canning jars
My daughter roasted chili peppers, then peeled them and made green enchilada sauce to can. She added onion, garlic, cilantro, a couple other seasonings, and added a little flour for just a little thickening. She canned them over the weekend and had them out on the counter on a doubled towel and when she got home from work yesterday, several of them had exploded. We would love to hear your suggestions as to why this happened.  Thank you!
|

09-14-2017, 08:32 PM
|
Grand Master Pontificator
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: North Central Texas
Posts: 1,982
|
|
water bath or pressure canning???
JVC
|

09-14-2017, 11:22 PM
|
 |
Master Pontificator
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NWLA
Posts: 837
|
|
Were the jars true canning jars, or repurposed jars? Repurposed jars being like mayonnaise jars before they went to plastic, and other similar commercial products in glass jars, which are not as thick or strong as true canning jars.
More information is necessary, like the process, process procedures, and type or jars being used before any assessment of the possibilities can truly be analyzed. Other thoughts which come to mind is were the jars allowed proper head space or over filled?
|

09-15-2017, 12:15 AM
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 13
|
|
water bath
|

09-15-2017, 12:20 AM
|
 |
Master Pontificator
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NWLA
Posts: 837
|
|
Some more things, I though of:
1. Were the jars inspected prior to use for fractures or cracks?
2. Were the cooling jars arranged to leave an air space between the jars?
3. Were the jars protected from any direct cool air currents?
4. Were all air bubbles removed, or attempted to be removed from the product in the jars, before they were initially sealed?
5. Already partially mentioned, but were the jars, New, Used or repurposed?
6. Was the towel completely dry before the processed jars were placed on it to cool?
7. Is you daughter certain she did not scratch the jars in any way during her processing procedure?
8. Is the canning location in excess of 1,000 feet sea level? Were properly adjusted canning times use? Admittedly this last one is grasping at straws, and it usually result in improperly processed foods which spoil, rather than causing breakage, but thought I would mention it also.
Last edited by Jjr; 09-15-2017 at 12:23 AM.
Reason: grammar
|

09-15-2017, 12:22 AM
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 13
|
|
She used real canning jars and follows instructions very well. She has canned salsa, apple butter, potatoes, etc. This is the first time she's had a problem......oh, she just messaged me on fb; said it was the flour. She googled it and it said the flour absorbs the acids and can cause the problem. I never heard of this before but if it's true, she sure won't put flour in the jars again....I told her to add the flour to the sauce when she's heating it on the stove, not when canning. Thanks to jvcstone and Jjr for your input.
|

09-15-2017, 12:27 AM
|
 |
Master Pontificator
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NWLA
Posts: 837
|
|
Hopefully it was not an expensive lesson, but I am sure it is one she will remember forever. Little things can & do often make big differences in outcomes.
|

09-15-2017, 10:46 AM
|
Grand Master Pontificator
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SW VA Mts
Posts: 1,516
|
|
All the canning books say not to add flour or any starch to recipes that you are going to can.
|

09-16-2017, 02:19 AM
|
Member
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 13
|
|
Thanks, wildturnip
I guess I've never wanted to can anything that required thickening and neither has my daughter. This has been a great lesson learned with no harm to anyone. The jars exploded while everyone was at work, otherwise, someone could have been close enough to be hurt. Again, thank you.
|

09-17-2017, 08:40 PM
|
Master Pontificator
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 601
|
|
Wow! I learned something today, for sure! Glad no one was hurt.
|

09-22-2017, 09:36 PM
|
Grand Master Pontificator
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: SW VA Mts
Posts: 1,516
|
|
Yes, that's scary! Glad no one was hurt.
|

09-26-2017, 04:30 PM
|
Master Pontificator
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Iowa
Posts: 752
|
|
Its a blessing that the jars exploded because I don't think that is a safe recipe for water bath canning.
I sincerely hope she didn't water bath potatoes. They absolutely require pressure canning.
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -2. The time now is 07:45 AM.
|
|