Q and A: storing freshly ground wheat, glass chimneys for kerosene lamps, and canning ketchup

Storing freshly-ground wheat

I have been making biscuit mix and pancake mix with organic unbleached flour, but am almost out of what we had stored and will now switch to our Wheat Berries and grind them in our Nutri-Mill. I have always been told that fresh ground wheat must be refrigerated or frozen so the Wheat Germ does not go rancid; it does so quickly. I was wondering when you grind your wheat do you keep these mixes under refrigeration or just on the shelf? If on the shelf, how long do you think they are safe to use if they contain fresh ground wheat?

Glenda Hadley
Glenrock, Wyoming

I generally use unbleached flour in my mixes because it keeps indefinitely without refrigeration. As I have a small propane fridge, I simply don’t have room for extras in there. On the shelf, whole wheat generally will keep only about a month or two before starting to go rancid. Sometimes you are luckier than that, depending on your wheat and conditions in the room. It is safe to eat, even then, but just tastes a bit rancid. I use our freshly ground wheat soon after being ground, in most of my recipes using whole wheat. — Jackie

Glass chimneys for kerosene lamps

I purchased a good many kerosene/oil lamps from thrift/garage sales — most were missing the glass chimney. Now I discover the glass chimney can be EXPENSIVE! I see glass chimneys at the thrift stores all the time. Are these OK to use or do my kerosene lamps require a chimney made especially for a kerosene lamp?

Ramona B.
Newberry, South Carolina

Chimneys from the thrift store are fine. Just measure the bottom of the chimney to make sure it will fit the lamp. There are several different sizes with two being most common. The only lamps I can think of that require special chimneys are the Aladdin lamps. — Jackie

Canning ketchup

I am wanting to make homemade ketchup but in smaller jars than a pint jar as we are not big ketchup eaters. How long should we process a 1/2-pint jar or a 4 oz. jar in a waterbath canner?

Also with our lack of rain, tomatoes are ripening earlier but only a few at a time, can canning recipes be cut in half or third or a quarter without a problem?

CW
Mondovi, Wisconsin

You process ketchup in 1/2-pint and smaller jars the same as if they were pint jars.

Yes, you can cut recipes for nearly everything but jams, jellies, and preserves in half with no problems. — Jackie