Debra
The Living Force
Well, here I am again wondering why I get some crazy problems. Did 8 pint jars of bacon today wrapped in grease proof paper. Heard a pop soon after putting pressure regulator on.Carried on to the end and had 7 perfect jars for cooling. The 8th jars two piece lid had come clean off but jar unbroken and no spoilage in jar. When jars were cold I removed the twists but on 5 of the jars the screwing off process unsealed the lids.
All the bacon undamaged so put in fridge to redo tomorrow.
Can anyone tell me why the 2 piece lid can come off a jar when screwed to finger tight.
Why were the screw tops loose when I came to take them off.
As the fat in jars will be cold and hard tomorrow morning, will I be ok doing them for the required time from cold or is there a problem with cold solid fat in jars. The fat in the jars come up to just under half way up.
Sorry for so many inquiries but my list of mishaps is perplexing to say the least but if I can get all these problems over in the first couple of weeks then "maybe" I'll start to feel like a proper grown-up..
Your Adventures in Pressure Canning just keep getting more interesting and informative every time, don't they?
You sound like you're staying pretty positive with it all, and keeping that old motto "Learning is Fun" first and foremost!
LOL, I wouldn't let it define whether it makes you a "Grown up" or not...from what I have observed, Grown ups don't have very much fun...so I stopped aiming for that goal a long time ago.
How about "Master Canner"!
My one and only "guess" on the mystery of the loose lids, would be....grease.
Did you wipe the rims of the jars really well after loading them with the bacon, before you put the sealer lid on?
No matter what I am putting in the jars, I ALWAYS wipe the rims of the jars with a water and vinegar dampened clean cloth, before putting the flat rubber rimmed lid on, and then the screw top goes on, finger tight.
The rubber sealing ring is THE vulnerable spot where any tiny bit of food or grease will prohibit the rubber from sealing TIGHT to the glass.
You may want to just LEAVE the screw tops ON, until the product is used.
It means investing in a few more screw top rims, but worth it, if your product stays canned and safe.
Hope this helps.