Three pounds of pickling cucumbers were picked this morning. My refrigerator is already stuffed with Refrigerator Dills, so I decided it was time to fill my last two empty quart jars and can some fresh pack dills.
What? Only one quart of pickles?
*Whimper*
Here's the other quart, along with the bottom of the jar, floating around in the canner. It's my first broken jar in the past two years of canning.
Chelsea, I usually put my jars in the hot water in the canner, then pull them out and fill them while they are really hot. This time I took them right from the dishwasher, and filled them with the cucumbers and spices, then my granddaughter wanted a cup of tea...so I stopped what I was doing and fixed her some tea, then went back to finish the pickles. I poured the boiling vinegar solution into the jars, added the lids and put them into the canner. They had been in there about 5 minutes when I didn't think the water was boiling quite hard enough so I turned up the heat. The next time I looked, the canner lid was up on one side, and the jar was poking out and bobbing up and down. So my first mistake was leaving the cool pickles in the jar too long, and the jar cooled off before I put it in the boiling water bath. It still might not have happened if I hadn't turned up the heat to a high boil. The third thing that could have caused it was that there were only two jars in the canner, so they may have been banging against each other or on the sides of the pot.
I try to always make sure the jars are hot before filling them up. I was worried with the applesauce I made. I was afraid it would go into three batches. Luckily it was just two. I use the dishwasher to heat them up and after processing two batches they really weren't hot anymore. Of course if you use your jars enough eventually they will break. My last break was when I dropped a whole jar of pickled peppers. I wasn't at all sad about the jar, but that was a lot of jalapenos and serranos on the floor. It was a very sad day.
******** Kitsap, I don't like dill pickles, so I never know how they taste. I just make 'em and hope they eat 'em!
******** Daphne, I'd have felt worse if it were something I liked. I do not like dill pickles.
******** Cheryl, that's the same recipe I use for refrigerator dills, so I'm hoping it works as well for the ones canned in a boiling water bath. I've had problems, in the past, canning pickles that stay crisp, even with the packaged pickle mixes, so decided they were a waste of money. My youngest daughter will eat them anyway, crisp or not.
Shawn Ann & Thyme2, it was no biggie. I didn't whimper for very long, LOL! Now, if it had been a jar of diced tomatoes, or worse yet, a jar of strawberry jam, I'd really be whimpering!
What? Only one quart of pickles?
*Whimper* 
Oh no! At least it broke in your canner and not all over the floor.
ReplyDeleteAnd it made for an awesome post, so you're two for two.
Ribbit, I wasn't as concerned over the loss of the cucumbers as from the loss of the garlic. And the jar!
ReplyDeleteGranny,
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think made the jar break?
Chelsea, I usually put my jars in the hot water in the canner, then pull them out and fill them while they are really hot. This time I took them right from the dishwasher, and filled them with the cucumbers and spices, then my granddaughter wanted a cup of tea...so I stopped what I was doing and fixed her some tea, then went back to finish the pickles. I poured the boiling vinegar solution into the jars, added the lids and put them into the canner. They had been in there about 5 minutes when I didn't think the water was boiling quite hard enough so I turned up the heat. The next time I looked, the canner lid was up on one side, and the jar was poking out and bobbing up and down. So my first mistake was leaving the cool pickles in the jar too long, and the jar cooled off before I put it in the boiling water bath. It still might not have happened if I hadn't turned up the heat to a high boil. The third thing that could have caused it was that there were only two jars in the canner, so they may have been banging against each other or on the sides of the pot.
ReplyDeleteBummer! I need to make some fresh pack dills, I was gifted some cukes. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteYou are the 3rd blogger I know who has had a broken jar this week, how strange! Hope that's the last one, that's a pain!
ReplyDeleteI hate that when it happens. Luckily it is not often. The remaining jar looks very yum though!
ReplyDeleteI try to always make sure the jars are hot before filling them up. I was worried with the applesauce I made. I was afraid it would go into three batches. Luckily it was just two. I use the dishwasher to heat them up and after processing two batches they really weren't hot anymore. Of course if you use your jars enough eventually they will break. My last break was when I dropped a whole jar of pickled peppers. I wasn't at all sad about the jar, but that was a lot of jalapenos and serranos on the floor. It was a very sad day.
ReplyDeleteNice easy to make recipe. Well, if the jars cooperate...and the little people.
ReplyDeleteErin, must be a full moon or something ;-)
ReplyDelete********
Kitsap, I don't like dill pickles, so I never know how they taste. I just make 'em and hope they eat 'em!
********
Daphne, I'd have felt worse if it were something I liked. I do not like dill pickles.
********
Cheryl, that's the same recipe I use for refrigerator dills, so I'm hoping it works as well for the ones canned in a boiling water bath. I've had problems, in the past, canning pickles that stay crisp, even with the packaged pickle mixes, so decided they were a waste of money. My youngest daughter will eat them anyway, crisp or not.
bummer!
ReplyDeleteGranny, I always love your canning stories, but this was a sad one! Sorry to hear about the accident. At least it was just one jar and not more.
ReplyDeleteShawn Ann & Thyme2, it was no biggie. I didn't whimper for very long, LOL! Now, if it had been a jar of diced tomatoes, or worse yet, a jar of strawberry jam, I'd really be whimpering!
ReplyDelete