Getting ready to make home-made jam and chutney - please help!

gayleygoo

You can of course use old jars to put HM jam etc in I've never had one crack, but if one does then it would probably be because there was a crack or chip already in the glass, so just check them before using. After being sterlilised, they should be placed on a wooden board, tea towel or layers of newspaper to prevent them cracking when the hot jam is poured in.

Lids can be reused (and I have never used waxed discs if using metal lids) if they are clean, and boiled in water for 10 minutes, and air dried before putting on. One of my preserves books recommends using new lids for old jars, but I always thought old ones were fine.

To be honest though, I have never made a preserve in such quantities that I'd expect them still be hanging around 6 months after making! If you want your preserves to last for years then it may be worth considering "bottling/canning" in the fancy jars.

Farway

I never used wax discs, but once jar had cooled a bit I used cling film over the top of the jar, then screwed the old metal lid on.

In all the years I have been jam / chutney making I have only had one jar of jam go "furry", which I then binned