Pickle problem

CFC

Hi all, I'm sure one of you will be able to help me!

I have made pickle out of my green tomatoes but only one jar has sealed properly. I've clearly gone wrong somewhere. I am reusing jars that I have kept after using the contents. I warmed the jars in the oven and hot bottled the pickle, although it was not boiling when I finally spooned it in. The jars appeared to be ok but after the pickle cooled only one of the jars had the 'safety spot' depressed. The others clicked up and down so are not sealed. I know that I can boil up the pickle again and rebottle and that is what I am intending to do. BUT this time I want it to work properly, I do not have enough room in my fridge to store all my non properly bottled pickle jars! Is it a jar problem or a technique problem, advice is now needed...

Please help me!

D&DD

I usually wipe my rims with a bit of kitchen paper wetted with boiled water and always use new lids.My mum recycles lids and doesn't seem to have problems though.
Sometimes with pickles a little bit of onion sits on the rims and you don't always see it.

Patchwork_Quilt

The only thing I can suggest is that next time you get some waxed circles and poke them in on top of the pickle with a teaspoon so that if the jar doesn't seal properly the air will be excluded anyway.

The other thing you could do is sterilise the pickles by putting the sealed bottles in a tall pan and covering with water. Bring up to a simmer over half an hour and simmer them for about 20 minutes. Lift out whilst still simmering and check seals. Leave to cool. This reheats without you having to wash all the bottles again. Check the timing on the internet though. I don't want to poison anyone.

Mrs_Veg_Plot

CFC

Have you checked that you have the correct lids on the bottles? This accounted for two of my chutney bottles not sealing properly. The other four I sucessfully sealed using the waterbath method described by patchworkquilt.

Farway

I never bother, just use cling film over the hot jar tops, then screw the top on

Still here after umpteen years, and having just had a cheese and 2010 vintage apple chutney roll

PS on hols next week, so if no posting, I did not die

Flibsey

remember though if you do use wax disks, dn't keep any left over disks, don't leave an open packet until the next time you preserve anything.

zippychick

I turn my jars upside down when the stuff is in them. I think nigella said this created a vacuum - although i could have made that up:o

lizimuffin

I always re-use jars and the lids and mine always seal. What I tend to do is put the chutney/jam etc in the jars, wipe round the top with some kitchen towel and then twist the lids on with a pair of oven gloves so they are really tight. Could you take the pickle out re boil it slightly and re steralise the jars and then get them to seal? Good luck x