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HM jam going mouldy - what am I doing wrong?

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  • babyshoes
    babyshoes Posts: 1,771 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    I suspect the waxed discs too - I've never used them, as modern jar lids have a plastic coating which does the same job, or so I've been led to believe.

    We do pretty much the the same as kittie but without the alcohol, and have also never had jam go mouldy.

    Just make sure that if you are re-using jars, that the lids are really clean - flavours like curry or vinegar can linger even after a good wash.
    Trust me - I'm NOT a doctor!
  • -taff
    -taff Posts: 15,345 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    You don't need waxed discs if your jam is above 100, the jars were sterilised to 100 or above and your lids were done at 80.
    Non me fac calcitrare tuum culi
  • I pour boiling water over and in the jars, tip it out then microwave for 2 mins to boil off the rest. Quicker than the oven warm method for sterilising. Some fruit may itself have been slightly mouldy before you used it and not necessarily showing it -this applies especially to hedgerow fruit e.g. blackberries, radpberries and they are reputed to go mouldy if picked when wet with rain.
  • CCP
    CCP Posts: 5,062 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    Thanks for all your thoughts and comments, everyone - most helpful as always. :T

    I used waxed discs as I am reusing old jars and don't have any proper lids for them: can you buy these, or will I need to buy some brand new jars with lids if I want to try again?
    Back after a very long break!
  • culpepper
    culpepper Posts: 4,076 Forumite
    The wax discs go inside the lids on the jam and the lids still need to be air tight over the whole thing.
    Sometimes I will add a cling film layer over my lids if I am not sure they are perfectly air tight but I always use those jars up first.
    I like the idea of the teaspoon of alcohol,will definitely try that in the future.
  • Mojisola
    Mojisola Posts: 35,571 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    CCP wrote: »
    I used waxed discs as I am reusing old jars and don't have any proper lids for them: can you buy these, or will I need to buy some brand new jars with lids if I want to try again?

    My Mum and two Grans only ever used the waxed discs on the jam surface and then greaseproof paper to cover the pots. I wonder whether the mould may be more active because our houses are much warmer these days?

    If you're using standard jars, you can buy new lids.

    https://www.lakeland.co.uk/p3812/Twist-Off-Lids but there's probably cheaper ones available if you search.
  • I wash my jars in the dishwasher and then put into a warm oven until ready. otherwise, are you using enough sugar?
    'Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.' George Carlin
  • Cottage_Economy
    Cottage_Economy Posts: 1,227 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    edited 7 November 2013 at 10:45AM
    To be honest, when I read what you said about not using lids my first instinct is to say you are not sealing the jars properly with the cellophane circles. I have only had two jars of mouldy jam in the years I've been doing it and they were both because I hadn't noticed the cellophane seals were not properly sealed down.

    You have to make sure there is not spilled jam anywhere on the top of the jar, which could interfere with a seal. When you put the cellophane disc on it needs to have been wetted/dampened first and then pulled very tightly over the top of the jar. The heat and water will make the cellophane flexible and mold itself to the jar. You then add the elastic band to hold it.

    You should be hearing a pinging noise as the jam cools. The cellophane starts to pull inwards under vacuum and the pinging is the cellophane cooling under the pressure of being stretched. With a good seal tiny wrinkles appear around the inner edges of the cellophane. The pinging and the wrinkles, or sometimes the cellophane being curved inwards, are all signs of a good seal. If you don't have those, you need to either try again if the jam is hot enough or get that jam in the fridge/freezer when it is cool and use it first.
  • paddy's_mum
    paddy's_mum Posts: 3,977 Forumite
    I've been Money Tipped!
    I recently ordered 120z hexagonal jars with lids from Bottle Company South of Bristol.

    They were good quality, well packaged, delivered on time and compared to Lakeland etc, very economical.

    I tend to use the waxed discs, then cellophane covers and then put on the metal lid once the jam has cooled. I've never had an unopened jar go mouldy.

    Love the alcohol idea .. hic!
  • CCP
    CCP Posts: 5,062 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker I've been Money Tipped!
    Thanks again for all your help, everyone.

    Cottage Economy - it sounds like I haven't been sealing them properly, as most of the content of your post was new to me. I will save this somewhere for reference when I have another try - hopefully I will be more successful now I know exactly what I should be doing.

    Thanks again, everyone. :T
    Back after a very long break!
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