Wax Circles / Discs for Jam making anyone?

tessie_bear

i dont use wax discs because the jam never lasts that long....im sure it will be fine without

ocemeer

Looking in my books JAm jars and lids are fine as long as you fill to the brim with hot jam/chutney and sterilse both the jar and lid. The hot jam will shrink as it cools forming a vacuum and hence you may here a pop as the lid moves. (happpens with those lids that show if they have been tampered with).
Wax discs can be used on their own as long as placed as soon as jam in jar and hot (as it melts the wax to form the seal) the cellophane/fabric cover is just a dust cover.
Anyone know if it matters if your house is slightly dampish if you use the wax discs? as i have loads of jam jars still with use left in them but the lids have finally given up the ghost and thought of using the wax discs instead.

THIRZAH

My local newsagent sells the discs and cellophane covers.

angchris

my mum cuts out disks from the plastic insides of cereal packets

Butterfly_Brain

I cut mine from the inside bag of cereal packets too. Waxed discs are helpful if you haven't got a tight fitting lid because the form a seal so that air can't get into the jam and therefore allow bacteria to grow and cause the jam to spoil.

Money_saving_Diva_2

Another vote for the inside of cereal packets here too! Have seen my mother use them very successfully.

Patchwork_Quilt

If your house is dampish, why not use the wax disc, then some cling film? You could possibly put a decorative gingham cover on with a rubber band to disguise it

Or ask around for jar lids. I find that they often fit a number of jars and if people are recycling the glass, they take the lids off anyway. They don't have to clean them up for you but just bring in a bag at the end of the week

soappie

I use ordinary baking parchment type stuff and then just brush it with a bit of brandy, pop on top of the jam and then add the lid.

tessie_bear

thats a great idea...cutting up the cereal cellophane...im going to try that

foxgloves

The Co-op usually has jam pot discs in stock. I tend to use those for jam and save the jars with proper lids for chutney as I make a lot of that too and it tends to dry out a bit if you just use the wax discs/cellophane covers. They are fine for jam & marmalade though.