Tuesday, October 7, 2008

{What am I doing wrong?}

Ok all you canners out there, I need your help. My neighbor was kind enough to give me two huge baskets full of tomatoes. I was so excited. I love using these tomatoes for soups and stews all winter long.


I was able to get 21 quarts of tomatoes. Don't they look pretty!


So, what's my problem? This always happens. I lift the lid off of my steamer and the juice starts running down the sides of my jars and then they look like this..........

Here is the steam canner I use. It doesn't seem to matter how tight or loose I put the lids on the juice always comes out, it just ticks me off.


I need to figure this mystery out because my other sweet neighbor brought me two boxes of these that I am going to need to start canning.

Any advice???

25 comments:

Jeni said...

Oh man..I feel for ya and wish I could help. Good luck with the apples!

Kristi said...

Well, I have absolutely NO clue how to help you there... :)

Becky said...

They look delicious, however, I've never canned a thing in my life!

Amy said...

I really don't know much...only did a little bit of canning last year for the first time. Just a thought: are the jars too full? What if you leave more room at the top for expansion? How frustrating!!! Good luck!

Nicol said...

We just had a class on canning for an Enrichment night and the sister presenting it mentioned putting the bottles upside down over night. I don't remember why she said that, but it might be worth a try.

sweet momma luv u said...

I have no idea! They do look really pretty though. Have fun with all of those apples. I have apples and I am going to make some applesauce!

Yummy!
Jody

Matt and Christy said...

Hi Nicole, I had the same problem with beets in a pressure canner. My lovely grandma said it was from too much pressure/heat, Maybe try regulating the temperature? Boiling is boiling- usually when you get something up to temp. you can turn your heat source down- give it just enough heat to maintain. Also make sure you are leaving enough headspace.
p.s. I have really enjoyed your blog, Tell your family Hi!
-Christy

Tausha said...

I havn't read any one elses posts. so maybe someone else said this-do you boil your lids-just the lids and put them on the bottle hot and then screw the lid on-then process I believe for 30 mins with tomatoes! Hey, if you want to talk to a real canning professional-THE ZOO on my sidebar-her mom works for the extension service and she knows all! She WOULD be able to help you!

Trixi said...

I can all the time and have never had this one happen. Could you be getting the jars too full? I just don't know. I use a water bath canner for tomatoes. I think that is what you have there isn't it? Mine is the huge blue enamel pot. Anyway, I am very little help but I do hope you figure it out.

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

I've never canned tomatoes before, so I'm no help. But I have canned pears - lucky you, you'll get so much.

Twice as Nice said...

I don't know a whole lot about canning but go to this blog
http://thebarberbunch.blogspot.com/
she seems to do a lot of canning and has a big garden. Hope it helps.

joelandbecca said...

Wow! Now I really need to move to yur neighborhood! What generous neighboors! But, I know nothing about canning. My mom does, but she doesn't ever use the computer! Another story for another day! You are domestic in every way!

Unknown said...

I wish I could help but I have no idea what to do! I really thought I had left you a comment I think I am losing it!

Brandi said...

It looks good. Did the lids seal even though they leaked? I boil my lids before putting them on and processing them. That's the only thing I can think of. Sorry, I don't have much experience.

Diane said...

Can't help you, but wow- what a blessing!

Megan @ Megity's Handmade said...

Mmmm...they look yummy and the apples will make great applesauce. I really wanted to get some canning done this year, but didn't get one thing done. I always turn my bottles upside down to help them seal. You are more than welcome to borrow my canner if you think that's the prob.

Darlene said...

I have never canned a thing in my life but I wanted to say all of those look beautiful and yummy!!

Ruth said...

Hey, you are so much better than your Mom! I don't know if you would even have a memory of me canning, do you? Call the extension service, they can tell you for sure. Or go online to Kerr and I would bet they would have a place you can ask questions. You do make me proud though - you are such a Susie Homemaker! Guess what, the grapes are about ready.
Love you!!

Cami said...

Hi! I have been canning my little heart out too. I have been freezing my tomatoes. I am too scared to can tomatoes. I am not exactly sure what is going wrong either. I am curious to know what is happening. I have had that happen when I was canning peaches. Is your next project pears or apples? I wish I lived closer, so we could can together. It is so much more fun with friends.

Connie said...

When I was little my job was to squish and strain everything ... really good facials but I was too young to appreciate them then. Anywho ... I can't remember much other than some waxy stuff my Mom used in the mix (always thought it was strange) but maybe that was only on the jam. Sorry.

Heather said...

My peaches did that this year too. I freaked out about it to my mom who was there helping me. She said it's ok and not to worry about it. I'm curious to know what it is though. I hadn't seen it before. We've slow roasted all of our tomatoes, then froze them. 200 degrees for 10 hours. SOOOO yummy. google it.

onlymehere said...

I don't can so I can't help you here but I admire that you can.

WheresMyAngels said...

No idea, but looks like you have your hands full!

Angie said...

I had the same problem with my tomatoes. I have no clue either. I just had a large pot of very hot water near my canner the second batch around and dipped each jar in to quickly wash off the liquid before it dried. Each jar sealed just fine. None of my other fruit or veggies did it.

Sydney said...

Can't help with the canning issues, just jealous that you had enough tomatoes to can. Between the slugs and the cool weather, I only ended up with about 10 tomatoes. And they're still not ripe yet.