Do I need mason jars for fermenting?

[eastkygal]

Do I need new canning jars (mason or ball) for fermenting, or can I use empty pickle/jelly jars that I've collected with lids? Our recycling place doesn't take glass anymore, and I'd like to put these to use.

Oh, has anyone krauted red cabbage?

[cristeen]

For fermenting, you can use any non-reactive container you have, whether that's a jar, a bowl, a crock, etc. Since you're not going to be sealing it, it doesn't have to be a "canning jar".

[PlayaMama]

my mom found tons of sealing jars with glass lids at the thrift store. they have a rubber gasket and i use them because i don't have anything to weigh the sauerkraut down with and the pressure helps compact it. that being said, i've also used mason jars, old peanut butter jars, and pickle jars. they all work.

i'm working on my second batch of purple cabbage today, first turned out delicious, this one i added carrots and ginger to. yum :

[Magelet]

Just make sure that if you put the lids on, they are really clean. They can be hard to get truely clean and sanitary if they've been used before. (doesn't mean I don't lol, you just have to be careful). I personally haven't made red cabbage kraut, but I can't imagine why you couldn't.

[staceychev]

We only use red cabbage for kraut. I like the look of it better! (That, and we got addicted to the ruby kraut at Angelica Kitchen when we lived in NYC.)

[eastkygal]

Originally Posted by Magelet

Just make sure that if you put the lids on, they are really clean. They can be hard to get truely clean and sanitary if they've been used before. (doesn't mean I don't lol, you just have to be careful). I personally haven't made red cabbage kraut, but I can't imagine why you couldn't.

Any suggestions on how to get them good and clean? Boiling them maybe? I've used the jars to store the bone stock I've made and the lids seemed not to affect it. How would I know that the lids caused something to go wrong? I supposed smell and taste.

[AnnC]

Originally Posted by eastkygal

Any suggestions on how to get them good and clean? Boiling them maybe? I've used the jars to store the bone stock I've made and the lids seemed not to affect it. How would I know that the lids caused something to go wrong? I supposed smell and taste.

If I'm canning, I put them in simmering water first. If I'm just storing things in the jars, I just scrub them.

Ann

[littlecityfarmer]

If you have a dishwasher, you can run glass jars through a hot cycle. If not, put them in a roasting pan, fill with water, fill roasting pan with water, and put them in the oven at 300 for an hour or so. That should sanitize, if not sterilize them! Make sure you clean the lids really well, too. I'd soak in hot soapy water, then heat to almost simmer (just make sure you don't wreck the seal). Also, if you have the flip-top kind with separate rubber gaskets, you can get new gaskets from any good kitchen supply store...

[staceychev]

I've heard that you can buy lids to fit the jars online somewhere, but can't find the link for the life of me. You might find it through a google search.

[leigh09]

my mother's philosophy with canning jars is: you can reuse the glass jar and the metal screw-on ring. they need to be washed in the hottest water you can possibly use (dishwasher, or hot, hot soapy water then boiled). you can not reuse the sealing part - why do all the work and take a risk on a possibly failed seal?
we buy our lids/seals at the hardware store of all places. they usually have them in stock, more obviously so during the summer months.

[AngelBee]

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