Not-so-technical Canning Question!! Help?

[fresh_veggie]

So I just pickled green beans with this recipe.  I don't have a water bath canner, I used the big-pot-with-a-towel method and packed them into wide-mouth quart jars.  Thing is - the pot was shorter than I thought so I laid the jars on their sides to get the couple inches of water covering them - had to do it individually .  They look good, but, is this ok?  I'm sure it is I just want to make sure.

[fresh_veggie]

Just kind of answered my question - I read that the contents of the jar push at the lid and the air doesn't come out correctly and the jars won't seal correctly.

But -

There is no air in the jars, and they are already sealed nicely.

SoOo...anyone else with insight/experience?

[kittynurse]

I wouldn't risk it but I'm very cautious when it comes to canning.  I'm unfamiliar with the big-pot-with-a-towel method.  Water bath canning is just a large pot with a lid and boiling water in it.  If it were me I would borrow a stock pot from someone and redo the jars.

Martha

[fresh_veggie]

Originally Posted by kittynurse 

I wouldn't risk it but I'm very cautious when it comes to canning.  I'm unfamiliar with the big-pot-with-a-towel method.  Water bath canning is just a large pot with a lid and boiling water in it.  If it were me I would borrow a stock pot from someone and redo the jars.

Martha

It was my stock pot, just too short for quart jars - instead of purchasing a rack, you can just put a dish towel around the jar to keep it from bumping/rattling.  My pot is tall enough for the pint jars, just not the quart.

I went ahead and got a water bath canner last night - and redid the jars.  It's just not worth the risk, I'm very cautious as well (to the point of throwing out other home canned goods that have been given to us - I trust myself but I didn't watch them can!)

Thank you!

[kittynurse]

Glad to see you found a solution!  I didn't know you could do that with a dish towel - learn something new everyday!  In a pinch, you can also get a few of the rings that go with the lids and attach them together to make a rack for the bottom of the pot.

The recipe looks yummy - I may have to try it this year!

Martha

[velochic]

Glad you re-processed them.  My mother and niece almost died on Thanksgiving night 1980-something (I can't remember the exact year) from home-canning shortcuts.  Never deviate from the rules.  Convenience is never worth death.