Canning & Mineral Deposits

calendula

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I did a little canning this weekend (my tomato jam), and I noticed that all of the jars have a whitish film on them. We have pretty hard water, so I am guessing that this is some kind of mineral deposit. Is there any way to prevent this from happenning?
 

k15n1

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I've heard of people adding 1 T vinegar per gallon of water. I find that I want to examine each jar anyway, take of the lid, check the seal, etc. For me, it's no big deal to also wipe those esposite off with a damp rag.
 

Wifezilla

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If your water is like mine, those deposits fuse themselves to the glass and a simple wipe doesn't do a darn thing. I do a vinegar soak.
 

calendula

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You are right Wifezilla, I cannot wipe them off. But, I will try the vinegar next time.
 

sufficientforme

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I have the same problem, I don't measure just a dollop of vinegar in the WB canner.
 

Emerald

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I too use vinegar in the water while canning... plus before I start canning for the year I often use one whole gallon of white vinegar(I use it for cleaning so often have several gallons anyhoo.) and about one gallon of boiling hot water and soak a sink full of empty jars and switch them out every hour... I don't know why I start with hot water as it does get cold at the end and still works.. lol but all the jars usually get the treatment once a year... my glasses get this treatment about 3 to 4 times a year. But I don't car I love my hard water... you can't find a better drinking water.
 

Bubblingbrooks

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calendula said:
You are right Wifezilla, I cannot wipe them off. But, I will try the vinegar next time.
The film is lime deposit, so vinegar will work quite well.
 

Britesea

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I wipe the deposits off when the cans have cooled off- I just add a little vinegar to a wet washcloth use that.
 

valmom

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I notice it mostly on my lids when they come out of the water bath. I wipe them off after they dry. No biggie- it's just calcium
 

moolie

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Some lids seem to attract more deposits than others, we have super hard water but if I get them wiped off within a day or two of canning I can usually get it off, however the deposits on the jars are quite stubborn and need vinegar.
 
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