Preserved Lemons

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rabbithutch

Master of the Pit
Original poster
OTBS Member
Reading various web pages, I learned that preserving lemons requires that the jars be sterilized by boiling them in water before packing in the salted lemons, etc. What I need to know is whether or not it is OK to seal the jars using just hand grip or do they have to handled in some other way to seal them.

I'm asking because one of the three jars I packed has not sealed using just my hand grip and continues to leak.
 
Hi Rabbit!  I have been reading up on these lately too.  What I have read is to store them for so many days on the counter...and them in the fridge for up to 6 months.  Nothing was mentioned in any of the recipes about water bath....canning or what ever.  Of course you always want to start any project like that with clean sterilized jars and lids.

Kat
 
Hi Kat!

I found a web page that said if the preserved food would be salty or acidic, that pressure canning would not be required. Apparently salt and acid prevent the formation of botulinism, which is what pressure canning at high temps prevents.

Here is the qview of the lemons I did yesterday:


Those are black peppercorns. I didn't have any herbs or bay leaves on hand when I put them together. I was amazed that it took all but 3 lemons from 4 bags of them to get these 2 quart jars. I squeezed the juice out of about 7 or 8 lemons to use for filler and found that they were juicier than I thought so I put a couple of pints of lemon juice in the fridge.

I'll probably not get to try these until late August. I'll see how they did and maybe the next batch will have cloves and bay leaves.
 
There is always a jar that doesn't seal, its just part of canning, its called the old maid. With citrus, pressure is not required, but the water bath should last 30 mins.

You boil the jars totally immersed in a pan of water with a cap of Clorox. You can't taste it and it insures sterility and it can't hurt you. Boil the lids also. Remove jars from boiling water and don't touch again. Fill the jar to 1/4 inch full with whatever, put on a good cap, not all cap/lids are good even new, inspect the rubber sealing surface for pits, cuts or gouges. Then add the screw ring. but do not take down tight, Boil 30 mins., remove and tighten. Let set 24 hours and nearly all will pop. The ones that don't can be redone again from scratch or I just eat them. If you do 4 jars or 400 jars you'll always get old maids.

The very best thing you can do if you plan to can is acquire a "Ball's Blue Book", its the canning bible. It also has all of the recipes your great grandma used when canning.

As to your specific question, a properly sealed jar does not need the screw seal. once the lid is pressure sealed it should take a bottle opener to get it off. Its why all the little old ladies only bought lids, and why the lids are still sold separately. One screw seal could be used on loads of jars.
 
Very pretty Rabbit!  If it is still leaking...change the lid and the ring.  Could be warped...and if it is...toss that bad boy.  Rings and Lids are not that expensive...and you don't wanna loose your product.

Wanna see more on the next batch!

Kat
 
Reading various web pages, I learned that preserving lemons requires that the jars be sterilized by boiling them in water before packing in the salted lemons, etc. What I need to know is whether or not it is OK to seal the jars using just hand grip or do they have to handled in some other way to seal them.

I'm asking because one of the three jars I packed has not sealed using just my hand grip and continues to leak.
Rabbit..Foamheart gave you some excellent info......Have helped the wifer put up thousands of quarts of beans and other goodies. We garden 2 1/2 acres, so I've been around the pressure cooker. You can sterilize your jars in the dishwasher also. Boil your lids. Fill your jar, THEN WIPE THE RIM OF THE JAR OFF, a grain of salt under the lid will keep it from sealing. ALSO, check the jar for cracks or Nicks on the rim, pitch it if you find any. Also, a Mayonnaise jar is cheap glass, and will break in a pressure cooker, we have used them in a Hot Water Bath tho.  We have noticed that LATELY its getting hard to find Quality lids. We have even had Ball and Mason lids buckle up and not seal. So don't waste your money on Cheap lids. After the jars seal, we take the rings off and wipe the salt off the lids, wash and dry the rings, [ keeps them from rusting ], then we put lids back on. We have had lids without rings loosen in storage. Man I hate losing a quart of Provider green beans just because we took the ring off. Hope this helps....give a holler if you need help, I'll sick the wife on it for ya...lol..

SmokinMad
 
Pretty neat, looks good send me a jar or two

texas.gif
Hello, and Welcome from East Texas. This is a great site, lots of good information and great people.


Gary
 
Howdy, All!

Thank you for the input.

DaveO, the preserved lemons turned out to be very tasty with chicken and fish. I haven't really used anything but peppercorns in jar, yet. I hope to do some more later with herbs from the garden.
 
Why don't you just squeeze the lemons and freeze the juice into cubes or blocks?  My neighbor has a massive Meyer lemon bush which I have harvested a big wad of lemons.  Juicer zed a big mass of them into 1 cup blocks to make future lemonade.
 
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