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Saturday, September 18, 2010

Tattler Reusable Canning Lids (& a Giveaway!)

I recently decided to try some Tattler Reusable Canning Lids rather than continue to spend money on disposable metal lids the have (though very small levels) BPA on them. Every time I went to buy new lids, I just couldn't let myself spend the money, even when I had a coupon!

So I set out to search for a solution. And thanks to the power of google, I found these. I also found quite a few other bloggers who have talked about them recently and a while ago. They've apparently been around since the 70's (they're older than I am!), but I haven't heard about them until now.

I order three sets of each size and they arrived yesterday.

Lids in their shipping box. I've already pulled out one set of regular sized lids.
After my 5k this morning (my first! 36 minutes and I didn't die, woohoo!), I went and picked about a 1/2 bushel of apples from my mom and dad's house and came home and made applesauce. It was my first opportunity to test out the new lids.

Four jars of applesauce. The not-quite-so-full jar is one that didn't go so perfectly...
They're a little different than regular metal lids, as they come in two pieces. The rubber rings can be reused, but do need to eventually be replaced. The white lid part can be reused indefinitely unless it becomes damaged. Also, you have to tighten them and then turn back a 1/4" during processing. Then, once you take them out of the water, tighten them down while they cool. That part's a little tricky and my first run wasn't exactly, um, perfect. We'll see once they cool how it went!

And the good news is that Tattler has allowed me to give one of you a set! One winner will receive a box of a dozen of each size, rings and lids. I'm so excited for my first giveaway! (And, to clarify, I bought my lids so any review I do is just for information, I've not been compensated.)

How do you enter? Just comment here and tell me what kind of food preservation you've been working on lately. And, for an extra entries, share about this giveaway on your own blog or on facebook or twitter. Please put a separate comment for each entry (max. 4 per person). The contest will be open all this week, closing at 12pm EST on Friday night. I will announce the winner on Saturday (or maybe Sunday if I'm in Amish country all day Saturday :) Good Luck everyone!

For those of you interested in my applesauce recipe, it's painfully simple:
Apples, a bunch. I think I had about 1/2 a bushel.
1 cup (or so) of your favorite sweetener. I used rapadura


Wash and cut up apples in pieces and cut out bad spots. (Since I was using my mom's apples that have quite a few spots and bugs, I just cored them all, but you don't have to if you have a food mill.) Put a large pot on the stove on medium heat and cut your apples into the pot, peels on. Add a little water to get started. Every so often, put in a little sugar. Stir occasionally.


Once all the apples are cut, let it cook with a lid on for about 20 minutes until cooked down and softened, stirring occasionally. Then run through a food mill. I use a Foley food mill that I got at garage sale (or my mom got for me at a garage sale :)


I also put a few cloves in while it's cooking. Most people would put some cinnamon in, but my husband believes that cinnamon is the devil, so we don't put it in at this stage. I put on when I eat it :)
For more information, or if you don't have a mill, visit PickYourOwn.org for more info.

30 comments:

  1. Just stopping by from Tuesday Twister. We love Apple Butter and usually make some every fall. I am very interested in the reusable lids and I will want to know how the lids work out for you. Thank you for this post.

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  2. I have read a few times about Tattler lids, but no one had shared their experience. It was very helpful to hear the slight variations in the method. I'm actually getting low in lids so I may order some over the winter for next year's canning.

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  3. I was reluctant to start canning because I did not know how and the BPA issues, but with this giveaway and all the wonderful blogs posting on canning I will definitely give it a go now!

    I hope I win the giveaway!

    jennyarzola (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  4. i just canned some strawberry-blackberry jam using MARYJANE FARMS chill over powder... super easy and very delicious. i love canning with a passion and do a lot... i actually just found out about these lids a couple weeks ago and can't wait to get some!

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  5. I just started canning this year, and am currently working on applesauce! I would so love to try these lids! Thank you for this post!
    Katie

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  6. Just save yourself the trouble & give them to your bff. ;) I did tomato sauce this year. I'm hoping to get some applesauce done, too! YAY! Glad the lids are going well. :)

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  7. and now it is on my blog. HAHAHA!

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  8. Great post and giveaway! I have been canning tomato sauce, and bunches of veggies from the garden. Gearing up for apples next!

    Feel free to stop by my blog hop to post this giveaway:
    http://www.whoislaura.com/2010/09/21/tasty-tuesday-healthy-chicken-fried-rice/

    To your success,
    Dr. Laura

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  9. This is totally the first time I've heard about Tattler! I've just started learning how to can-like 5 days ago- and am totally surprised but not shocked that the the regular lids are lined with BPA. It saddens me how we're being exposed to toxic things everyday.

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  10. I just made a batch of apple butter, and some concord grape jam. Thanks for the info on the tattler lids, and for the giveaway! I'd love to try out the new lids.

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  11. I'm new to canning this year, so mostly have been working on peaches, tomatoes and pickles. I'm really excited to try out these new lids though, both for health reasons and because it always seems like such a waste to throw away the used lids. Thanks!

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  12. I'm new to canning as we are just starting our garden (yay!) but I've been reading and researching. Both my family and my husbands have great gardens and can. I'm really excited to hear about the Tattler lids without BPA. I'm hoping I'll need tem this time next year!

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  13. Oh, so excited to maybe try these :) I've put them on my birthday/Christmas list...am I a dork?

    I've been doing applesauce, tomatoes, salsa, soup, pears, chicken stock, pickles, carrots, dilly beans...I love seeing all my jars!

    Heather

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  14. I can't wait to try them!

    I don't like that they're plastic lids, tho. HATE plastic.

    I am about to do some delicious plum preserves. Did raspberry not too long ago. I agree that I probably won't give away the jars with these lids on, though! :D

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  15. ....And contest posted on my twitter....

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  16. ....and posted on my facebook...

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  17. You're very generous! I've just made some Strawberry Margarita Preserves, my first with alcohol! It seems like I will need to make some more relish soon, as it's being enjoyed a bit too quickly :)

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  18. And linked on my blog:

    http://knitfreak.com/blog/speaking-of-giveaways/

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  19. In the last week I've made Tomato Jam, Apple Butter and Applesauce! It's apple's turn, now. I love fall!

    I really want to give those Tattlers a try. The cost has turned me off a bit, but I still want to try them!

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  20. Thanks for the insight and for the chance to win. I'd love to win some new lids :). Lately, I've been freezing my Juliet tomatoes so I can make ketchup this fall. The last thing I canned was applesauce. I used Paula Reds. I only use apples and water, since this variety is so sweet anyway. (It's one of the early varieties, so I'm sure it's long gone by now).

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  21. This week I have been pickling peppers in a sweet vinegar.

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  22. I have been canning for years, so I would love to hear how the lids work out. Seems like buying new lids is our achiles heel. I have a home orchard, so I am no stranger to applesauce. I am now working on some creative canning recipes for Asian pears. Will keep you posted! Also added a link to my blog today :)

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  23. Thanks for linking up to Tasty Tuesday @ WhoIsLaura.com - and thanks again for the review of the reusable lids. Being paranoid that I am about sealing correctly, etc., I will have to get braver to try these! But, the idea of not having to get more lids all the time is good.
    Dr. Laura

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  24. I've been doing applesauce, chunky style...no mill.

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  25. I had not heard about these lids. I will definitely check them out. So far this year, I've done salsa, tomato sauce, whole tomatoes, and various jams and jellies. Applesauce on the stove right now. Thanks for the info!

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  26. So glad to see the positive reviews for these lids - I've been leery to try them, too!

    I raise as much of our food as possible & can what seems like endless tomatoes, pickles, jam, etc., LOL!

    I'd put these lids to good use, if I won the contest . . . & maybe become a Tattler convert. *wink*

    Sarah/MI

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  27. I'm your newest follower from the weekend blog hop!! Lovely blog! You can find me at www.bouffeebambini.blogspot.com

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  28. I would love to try these, I made my first "pickles" of carrots and radishes in March and have been going crazy all summer. Right now I've been preserving a ton of pears in simple syrup, because they're my lil boys favorite!

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