A jar lifter is a tool used for safely removing hot jars from a canner or pressure cooker during the canning process. They are made of heat-resistant materials and can be found at hardware and kitchen stores.
Almost everyone who has ever been involved in home canning of fruits and vegetables is familiar with a jar lifter. Designed as a means of safely removing cans from a can or pressure cooker, the can lifter is a metal set of tongs that includes heat-resistant liners to protect your fingers. Generally, a jar lifter is constructed to allow for an easy grip of the lid on the jar or as a means of gripping the body of the mason jar. Here is some more information on how to use a jar lifter and where to buy one.
Hot water is an essential tool in the canning process. Mason jars are typically heated and sterilized in the container before placing cooked fruit or vegetables into the jars. Obviously, the jars will be extremely hot to the touch. Instead of gripping the wet jar with an oven mitt, it’s much safer to use a jar lifter. Generally, the jar lifter is made of a heavy metal that can withstand heat, such as hardened steel. In order to protect the user’s hands, there is usually some sort of coating on the arms of the jar lifter.
Late 19th century and early 20th century models tended to use the arms constructed from wood that had been sealed to resist heat, with the tongs attached to the wood. Modern can lifters are normally made entirely of steel and will include a strong and durable synthetic coating on the body of the can lifter to prevent the risk of burns.
Using a jar lifter is a fairly simple process. When canning fruit or vegetables, sterilize the jars first. After sterilization, remove the jars from the water with the use of the jar lifter. This is accomplished by using the lifter to grip the sides of each pot. The coating on the jar lifter helps create a solid grip, even if the glass is wet. After filling the jar and screwing the lid in place, use the jar lifter to pick up the jar and return it to the container. Grabbing the sides of the lid makes it easier to maneuver the jar. When it’s time to remove the jar of canned fruit or vegetables from the water, simply use the jar lifter to grab the sides of the jar or the lid and transfer the finished product to a spot for cooling and drying.
Purchasing a jar lifter is usually an easy task. Many hardware stores will carry different sizes of can lifter, often to match the size of cannons that are carried in storage. Specialty kitchen stores are another option, although the models of the jar lifter found in these retail stores may be a bit more expensive. For people who live in the country, jar lifter and other canning supplies can often be found at county and seed swap shops. Generally, the jar lifter doesn’t cost much, although there are some models that can be quite expensive. A good rule of thumb is to remember that you should never pay more for a jar lifter than the cost of a set of twelve jars. When it comes to canning fruits and vegetables, a jar lifter is a great little tool to have in the kitchen.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
