I made my first batch of jelly on my own today and I didn't realize that I needed to boil the canning lids for 5 minutes. I only got them boiling for a few minutes and then wiped them off and put them on the hot jelly jar and put on the band (tightly). I'm nervous that I've done it wrong since the jelly lids haven't popped yet (15 minutes). Do you absolutely need to boil the lids for 5 minutes, no exceptions or is there a good chance that my jelly will seal fine?
Liz
Favorite Answer
If it didn't seal there is an easy fix. Put the filled, closed jars in a large pot. Fill with water covering lids by 1 inch. Bring to boil. Boil for 10 - 20 minutes. The lids will pop. This is called the boiling water bath method. I usually do it for everything as a precaution.
BTW-if you put a hot closed jar in the freezer it might explode
Nana Lamb
15 minutes is not long enough for the jelly to cool down yet. NO!! you do not need to boil the lids for 5 or longer minutes. I have only ever poured boiling water on them then fished them out of the boiling water and placed them on the jars tightening rings as I put them on. But they are boiling hot and not wiped at all.
Give it some time, sometimes jellies don't seal for several hours!! That sugar syrup is hotter than boiling water!! It needs time to cool and as it does, the lid will pull in and seal!
Alyssa
Throw it in the freezer! It will sterilize it so it seals.