How to Make Beeswax Dip for Jars
People have been canning food for hundreds of years using a variety of different methods. One of the more primitive methods for canning involved dipping and pouring beeswax onto the jars of food. It is helpful when canning jars the old-fashioned way to know how to properly dip and pour the jars for canning.
Things You'll Need
- Beeswax, 8 oz.
- Empty coffee can
- Double boiler
- Water
- Jars
- Hot pad
- 2-piece canning jar lid
Instructions
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1
Sterilize your jar and canning lid in boiling water.
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2
Place 8 oz. of beeswax into an empty, clean coffee can.
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3
Fill a double boiler with around 8 cups of water.
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4
Place the coffee can into the top portion of the double boiler.
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5
Heat the beeswax in the double boiler over medium-high heat until it melts. Remove the coffee can from the double boiler, using a hot pad.
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6
Dip the top of clean, dry jars one inch into the beeswax. Remove the jars after one to two seconds.
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7
Immediately wipe the wax from the exterior threads and the rim of the jar with a cloth. Use an old or disposable cloth as the wax is difficult to remove from the fabric.
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8
Fill the jars will your food. Jams and jellies work well using a beeswax seal.
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9
Pour beeswax over the food, filling it up to the top of the opening, so it meets the wax from the dip. Allow the wax to cool completely.
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10
Apply a two-piece canning lid to the jar for extra safety. According to University of Georgia Extension, wax seals alone may develop tiny holes allowing in air and encouraging mold growth.
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1
Tips & Warnings
Discard any jars of home-preserved food that have developed mold.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Dos abeja comiendo 10609 image by pablo from Fotolia.com
