Canning spaghetti sauce tonight. Everything going well, jars processed and placed on rack on island to set. Two jars on one rack decided to jump off and fell to floor, counter height. Honestly, have no idea since they were about 4" in, but I turned my back and crash. Neither broke. One had popped already, one popped as soon as I picked it up. Both lids are now buckled slightly. About to start my second batch--question is whether to go ahead and recan those two with new lids. Should have the room in pot, just have to prep new lids. Also, do I have to dump and wash jar, or just wipe down and place new lid.

Dave

I would have just had spaghetti the next day, after refrigerating as soon was cooler, not cold. Not to break the jar by placing in frig.

I've found that PC doesn't make much difference with jars, I do try to stay away from the 'mayo' jars, but for many years I didn't even look to see if they were 'mayo' or actual 'canning/mason' jars.

Everything went fine with recanning. Thanks again Dave, I knew there was a proper way to reprocess,and didn't think I was right to just put new lids on, but couldn't get the steps to come to mind right away.

I didn't figure out that the rack was buckling -- I didn't know what was happening. But it was clearly not working out.

Now I cool jars on a towel instead, and waaaaay far back from the edge :).

Basically, I knew the seal was not ideal and had the ability to fix it right away and just couldn't remember the proper steps. If I hadn't had room in my last batch, I may have either opened and froze them after they cooled, or refrigerated for quick use.

Also--I do generally use towels under as well, and put jars on the floor, but the island was actually empty, so I did it with the racks, as it's wood surface and didn't want the heat directly on. Sometimes my toddlers play musical jars with what they can reach on the floor.

toddlers have so much fun to have around. Give them some rings and plastic jars that the rings fit. a pan with a wooden spoon. Before long, they'll be making 'jam' like mommy. That's what I did with my 'then' little ones. By the time they were in school, they helped with the rings and counting out how many lids (helps with counting). then of course, we counted the 'pings' while the jars sealed. To say the least, my kids helped from a few early age, and still know how to can at 30-38.

Ballonflower - what is your floor made out of? A butcherblock counter is great for putting hot pans (and I imagine jars) on - my parents have 1 on the left of their stove and my mom uses it all the time. If your floor is wood I can see why the jars didn't break, but the finish on the counter is probably more heat-resistant than the finish on the floor (and easier to repair if it does get damaged).

I have Formica so I have to use trivets.

And I do love cooking with my squirts, but right now they're at really tough active ages and constantly fighting (2 & 4). They are learning a lot (DH is a chef, and we do a lot with and without them--they even have little pink gingham chef toques). But, when I am alone with them, especially with such as canning and lots of hot, they are generally banished at this point. Soon, hopefully we'll be able to do more together, as they love to learn--they're a hoot watching help daddy with making pasta or when we're baking bread, and the older can crack eggs one-handed. But then there's things like the younger trying to chew on a veg peeler yesterday.

2 and 4 are 'fun' ages, they are so willing to help, but not quite ready for most. I was never able to keep my kids away from the kitchen, they just stayed away from the stove. I gave them old pans, jars (plastic) and lids/rings, and they 'canned'. They would put toys or whatever they could get in the jars, then seal them.

I always keep some of the older towel for kitchen/canning duty. I have several, after they are too bad for that, they become mechanic rags.

I don't think about ceramic or tile floors, since I've only had them for less than 6 months of my life. Depending on what finish you used, you could just use the wood.

Marla