Operation Manual

112
Observed Issue Cause What To Do
Seal fails. Use food
immediately,
refrigerate
immediately
or correct cause
and reprocess
within 24 hours.
Troubleshooting
Guide
General Preserving
Improper headspace. Use headspace recommended
in recipe.
Improper adjustment of band. Using your fingers, twist on band
until fingertip tight. Do not force.
For help on the perfect tightness,
try the Ball
®
brand Sure Tight™
Band Tool.
Food particles on jar rim. Carefully clean jar rim and threads
before applying lid and band.
Jar seals, or
appears to seal,
and then unseals.
If spoilage is
evident, do
not use.
Food particles on jar rim. Carefully clean jar rim and threads
before applying lid and band.
Crack or chip in jar rim. Check jars before filling and
discard any with uneven, chipped
sealing surfaces.
Excess air left in jar. Use headspace recommended
in recipe. Remove air bubbles, if
stated in recipe.
Food darkens in top
of jar.
Liquid did not cover food. Completely cover food solids with
liquid, making sure headspace is
adequate, before applying lid and
band.
Excess air left in jar. Use headspace recommended
in recipe. Remove air bubbles, if
stated in recipe.
My jam or jelly is
too soft.
Proportions of fruit, fruit juice,
sugar and/or pectin were not in
balance.
Follow your recipe ingredient list
for correct measures. Do not alter
the amounts.
Fruit used was too ripe. Use freshly ripened fruit, not overly
ripe fruit.
Wrong type of pectin was used. Recipes in this booklet require
Ball
®
brand RealFruit
®
Classic
Pectin. Other pectin types are
not interchangeable.
Fruit was pureed or chopped in a
food processor or blender.
Crush fruit using a potato
masher as specified in recipe.
Extra headspace
in my jars of
tomatoes or fruits
after canning.
Loss of liquid, called siphoning,
due to packing food too tightly
and/or improper headspace.
Pack food as stated in your recipe
and use headspace recommended.