Microwave Canning. (Metal in the Microwave)

video Microwave Canning. (Metal in the Microwave)

This is my first Instructable, And still a work in progress. The steps to preparing and putting glass canning jars with metal lids in the Microwave oven and create enough heat to sterilize and vacuum seal the jars.

bcohorn says: Jun 3, 2011. 8:50 PM

So did it seal?

rhinostas (author) in reply to bcohornAug 11, 2011. 5:52 AM

It totally sealed.

Sparkfist in reply to rhinostasAug 5, 2012. 8:29 AM

Pressing the lid in can cause a false seal. Even with sealing when boiling you can have seals fail but you don't know unless you don't touch.

If this is the first time, please give us an update on the shelf life. Cause it does make me wonder if you cooked it long enough. Cause you sounded like you were guessing on the time and power and would like to know if you've found a more exact number for time and power. Because from my own experience undercooked can still seal but have a shorter shelf life.

jeffmika says: Oct 22, 2011. 12:35 PM

I have been experimenting and researching this idea for a few weeks now.
I canned jars of numerous foodstuffs to test. Food is edible and seems to be sterile.I don't trust beef or pork.Salmon worked well.Chicken seems to work OK too..all vegetables worked good..fruits the same..Here are the concerns I am wrestling with.1. Even though it is vacummed sealed I don't know with absolute certainty that the product is FREE of latent microorganisms that could culturize over time,say three months. I left my test samples for seven days without refrigeration. 2. my next concern is that the pressure that builds from processing in the microwave bleeds out during the sterilazing process and carries minute particles out across the seal surface.even though it effectively seals I am not sure that a culture would not build under the seal over time from the contamination during the original processing..food needs to be tested for longer then the one week that I allowed for this test to see what happens.
With the pressure canning method there is pressure on the outside and eventually on the inside of the canning jar..the pressures balance each other and therefore NO residual contaminant is carried across the sealing surface..A great big difference the way I see it...My conclusion SO FAR:...the micro method can be used safely on a short term basis..prepare the food for the upcoming week and CAN it to save time later in the week..for serious long term use it is best to use a pressure cooker ..I have a digital one with timers and auto shut off functions that make canning easy...If I find out anything else I will post it here...jeffmika@gmail.com

mhubenschmidt says: Aug 29, 2011. 4:50 PM

This is the best idea ever. I hope to try it. Our Mothers and Grandmothers would not believe this!!! I just picked a lot of tomatoes.

dshlabotnik says: Aug 28, 2011. 3:35 AM

The only way metal has any adverse affect on a microwave is if the metal touches any of the sides or bottom. I've been canning for years in mine (no vegetables though) and it works quite well. After I get the stuff boiling, I let it set in there for two minutes for the heat to penetrate through everything, then I bring it back to the boil again.

If you want to test the metal issue, just leave a teaspoon in a coffee cup when reheating your coffee or heating water.. There is no ill effect. But don't let any metal touch any of the sides!

saj100 says: Aug 25, 2011. 7:35 AM

I am so glad I saw your video!! I recently purchased a book about microwave canning by Rachel Webb and it suggested using recycled jars and lids -- something I am not comfortable doing. I will use the flat top and ring as you did in your video. For those who were concerned about microwaves and metal, the book explained about the ratio between metal and non-metal objects. Also, if round metal tops are used the microwaves do not arch -- so reports the author. There was good info about canning certain foods especially vegetables. For this method, I'm sticking to fruits for the long term storage. She is from Australia by the way. Thanks, again. I'm off to the store to buy new lids for my jelly jars!

kmn5 says: Jul 31, 2011. 11:53 AM

I'm surprised there wasn't any arcing between the jar lids...
I would only do this if I was planning on throwing out the microwave.. any metal in the microwave can cause damage
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090705052859AAftUAB

rhinostas (author) in reply to kmn5Aug 11, 2011. 6:18 AM

Nope. No arching. I also use staples in a brown paper bag when I make my own Microwave Popcorn.

Crazy I tell ya!

rhinostas (author) in reply to kmn5Aug 11, 2011. 6:02 AM

Metal is safe in the microwave - if done properly. The video is not a hoax.

bettyroug54 says: Jul 31, 2011. 7:20 PM

I have been canning for over 35 years, and I would never risk using this type of process to put up put any kind of food for long term storage. Most veggies nowadays are hybrids and do not contain enough acid to process by any means short of pressure canning. I don't want to sound mean, but this seems to be a very unsafe way to put up food.

rhinostas (author) in reply to bettyroug54Aug 11, 2011. 6:01 AM

I understand your fears Betty. And not all foods are safe with this method. But a lot are.

bws2010 says: Aug 7, 2011. 8:40 AM

Not reccomended method for food preservation, here's a link to the USDA food safety and the use of microwave for canning: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/microwave_ovens_and_food_safety/index.asp

rhinostas (author) in reply to bws2010Aug 11, 2011. 5:55 AM

This is safe if done properly. I admit a lot of people may not do it properly, and the recommendations are generalized for masses of people who don't / won't follow directions precisely.

This method has been done in Australia - SUCCESSFULLY since the microwave oven was invented.

cwerlein says: Aug 1, 2011. 8:02 AM

What gave you the idea to do this? I mean, metal in the microwave has always been an issue however, I have to agree with some of those above... Canning and preserving food is a serious business and just because you have a seal doesn't mean you will have healthy safe foods when you open it again!

purplemutant says: Jul 31, 2011. 9:54 AM

Interesting. My only real concern would be sterility. For it to be genuinely sterile, it needs to be between 121–134 °C. At least 15 minutes at 121 °C or 3 minutes at 134 °C. I am not sure I would trust a microwave over a pressure canner.

bahi says: Jul 31, 2011. 8:53 AM

Be careful you could damage the microwave oven and cause your food to be heated unevenly. Metal could cause to arcing between the metal lid and the walls of the oven, at least try to avoud sharp metal edges lids.