New Bee - Honey jar question

[jester7891]

  I'm about to harvest my first honey ever.  Any suggestions on where to buy jars to fill for family and friends etc?   Thanks,   Jester

[derrick1p1]

Hi Jester:
You can order queen line jars, plastic bears etc from companies online or through catalogues.  Last year I only used queen line jars for contest entries, the rest I used new canning/Mason jars to give to friends and family. 

You can reuse canning jars, but should use new lids.  I do not use old containers like mayonnaise jars, peanut butter/jelly jars etc.. as it detracts from the cleanliness and attractiveness of the honey.  I suppose you could use them for your own personal use, but after the work and the value I place on the honey, I prefer to use the best I can get.

Happy Harvesting,
Derrick

[Ross]

Canning jars at Walmart or Big Lots.

[doak]

Ditto on what Ross said.
Last year I got some pint and quart cases for 6 and 8 $ a case at Big Lots.
doak

[Kimbrell]

Big Lots and Wal Mart carry the "Golden Harvest" line of canning jars.  I like to use these because there is a blank side to the jar (without any raised lettering) where you can put a label.

[SteveSC]

I use to 1# glass Queenline oval jars and the 18 oz. square rounded corner jars w\gold lids.  My customers really like the 1# jars - they're good looking jars with just enough honey for most. The square jars are more fancy for gifts. 

The pint and quart Mason\Ball\Kerr jars are fine just depends on preference.  As Derrick said though: " use the best you can get ".  It makes an impression and you only have one chance for a first inpression.

[qa33010]

Dollar General, Dollar Store and others.  This is the only time of the year I can get them without paying shipping.  I prefer glass but may eventually start to use plastic, though it won't replace glass.

[robbo]

Sorry to drag up an old topic, but how do you guys clean the glass before filling, or dont you bother?

Point me in the direction of a thread that covers this kind of thing if it exists - have looked but cant find one

 :)

[amymcg]

dishwasher . . .

[MustbeeNuts]

This year im getting a small steam cleaner for sterilization, per the health inspector. Nothing big just a small steam it and clean it thing.

[asprince]

I bought 8 dozen used but clean pint Ball jars off Craigs List for $3.00 per dozen and some from Goodwill for about the same price. Twice through the dishwasher, add some new lids and they are as new.

Steve

[robbo]

Ok, cheers for the replies guys - hmm, how to do without a dishwasher??

Got any piccies of these steam cleaner thingo's??

[annette]

I could be wrong on this matter, but I never even sterilized my jars at all. Just washed them with hot water and soap and made sure they were bone dry. I didn't think they needed to be sterilized as bacteria cannot survive in honey anyway.

[bassman1977]

I could be wrong on this matter, but I never even sterilized my jars at all. Just washed them with hot water and soap and made sure they were bone dry. I didn't think they needed to be sterilized as bacteria cannot survive in honey anyway.

To you and me that makes sense, but to the department of health, probably not.  I need to find some documentation on this myself.

MustBeNuts...can you post what you are looking at for steam cleaning?  I must be looking under the wrong keyword as all I get is carpet cleaners.

Thanks.

[asprince]

Check this out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Euroflex-Monster-Super-Soap-Steamer-SC20S_W0QQitemZ120358229552QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item120358229552&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

Steve

[bassman1977]

Looks more like a pain in the butt anything.   :-\

[MustbeeNuts]

Check this out:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Euroflex-Monster-Super-Soap-Steamer-SC20S_W0QQitemZ120358229552QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item120358229552&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

Steve

Yup thats what I have been shopping for , i'm sure there better models but as long as its 220 degrees output. Thats all the inpsector asked for. Agian a dishwasher would be fine for you if you have one that reaches 220 when it dries, most probly do. I don't have one either, so the inspector said that steam would be fine, its just so I can pass the inspection on the honey house for a producers licence.

[bassman1977]

Yup thats what I have been shopping for , i'm sure there better models but as long as its 220 degrees output. Thats all the inpsector asked for. Agian a dishwasher would be fine for you if you have one that reaches 220 when it dries, most probly do. I don't have one either, so the inspector said that steam would be fine, its just so I can pass the inspection on the honey house for a producers licence.

So if I understand you correctly, the whole idea is for you to have one on hand, not necessarily required to use it?

[MustbeeNuts]

I pretty much think he would expect it to be used. I do plan on using it, its just a matter of washing the jars and putting a spray inside to make sure its disenfected.