Silver Coins in Canning Jars

[jeff of pa]

• I Read Years ago, Women used to Place a Silver Coin In canniing Jars to Help Preserve the Preserves ! Though If True They Must have Been Well Off Even Using Dimes, unless they Didn't Can a Lot.

I Found This: but Nothing on Cnning Yet.

• Placing a real silver coin in a jar, historically, was a practice used to keep liquids like milk fresh or to prevent spoilage in jars of water, as silver has natural antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. It was thought to release silver ions that prevent bacteria and algae from growing in stored items.
  Key Considerations:
  • Antibacterial Properties: The Silver Institute notes that silver prevents bacteria and algae from building up in water purification systems, which is the basis for this tradition.
  • Food Safety: While used in water or milk historically to keep it fresh, this is not a modern, scientifically validated method for preserving food or canning, and it should not be a substitute for proper sterilization techniques.
  • Tarnishing: Silver coins will tarnish, or turn black, when exposed to air and humidity, which can be accelerated in certain conditions.
  • Historical Practice: The practice of putting silver in jars is often remembered as a trick from grandparents to keep milk fresh.
  In modern contexts, this is more of a nostalgic or folklore-based action rather than a recommended food preservation method.

 

[Gare]

I never heard of people doing this before

 

[Trezurehunter]

The jars I find are always empty, kind of like the coin star !