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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 44097
Location: Essex
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 Posted: Tue Aug 08, 17 9:24 am Post subject: Plastic jam jars? |
 
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We're making some jam for a hostel in the east end. They're feeding 600 people daily so the number of jars they need to open and dispose of is an issue, for us it's filling time and cost. Are there plastic tubs or jars that you could fill with jam straight from the pan, or would they just melt?
Any other issues or ideas? |
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Shan
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 7531
Location: South Wales
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 17 9:43 am Post subject: |
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Could you perhaps put the jam into vacuum pack bags? I often do that with sauce, coulis, compotes and stock and never bother cooling them down. You need to squish the air out and seal as opposed to vacuuming. |
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 44097
Location: Essex
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 17 10:24 am Post subject: |
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I have got a vacuum pack thingy that I've never used but won't it be a bit squishy to serve from? |
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 44097
Location: Essex
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Shan
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 7531
Location: South Wales
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 17 10:50 am Post subject: |
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I would imagine it would be fine for jam. |
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Shan
Joined: 13 Jan 2009
Posts: 7531
Location: South Wales
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 17 10:51 am Post subject: |
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| tahir wrote: |
| I have got a vacuum pack thingy that I've never used but won't it be a bit squishy to serve from? |
Cut a corner, squeeze the jam out into a dish. Unfortunately, there is some wastage. I think your microwave proof plastic containers look like the better option, although vac bags are more easily disposable (take up less space). |
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sgt.colon
Joined: 27 Jul 2009
Posts: 6067
Location: Just south of north.
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 17 10:59 am Post subject: |
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Do they have to dispose of the jars (if you used glass) could they not just return them to you? |
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 44097
Location: Essex
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 17 11:01 am Post subject: |
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| sgt.colon wrote: |
| Do they have to dispose of the jars (if you used glass) could they not just return them to you? |
It's just they'd have to store them till I got back there, which might not be for ages. |
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 44097
Location: Essex
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 17 11:01 am Post subject: |
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| Shan wrote: |
| I would imagine it would be fine for jam. |
I think I'll give them a go |
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 33972
Location: yes
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 17 1:00 pm Post subject: |
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would 5 ltr containers be best?
my haphazard maths and "reasoning" :
roughly 50 portions per kilo ie about 10 k per meal if a few folk don't like jam or 15 kg per meal if there are some avid jam fans
a 5kg size gives less packaging at both ends and manageable pans of hot jam
re plastic the single portion jams for the hospitality trades are packed in plastic so a "safe" ec marked container for bulk jam seems plausible
the blue 25 lt screw lid tubs would be ok for jam (they are fine for chutneys ,marmalades etc etc ) but they are a bit big for hand made produce (25kg of boiling jam is a scary prospect without industrial kit ) and too large for that number of diners to use at one sitting unless a massive jam rolypoly was involved .
iirc similar tubs in smaller sizes are available, perhaps a suitable size of plastic screw or snap top containers can be obtained fairly easily and in terms of time saving using bigger "jars" might cover any added expense.
using new containers with the correct designation for catering size jam use does avoid any unpleasantness in relation to food regs etc etc .
plastic will reduce breakages and 5kg size should reduce waste.
the used tubs would make an excellent "dry box" for a rough sleeper or storage jar for the catering kitchen |
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 44097
Location: Essex
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 17 1:23 pm Post subject: |
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| dpack wrote: |
| would 5 ltr containers be best? |
may be but I've ordered them now  |
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dpack
Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 33972
Location: yes
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 17 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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a possible thought for next time and for any folk thinking of bulk jamming 
when i was doing the maths i also established that 5 kg would last 3 of us over a year 
well done for helping them feed hungry folk with decent food. |
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Nick
Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 33825
Location: Hereford
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 17 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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5kg tubs sound great but they're going to hold the heat for a loooong time. I wouldn't fill them warm Unless I was certain they were heat proof. |
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Nick
Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 33825
Location: Hereford
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 17 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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| tahir wrote: |
| I have got a vacuum pack thingy that I've never used but won't it be a bit squishy to serve from? |
You can put the bag in a tub and turn the edges out over the top. |
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 44097
Location: Essex
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| Posted: Tue Aug 08, 17 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Nick wrote: |
| 5kg tubs sound great but they're going to hold the heat for a loooong time. I wouldn't fill them warm Unless I was certain they were heat proof. |
Very true |
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