Canning Apricot Jam
22 Steps -- Step 22

Wash the Jars

The next day we remove the rings and wash the jars in warm soapy water. Failure to remove the rings means you cannot remove any jam under the rings. Rings are not needed until the jar is opened. Leaving the rings on invites corrosion under the rings and can lead to much difficulty in removing them at a later date. Any residue of jam left on the jar is an open invitation to ants. They will love you for that. Sometimes it can take up to two weeks for apricot jam to get a good set. However, our jam was set by the next day. When the jars are dry, mark the top with the contents and the year they were canned. A year later it may confuse you which is the peach jam and which is the apricot jam.