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10:13 am
Expert
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Fri 9-Sep-11
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I've always placed them wax side down - must have read it somewhere but I've now jut read it should be wax side facing up 
Is there a right or a wrong way to do this?
Jam, chutneys and preseves - there are always differing opinions on how to do thing.
A lot of recipes say to let jam cool before bottling - or bottle it hot but leave to cool before putting lids on. Others insist on bottling and lidding whilst still hot (my preferred method) but then in some jams/jellies the fruit rises to the top if you dont wait till it cools............all very confusing.
Just been on a US website which goes into very lengthy and gorey details about botulism and why you should process all jams etc in water baths......we should all be either dead or suffering the plague at least for our poor efforts to preserve 
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
4:51 pm
2nd Grader
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Fri 31-Dec-10
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It's wax side down. I think they used to used melted paraffin wax before wax discs were invented - that's how I remember which way down they go. (Well, it helps me remember.)
5:56 pm
Expert
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Fri 9-Sep-11
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Thank you - that makes sense and will help me to remember it in future 
Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
6:26 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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As for hot or not, I think the best thing is for long term storage, hot contents in a sterile warmed jar. If a lot of vinegar is involved then it is not so crucial. If my jars don't seal properly, I just use them first. A little bit of mould doesn't harm and I don't have a lot of truck with a culture that thinks dilute bleach is the way to prevent food poisoning, whether that is for washing crockery in a cafe or prior to selling uncooked chicken!!!! Wasn't impressed! (I lived in the US for two years and that was the regulations in the area I lived in)
10:19 pm
Supreme Being
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Tue 22-Sep-09
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I agree, wax side down, and a little bit of bacteria doesn't do you any harm..if it smells or looks bad then don't eat it, otherwise try a little bit and if it tastes ok, then it's ok.
7:09 am
Councillor
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Fri 10-Sep-10
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when did they change from cylinders ? will I Have to buy a new phonograph now?
Seed catalogues are responsible for more unfulfilled fantasies than the web and playboy combined . (after Michael Perry)
11:05 pm
Supreme Being
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Tue 22-Sep-09
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?? - you've lost me seth, just re-read the whole topic and still don;t get it, - however it is late and I am tired
7:04 am
Councillor
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Fri 10-Sep-10
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Mr. Edisons original played wax cylinders ,sometime after " They all laughed at Christopher Columbus when he said the world was round " Can't get the staff 
Seed catalogues are responsible for more unfulfilled fantasies than the web and playboy combined . (after Michael Perry)
9:05 am
Councillor
New members
Thu 7-Jan-10
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Seth, I liked your comment, but didn't have time to think of a reply when I saw it. Something like "entering the 20th century might be a good idea"
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