Make Labels for Homemade Preserves, and Wine
Make Attractive Tags for Homemade Jams, Jellies, Wines and Beers
Dec 21, 2008
Homemade jams and jellies, canned fruits and vegetables, and homemade wines and liqueurs shine like jewels in their bottles and jars, and should have attractive, but removable, labels to identify their contents.
Unsatisfactory Jar and Bottle Labels
Commercial peel-and-stick jar labels are usually too small, and leave behind a sticky residue that is almost impossible to remove when the container is empty and ready to be reused during the next canning season. Lick-and-stick labels invariably fall off during storage, leaving a shelf full of unlabeled goods. The old stand-by, writing on the jar lid with a magic marker, works, but isn't very elegant. Here are two easy, inexpensive and attractive ways to label homemade preserves.
Recycle Paper Bags into Attractive Labels
Recycle brown paper bags into paper caps for canning jars. Cut circles from the brown paper bag large enough to cover the jar lid and extend down over the sides of the lid and inch or so. For a standard-width canning jar, the circle should be about five and a quarter inches in diameter. For a wide-mouthed canning jar, the diameter of the circle should be about six inches.
After the jars have cooled, attach the paper caps by centering the paper circle on the jar lid, and folding the paper over the edge. Tie the paper caps on with string or ribbon. It is much easier to write on the labels before attaching them on the jars. Rubber stamps and colored inks can be used to dress up the paper caps if desired.
Computer Generated Labels Attached with Milk
Many word processing programs include a template for food labels. These can be used to create attractive labels on ordinary typing bond paper. To attach these labels to the bottles or jars use milk. Put a small amount of milk in a shallow bowl, and use a pastry brush to apply the milk to the back of the label. Smooth the label on to the glass and blot the edges the with a clean, soft cloth or paper towel to insure that the edges are completely attached to the bottle or jar. Once the milk dries the label will stick to the glass as well as any commercial label, but it can be easily removed by soaking the jar or bottle in warm water.
Information to Include on any Food Label
A food label should always have this basic information:
- The full name of the contents, ex. Peaches in Light Syrup
- The full date the product was made
- Who made it
When giving canned goods as a gift, additional information such as where the produce was grown or picked can provide additional interest.
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