First time canning. Question.

[rbeau30]

Congrats on starting to can. Isn't much I could add to TheGrey's comments. I'm a little ocd when it comes to canning... brewing... fermenting... etc so I always always have all my stuff laid out and a plan set up. Even then. Things happen.

The reason you are only finger tightening the lids, is you are allowing the air to escape during processing. Think of the two peice lids as a one way valve. Once the lids cool. The lid is allowed via gravity to seal around the jar and the vacuum pulls the lid down on the jar.

I have had to reprocess many a batch. You just go with it and find ways to salvage. (Relish!)

Good luck and you have a lot of folks here to tap for knowledge.