When I make jam I use a two pronged approach. One is a wide-mouthed funnel (mine is a two-section funnel where you can remove the bottom nozzle-y bit to have a larger hole at the bottom) and the other is a measuring jug which I transfer the jam into first for more accurate pouring. You could do that with soup as well.

Colleenoz, That sounds like it will work, but where did you get this type of funnel? I am a cooking challenged male trying to figure all this out.

I take a plastic bottle with a large mouth and cut the top part off and use that as a funnel.

dcarch

Try the funnel in the link below. I have a couple similar to this which I use for soups and stews as well as for canning jams etc.

Cheryl

Here is a link that might be useful: canning funnel

Ingenious! I will try it and let you know how it works. Thanks.

Dcarch, I love your idea!!! Something like vegetable cocktail bottles. I'm trying to think of others, but that's all I can think of. Perfect.

Dcarch's solution is great because you can endlessly vary the sizes and proportions of your funnels to fit the utensils and tasks at hand.

Here is a link to a commercial canning funnel with a detachable narrow spout. It is a bit pricey, but pretty and useful and easy to store.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lee Valley canning funnel

This post was edited by Bellsmom on Sun, Jan 20, 13 at 9:52

I did dcarch's method for years but ended up with the real funnel (which was cheap) because the bottle handle always stuck out in the wrong place for me and made the "funnel" tip over. Maybe our bottles are made differently here.

No, Colleen, I had the same problem, finding a shape and size that worked. I defaulted back to an old metal canning funnel. I usually pour soup into a large "batter bowl" with a spout, mine is Pyrex. I put it into the sink in case it splashes, then I can pour from the spout into the funnel topped jars. smaller amounts I just dip from the pot with a 2 cup Pyrex cup and pour into the jars via funnel.

Annie

You need a canning funnel. Cheap at Walmart, etc.

With a funnel and big soup ladle, you should be fine. I use both for everything I can.

All these posts have been incredibly enlightening and helpful. Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge and advice. Making a homemade pea soup today and applying these tips.

I like the funnel Lee Valley carries. It is stainless and has a smaller funnel that attaches for smaller mouthed jars.

Here is a link that might be useful: stainless funnel

I love the Ball Collapsible Funnel (found at the link below). I have 4 other canning funnels (a hard square plastic model that fits both regular and wide-mouth jars and round ones), but the Collapsible model is the best one I've used. I especially like it because of its is oval opening, instead of the more common round or square, so it's easier to fill because it's wider. Each graduation of the funnel fits snugly into regular, wide-mouth and larger jars. Fill the jar to the bottom of the funnel and you will automatically have 1/2-inch of headroom.

I like this funnel so well, when I found it reduced with the end-of-summer canning items, I bought 2 more.

-Grainlady

Here is a link that might be useful: Ball Collapsible Funnel

I have a blue plastic canning funnel similar to the one momj47 shows. I needed to pour stuff into a smaller opening, and used an empty lime juice squeeze bottle like shown below

I cut off the neck of the squeeze bottle, and cut the lime part in half, and the lime end fits perfectly over the spout of the canning funnel, making it like the Lee Valley item, but much cheaper.

Every kitchen should have a wide mouthed canning funnel.

I can't find mine and I refuse to transfer my flour to a canister until I find it. :)

Thanks GrainLady, I just bought the Ball Collapsible Funnel. Hopefully it will replace some of the many funnels I have in my "funnel bin".