Having been raised in rural Alabama, I have to confess, I am a bit domesticated. Becoming an adult on my Grandmother's farm, I spent many a summer shelling peas and canning them in her own kitchen. When i got older, we moved from near my Grandmother, and my canning days were ended.
About Two decades ago, I acquired the wild idea to test home canning again, after getting a pressure canner inside a catalog. I purchased two and that i have been canning since. Every year at Christmas we can about 75 quarts of pasta sauce and provide them out as gifts. All my friends and family anticipate it. I enjoy can and also have been collecting canning recipes for a long time.
Home canning is a great method for saving Summer's bounty, and searching for fruits and vegetables at local farmer's markets can help you save money. Using local farmer's markets also assist the environment since the food is locally grown, and for that reason no shipping is involved.
For people who are a new comer to canning, or people who need a refresher, obtain the Ball Blue Book of Home Canning, or navigate to the USDA website and download their Complete Help guide to Home Canning. These two are great resources.
To many people, home canning could be intimidating, but when you plan your steps well, and gather all your equipment before beginning it can be a fun project for the whole family. Additionally, you will need some good recipes to follow along with. Always make sure your recipes and browse the manufacturers directions in your canners. This will help to prevent mistakes.
Why Do Your own house Canning
Disregard the value of your time and effort, canning homegrown or locally produced food can help you save half of the price of purchased canned food. Canning favorite and special products to enjoy by your family and friends can be very rewarding. Home canning has changed greatly within the 170 odd years because it was first introduced.
New developments in technology have led to safer, high quality products. Home canning is a good way to make the most of a great harvest, and preserve all those fresh vegetables and fruits.
What Type of Equipment Will i Need
I would buy good quality pressure canner. You'll need this to can low acid foods like vegetables, and meats. It is also used like a water bath canner. I'd advise that you simply purchase a 16-17 quart canner with a decent pressure gauge, and petcock.
Use only standard Mason, Kerr or Ball type home canning jars and 2 piece self-sealing lids. Mayonnaise jars aren't recommended for canning. The jars that you will get from the Classico spaghetti sauce are great because they are Mason jars. Canning jars can be found in a variety of sizes including 1/2 pints, pints, and quarts. Pint and quart jars are most frequently used, however, many foods like crab meat and mushrooms should simply be canned in 1/2 pint jars. Wide mouth jars tend to be more easily filled and emptied, however they cost more than standard jars.
You will even need a good timer, a wide open mouth funnel, to fill jars with, a jar lifter, and tongs. Not to mention pot holders and baking racks or towels to create the hot jars on after canning. Other pursuits that you will need are, a ladle having a lip, a sieve, a colander, a food mill, and sharp knives. A few of these items you is only going to need if making jams and jellies.
Home canning may be one of the most enjoyable experiences that you'll ever have. Obtain the whole family involved. It'll make many great, lasting memories that the family will invariably have. You will find pleasure within the canning process, and pride in your house canned jars of food. Remember, additionally they make great gifts!
Ro Pat
For some good canning recipes click this link Home Canning Recipes.
No comments:
Post a Comment