Canning
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I think you can can (haha) any fresh fruits or vegetables, for instance if you have 10000 tomatoes from your garden and want to crack open some fresh ones in February for spaghetti sauce. I've read here of moms canning fresh meat that they got from hunting, or from extra turkeys bought on sale.
Anyway I have no clue either, though I really want to. I'm not sure where to start and don't have a lot of time to figure stuff out atm.
Anyway I have no clue either, though I really want to. I'm not sure where to start and don't have a lot of time to figure stuff out atm.
I think it depends on where you're getting the food you'll be canning. If it's extra vegetables from your garden that would normally be wasted or given away to someone else than it's definitely more economical (and healthier) than buying an equivalent can of tomatoes in the store.
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It depends... if you have an overabundance of something, can get something really cheap/free, then it's definitely worth it to can it. But the problem is that many things (like tomatoes) require a pressure canner, which isn't a cheap purchase. If you can borrow one, that's great - or if you do a lot of it, eventually it'll pay for itself.
You can find canning jars in thrift stores, freecycle, ask everyone you know. I can buy yogurt and CO in reusable jars, which helps with the jar stash, but I still have to buy some every year.
Without a pressure canner, you're limited in what you can can... jams and pickles definitely, applesauce, fruits in syrup, that kind of thing.
You can find canning jars in thrift stores, freecycle, ask everyone you know. I can buy yogurt and CO in reusable jars, which helps with the jar stash, but I still have to buy some every year.
Without a pressure canner, you're limited in what you can can... jams and pickles definitely, applesauce, fruits in syrup, that kind of thing.
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Canning most definitely saves money.
First get the word out that you want to can, and are looking for jars. People are always tossing them out! Amazes me, but I have tons now.
Then get several books on canning.
Start out with a water bath canner. You can do lots of stuff in it.
Canning is great when you see a terrific deal on produce, or when you have a home garden. You can put it up and keep it longer rather than having your extra tomatoes spoil because you couldn't eat them in time.
If you know you need to eat up some apples, you can just make apple sauce instead, or apple butter. Or apple pie filling.
I make and can all kinds of stuff. I haven't bought jam in over a year.
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First get the word out that you want to can, and are looking for jars. People are always tossing them out! Amazes me, but I have tons now.
Then get several books on canning.
Start out with a water bath canner. You can do lots of stuff in it.
Canning is great when you see a terrific deal on produce, or when you have a home garden. You can put it up and keep it longer rather than having your extra tomatoes spoil because you couldn't eat them in time.
If you know you need to eat up some apples, you can just make apple sauce instead, or apple butter. Or apple pie filling.
I make and can all kinds of stuff. I haven't bought jam in over a year.
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I can tomatoes without a pressure canner. Check out a book from the library...there will be detailed instructions on how to can whatever you're thinking of and how to do it safely.
Originally Posted by cristeen  But the problem is that many things (like tomatoes) require a pressure canner, which isn't a cheap purchase. |
I suggest your checking some books out from the library:
Blue Ball Book of Canning
Putting Food By
Preserving Food Without Freezing Or Canning
The Complete Book of Small Batch Preserving
If you're into food preservation you're probably going to end up buying one or all of them, but check them out first.
It's so much easier to approach when you have a large scope of what's going to happen.
Definitely start with easy stuff. That could be freezer jam (there are formulas for sugarless preserves in the box of pectin) or pickles that you don't even have to seal.
Once you get the idea you can move onto waterbath canning & see if you enjoy the process enough to invest in a pressure canner.
I love the process. It's definitely not for everyone, but if you enjoy it then you should do it!
Whenever something in my garden, someone elses yard or the fruit stand is going crazy I make several batches of something fun with it. It's fun to get creative with different flavors.
Last year I got all fancy & my holiday gifts were cardamom blackberry port preserves, strawberry vanilla bean rhubarb jam, curried apple coconut chutneies etc
I've really gotten in a groove with it over the last 5 years & now I make ketscup, bbq sauce, salsas, pickled jalapenos... hotsauce... pretty much everything. We don't buy much anymore but fresh produce. mason jars from goodwill & lids & bands.
Having various sizes in canning jars is sooo nice! That way you can make however much (or LITTLE) as you want.
Every experiment is worth it! If you're interested go for it!
Blue Ball Book of Canning
Putting Food By
Preserving Food Without Freezing Or Canning
The Complete Book of Small Batch Preserving
If you're into food preservation you're probably going to end up buying one or all of them, but check them out first.
It's so much easier to approach when you have a large scope of what's going to happen.
Definitely start with easy stuff. That could be freezer jam (there are formulas for sugarless preserves in the box of pectin) or pickles that you don't even have to seal.
Once you get the idea you can move onto waterbath canning & see if you enjoy the process enough to invest in a pressure canner.
I love the process. It's definitely not for everyone, but if you enjoy it then you should do it!
Whenever something in my garden, someone elses yard or the fruit stand is going crazy I make several batches of something fun with it. It's fun to get creative with different flavors.
Last year I got all fancy & my holiday gifts were cardamom blackberry port preserves, strawberry vanilla bean rhubarb jam, curried apple coconut chutneies etc
I've really gotten in a groove with it over the last 5 years & now I make ketscup, bbq sauce, salsas, pickled jalapenos... hotsauce... pretty much everything. We don't buy much anymore but fresh produce. mason jars from goodwill & lids & bands.
Having various sizes in canning jars is sooo nice! That way you can make however much (or LITTLE) as you want.
Every experiment is worth it! If you're interested go for it!
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Tomatoes are one of those things that *CAN* be canned in a water bath, but its really preferable to do them in a pressure canner. It takes *WAY* less time for one and is safer for two (though by how much is probably debatable).
I did *lots* of canning last year - ~100 quarts of tomatoes, 20odd quarts of apple sauce, pickled peppers (banana & jalapeno), and various jams & jellies, apple & blueberry butter. We invested a lot in canning jars & a pressure canner (we bought an All American which should last forever and which doesn't need replacement seals), but I've saved lots over the course of the year too. I also froze lots of green beans & fruits - which I've continued to make into jams/jellies as I run out... I actually need to make some more grape jelly here soon. We also did grape juice & apple cider both of which have been AWESOME to have all winter long.
Anyhow. Most of what I canned/froze I did in fact pay for - but I got them CHEAP! I did pick-your-own blueberries & strawberries so paid next to nothing for them, and bought the cheapo imperfect apples from the farmers market (just ask about ones to make into sauce, they have'm they just aren't set out
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. Ditto for the tomatoes (ours did poorly so I actually bought most of them, but once again, I'd pay like $5 for organic tomatoes and do 10+ quarts). The green beans & peppers did (mostly) come from our garden, and the blackberries I picked from our woods so they were totally, 100% FREE!
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I did *lots* of canning last year - ~100 quarts of tomatoes, 20odd quarts of apple sauce, pickled peppers (banana & jalapeno), and various jams & jellies, apple & blueberry butter. We invested a lot in canning jars & a pressure canner (we bought an All American which should last forever and which doesn't need replacement seals), but I've saved lots over the course of the year too. I also froze lots of green beans & fruits - which I've continued to make into jams/jellies as I run out... I actually need to make some more grape jelly here soon. We also did grape juice & apple cider both of which have been AWESOME to have all winter long.
Anyhow. Most of what I canned/froze I did in fact pay for - but I got them CHEAP! I did pick-your-own blueberries & strawberries so paid next to nothing for them, and bought the cheapo imperfect apples from the farmers market (just ask about ones to make into sauce, they have'm they just aren't set out
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The All American is considerd the 'best' canner as far as I know. The thing thats different about it vs all the others is that the others require a rubber seal, whereas the All American has a metal-metal seal so you never have to buy new seals.
Honestly, I don't know why its considerd hard.. the dangerous part I assume comes from the fact that if your canner isn't working correctly it *could* blow up... Mostly, IME canning is just somewhat time consuming. But I wouldn't say its "hard" myself!!
Honestly, I don't know why its considerd hard.. the dangerous part I assume comes from the fact that if your canner isn't working correctly it *could* blow up... Mostly, IME canning is just somewhat time consuming. But I wouldn't say its "hard" myself!!
I love canning!!! The first year I canned on my own, I hit all the road side stands and ended up putting up over 120 pts of different jams and jellies--guess what everyone got for Christmas! LOL. My mom and I canned alot every year and it just became part of summer time. Dh and I are looking at buying a home that has a MASSIVE backyard and we are going to put most of it under garden and fruit trees. We really want to can/preserve everything we raise, and get as close as we can to being self sufficient.
I highly recommend the Blue Ball Canning Book as well as Putting Food By. They are my bibles. I am looking to going ahead and investing in a pressure canner--specially if we are going to be doing lots. I want to can meats and make my own soups and put them up for quicky dinners, as well as pickled veggies and ferments. OOOO fun stuff!!!
Can you say I love to can??
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: Bake too, but that is a diff story
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I highly recommend the Blue Ball Canning Book as well as Putting Food By. They are my bibles. I am looking to going ahead and investing in a pressure canner--specially if we are going to be doing lots. I want to can meats and make my own soups and put them up for quicky dinners, as well as pickled veggies and ferments. OOOO fun stuff!!!
Can you say I love to can??
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ha, yeah...i told my dad i wanted a pressure canner and he was kind enough to give me his, but only after he made me too scared to have any desire to use it.
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Originally Posted by mamadelbosque Honestly, I don't know why its considerd hard.. the dangerous part I assume comes from the fact that if your canner isn't working correctly it *could* blow up... |
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The high acidity levels of tomatoes make them okay to can with a water bath canner - they don't require a pressure canner.
Maybe you could see if there are a couple of other families who are interested in canning this year, and you could get together to do your canning and split the cost of supplies?
I plan on canning a lot this year (haven't done it in a while), and I have already invited people for canning parties! Since we live in a city, we'll be going out of the city to a "pick your own" farm for many different fruits/veggies and then will be preserving them.
Originally Posted by cristeen It depends... if you have an overabundance of something, can get something really cheap/free, then it's definitely worth it to can it. But the problem is that many things (like tomatoes) require a pressure canner, which isn't a cheap purchase. |
Maybe you could see if there are a couple of other families who are interested in canning this year, and you could get together to do your canning and split the cost of supplies?
I plan on canning a lot this year (haven't done it in a while), and I have already invited people for canning parties! Since we live in a city, we'll be going out of the city to a "pick your own" farm for many different fruits/veggies and then will be preserving them.
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We can tomatoes every year without a pressure canner. I do use it when I can green beans, and if I could get some venison, I would can that in the pressure canner also.
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