Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
grab your jars, its canning season! On this post we will go over everything you need to have to have a successful canning season.
Before you get going on canning season. It is important to double check your inventory of equipment.
This list is also crucial for those of you starting out to know what exactly it is you need to start canning.
Let’s dive in:
Equipment needed:
- CookBook: By Ball, Pomonas Pectin
- Boiling Water/Water Bath Canner
- Budget Friendly Pressure Canner (use code FLOUR10)
- All American 925 Heritage Pressure Canner (I use the word heritage because this canner is an investment but it will last and can be passed down through the generations with proper care) the 925 can be used on most flat top stoves
- Lids & rings: wide mouth lids & wide mouth rings, regular mouth lids & regular mouth rings, please use code FLOUR10 to save on your purchase
- Timer, please use code FLOUR10 to save on your purchase
- Funnel Set, please use code FLOUR10 to save on your purchase
- Measuring Cups & Spoons, please use code FLOUR10 to save on your purchase
- Towels, please use code FLOUR10 to save on your purchase
- Jar Opener, please use code FLOUR10 to save on your purchase
- Not essential but it is helpful, anti fatigue rug, please use code FLOUR10 to save on your purchase
- Starter Kit (aka your jar lifter & debubbler)
- Jars: Quart (Reg. Mouth), Quart (wide mouth), Pint (Reg. Mouth), Pint (wide mouth), Pint & Half (wide mouth), Pint & Half (reg. mouth), Half Gallon (wide mouth, should only be used to can juice IF you have a canner large enough, otherwise they’re great for dry goods)
- Pectin and Bulk Pomonas
- Lemon Juice
- Vinegar
- Pickling Spices
- Salt, please use code FLOURING to save on your purchase
- cooling rack
Canning Tips
- Why do you need towels? Towels help to be a buffer between your hot jars and a cold counter. hot jars + a cold counter = thermal shock effect and exploded jars
- I want to start canning but dont know how? I am so glad you are here! I absolutely love to preserve. Feel free to drop your questions in the comments or follow me on Instagram. The very first place i would start is to get yourself a good cookbook (like what I listed above) and start making jam. Jam is the absolute easiest to start preserving. If you mess up, it’s ok! More than likely you have made syrup.
- Familiarize your self with your recipes. Go over your ingredients. Go over the procedures. Take your time.
- ADJUST FOR ALTITUDE! This is a common issue I see is failure to adjust for altitude. You can see the adjustments you need to make on THIS LINK. Your recipe usually tells you the minimum set time for processing but you MUST adjust for safety.
- Store your canned goods WITHOUT the rings! If there is an issue with your seal, you may not know it if the rings are on as the lids can unseal and reseal with a ring.
- Dont just find a recipe on the internet and assume its safe. If you are looking for how to can XXX you can google canning XXX + extension office. So your search would look like: how to can salmon + extension office and you would find this advice. Alternatively, you can utilize the pectin brand for recipes like I did for passion fruit.
- Fatty foods like salmon or meat, use vinegar to wipe the rims of your jars. For everything else, a damp paper towel should suffice.
- Find a mentor or bestie to can with! It’s so much fun when there are two of you canning together. PLUS! many hands make light work.
- Never ever can: milk, butter, fat (lard or tallow), anything with pasta, rice or flour.
- Yes, I understand that you can buy canned milk BUT we as home preservers don’t have the capacity to reach the heat levels of commercial canning equipment.
- If you’re not growing your own food, joining gleaning groups in your area, shop the farmers market, or purchase through azure standard.
- MOST IMPORTANTLY: HAVE FUN!!!
Have a question? Head to the comments and ask! I love answering your questions
Happy Canning! ~Boots
PS: you might find these additional resources helpful.
- Rainier Cherry Jam Recipe with Boiling Water Canning Instructions
- Apple Butter Recipe with Boiling Water Canning Instructions
- Freeze Drying & Dehydration Record Book
- Minimalist Canning Essentials
- Preserving Low Acid Foods
- 7 Ways to Preserve Your Food at Home
- Preserving with Freeze Drying
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
