Feeling like suzy homemaker today.. & its freakin' me out!

[Laurajean]

I want to learn to can, I've wanted to for years. Love the concept and image of all the jars, and the whole self sufficiency feeling. But I'm afraid I'm too lazy, I hear it's a lot of work. I'd really like to learn, maybe I'll try and find some "how-to" sites. Is it difficult?

 

[Momagain1]

no it is SUPER easy; you just have to follow the directions!

get the "LAW" of cannign book:

The ball blue book to canning: (this one is the one I have..make sure you get the up to date version; NOT the old gramma ones; most of the
guidelines are outdated and generally not as safe anymore)

http://www.amazon.com/Ball-Complete...1314/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1305339497&sr=8-3

get this: (its the one I have)

http://www.amazon.com/Presto-23-Quart-Aluminum-Pressure-Cooker/dp/B0000BYCFU/ref=pd_sim_k_1

and an extra one of these: (so you can layer your jars if you want)

http://www.amazon.com/Presto-Cooking-Canning-Pressure-Canner/dp/B000LNY6T2/ref=pd_sim_k_5

and get this:
(the blue stepladder thing is REALLY important... the funnel, not as much as most everyone has funnels...but the jar lifter so you dont burn yourself and the straight thing has a
magnet on the bottom to life the seals from the hot water )

http://www.amazon.com/Ball-1440010720-Utensil-Set/dp/B001NNJ42I/ref=pd_sbs_misc_7

Thats the basics to get you started; besides the jars..

Last year I splurged and got this:

http://www.amazon.com/Victorio-VKP250-Model-Strainer-Sauce/dp/B001I7FP54/ref=pd_sim_k_21

and I <3 IT! It makes tomatoes SOOO Much faster and I dont have to peel them now! HUGE timesaver!!

 

[Laurajean]

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Oh wow, all kinds of info, thank you! Gonna go check these links out now!

 

[Momagain1]

the initial cost is a bit; but when I know my pressure canner will last 25+ years, my jars forever as long as I dont break them, my tools 15+ years...

and I take into account the amount of canning that will be done over the years...it comes out to almost nothing after awhile...

$200 will buy me approximately 30 boxes of canning jars. each pint box has 12 jars..so thats 360 jars...

360 jars of food grown in my garden (free to under $50 a year to buy/plant)...multiplied over lets just say 20 years...is 7,200 jars of food
I've canned (OIY!) divided by the $200 originally comes to literally .03 ..when I add in new seals (YOU MUST do this.never use old seals!)
depending on how bulk you buy them..can cost 5c to 10c...so 8-10c per jar of food...

and of course it goes lower the more years you use it..its not long before the jars will have evened the cost out to zero once you realize
the amount of food you've canned...

does that make sense to anyone???

 

[Gardengirl 2011]

Way to go!!!

I taught myself to can when I was 20. I had a pear tree out front and made spiced pear butter. (sort of like apple butter) Then I moved on to green beans and tomatoes. Never had super success with canning corn though. I always ended up with not enough water left in the jars after pressure canning them.

One year I even canned chocolate cake which was more like a bread. It was really cool. I've done meats too. There's nothing quite like hearing the pop of the lid sealing or opening your pantry to see jars full of food that YOU put up. And just think........you can pronounce ALL the ingredients!

So..........Momagain1, just go with it.

 

[Gardengirl 2011]

Oh and by the way, for those wanting to start canning. Sometimes you can get free canning jars just by putting an ad in the paper or online source. Just make sure you don't end up with mayonaise jars, lol.

 

[Momagain1]

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see my NEWpost in the recipe/food section here!!

 

[Momagain1]

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THAT is a great idea!! I'm gonna put an ad in Freecycle!!! I was gonna get them from my Aunt from my gramma; but thats a crazy bad situation now..so ugh..

 

[redhen]

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Same here.. PLUS i'm afraid of killing off all my family if i dont can correctly...
I can just see it now...
But i REALLY really want to learn..

 

[Momagain1]

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Same here.. PLUS i'm afraid of killing off all my family if i dont can correctly...
I can just see it now...
But i REALLY really want to learn..

no..you just give the first few batches to my ex hubby ok???