What are you canning now?

[HEChicken]

Sorry if this has been asked and answered a hundred times already - 367 pages is a LOT of reading. I finally bit the bullet and ordered a Presto 23-quart canner. Now I'm wondering, what else will I NEED in order to get started. I know people always recommend the Ball Preserving book. I looked on Amazon and there are several different kits that include jar lifters and what not. I don't think any of that stuff comes with the canner, right? So I'll need to order these things? What is the absolute minimum to get started? I don't want to go overboard on ordering accessories and then find canning is not for me....thanks in advance from a complete canning newbie (Mum/Grandma didn't ever can so this is all totally new for me).

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
My water bath pot came with all the accessories inside it. I got the canner, the lid tool (magnet on the bottom to pull lids out of hot water), the spacing tool (to tell how much headspace you have in the jar), the funnel (handy to keep the jars from getting messy when you fill them) and the jar lifter (to lift the sealed jars out of the water bath).

I did purchase the Ball book separately, and it has some really great recipes in it.

ETA: So then you need jars and extra lids. You can reuse the jars and the bands, but not the lids.

 

[theOEGBman]

I got the 23-quart Presto and it didn't come with anything, just the rack in the bottom of the pot. My water bath came from my grandma. I got the kit with the jar lifter, etc. from walmart for less than $10. It's been a life saver.

 

[vfem]

Oh for the love!

Can someone find a place that sells 8 oz jars in bulk (with lids) for less then $0.50 each with shipping!?

I'm tired of paying so much for jars!!! ARGH!

 

[bockbock2008]

I found more jars on clearance at Lowes today. They had marked them down last fall then put them back at regular price during the Holidays, now they are back down. A 4 pack of pints (widemouth) for 1.83. I got their last 4 boxes. Now to the Lowes at the other end of town

 

[theOEGBman]

My Lowe's never did put any canning supplies on sale, I was upset, haha.

 

[HEChicken]

Oh my. Fedex just delivered my canner. I bought it (brand new item) off eBay and got it for several dollars less than the same item at either Walmart of Amazon. Plus I didn't have to pay taxes on eBay AND got eBay bucks to spend in April. So I was happy with the purchase as soon as I won the auction as all told it saved me about $20. Anyway, Fedex just delivered - two boxes. "What could be in the second (larger) box", I wondered as tore it open. A box of mason jars and lids! Wow - so unexpected. I went back to the listing and the seller did not mention ANYTHING about jars and lids - all that was in the listing was the canner itself. I'm so pleased (and impressed) with the seller. Now I'm gonna be gone for a little while to read the instruction/recipe booklet.....

 

[3goodeggs]

Quote:
Can you contact ball and get yourself listed as a supplier? Maybe you can purchase them wholesale that way. If your husband or you have a Business address, then they may be willing to sell to you in Bulk. I think you produce enough to get a break somewhere.
I get to use my jars over again, you wave goodbye to yours.

 

[vfem]

Quote:
Can you contact ball and get yourself listed as a supplier? Maybe you can purchase them wholesale that way. If your husband or you have a Business address, then they may be willing to sell to you in Bulk. I think you produce enough to get a break somewhere.
I get to use my jars over again, you wave goodbye to yours.

oh yeah, costs me a fortune, and then out the door they go!

 

[Chick named Lola]

I love canning, I'm going to do something with cherries and blueberries next... I've never heard of a head space measurer...I MUST have one. Where the heck could I find it?