What are you canning now?

[sourland]

Learning to save some seeds saves money.

Anyone have favorites they save year after year?

This year I purchased several heirloom tomato plants. Most were true to the ID labels, but one which was supposed to be 'Mr Stripey' produced fruit that was correct in shape, but was a solid yellow - a sport, hybrid, incorrect ID? Plant grew well over 6' tall and produced right up to solid freezing. I saved seeds and will give them a try next year.

 

[macdona pride]

We're planting a bigger garden this year and will be attempting to can our surplus vegetables - for the first time. What's the best book out there that I could buy to not only walk is through the canning process but provide us with some good recipes as well?

 

[rancher hicks]

I suggest your local public library to decide. I took out everything they had and picked three books then bought them online. I chose those that had more recipes I'd use. You may like others so have a look.

Beware of older books at there are new rules on safety.

I'm of the opinion a pressure cooker is a good buy and something to learn right off. Pressure canning can bring things to a higher heat and use less time. It is a skill I've not mastered.

I plan to freeze many vegetables as it preserves the nutrition.

Keep in mind there are many ways to preserve your harvest. Some of the homesteading books have recipes too. Lord have mercy there were lots of those at my library. Over 40 and counting.

Weeding out the unlikables will take days if not weeks.

 

[erinszoo]

We're planting a bigger garden this year and will be attempting to can our surplus vegetables - for the first time. What's the best book out there that I could buy to not only walk is through the canning process but provide us with some good recipes as well?

The Ball Blue Book is the standard for canning and it has recipes too. I would check out your local library before you purchase anything. Different people like different things. As for recipes, really just use the food like you would any canned food you buy from a store.

 

[rancher hicks]

The Ball Blue Book is the standard for canning and it has recipes too. I would check out your local library before you purchase anything. Different people like different things. As for recipes, really just use the food like you would any canned food you buy from a store.

Again keep in mind that older books and methods/times have changed so go with the Newer Ball Blue book. I didn't know it but different areas of the country have different times for processing as well.

Higher elevations and all that stuff. Something I didn't know.

 

[macdona pride]

Thank you for the information!!!

 

[Peep_Show]

The Ball Blue Book is the standard for canning and it has recipes too. I would check out your local library before you purchase anything. Different people like different things. As for recipes, really just use the food like you would any canned food you buy from a store.

The Ball website also has recipes for traditional water canning, pressure cookers and the Ball appliances.

 

[rancher hicks]

For those using a water bath and only doing Pints or Jelly jars. There is a smaller blue porcelain pot that uses less water than the big pot for quarts.

I believe the large si 21- 21.5qts.

The small is 12 quarts. According to the Walmart site. I got mine at the Regional Farmers market. There is a couple there that sell kitchen items and I prefer to keep my money where I live. Plus their prices are about the same.

There is also a heavier 18 quart.

 

[GJ_Kate]

Move been water bath canning for a few years but I've never pressure canned and want to start. So I bought a used All American and I finally got up enough nerve to put just water in it and try to get it up to pressure. Well the first time I got it up just past 5 lbs and it started leaking a little steam out the side under the lid. Then I put a little olive oil where the lid comes into contact with the pot. Still started to leak at 5 lbs. let it go up to 10 lbs and it was still leaking. Questions are does a little bit of steam coming out the side matter? What are normal sounds for the canner? It was obviously hissing but also making a metal pinging sound every once in a while. Normal? Thanks from a pressure newbie!

 

[erinszoo]

The pinging is normal as the metal heats up. Not sure about steam out the side. Does it have a steam cock on top? Steam should be coming out of that. I take it you have a dial guage, not weights?