What are you canning now?

[NovaAman]

I read somewhere that you could can dry beans/lentils so they'd have a longer shelf life than the bag provides. Has anyone done that?

HH, that would be AWESOME to can pancake mixes. I am guessing it'd keep for several years that way.

 

[NovaAman]

I found this on e-i-e-i-omg!ven canning, so thought I'd share real quick.
Basically, this is what I do:

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.

Take clean, dry quart or half-gallon canning jars and fill them with whatever I am canning. Put them in a roasting pan, or other high-sided pan. I do this strictly for ease of getting them in and out of the oven - you can also put them on a cookie sheet. Once the oven has preheated, put the pan with open, filled jars (NO LIDS) into the oven and close the door. Leave them in the oven for one hour. Remove from the oven and, being very careful NOT to burn your fingers, wipe the jar rims quickly with a damp cloth and place clean, dry flats on top of the hot jars and screw on the rings. Let the jars sit and cool. As they cool, you may hear the telltale "ping" as they vacuum seal, depending on how quickly it works. Test for a seal. That is it. If a jar does not seal, which happens on occasion, I put that jar to the front to use first.

 

[member 142084]

I bet if you vacuum seal your dried beans it will last best.

 

[NovaAman]

Yes, but i dont' have a vacuum sealer. I wish. Now that I am getting more interested in this stuff, I am going to have to start to slowly purchase things. First on the list is a pressure canner... Until then, I am just stuck with boiling water and the oven. It's all good. Start little.

 

[member 142084]

Yes, but i dont' have a vacuum sealer. I wish. Now that I am getting more interested in this stuff, I am going to have to start to slowly purchase things. First on the list is a pressure canner... Until then, I am just stuck with boiling water and the oven. It's all good. Start little.

I researched my pressure canner carefully. The one I found was the safest and most effective with the better reviews was about $200 on Amazon. Yet when you think about he chance of loosing someones life or having to repair your kitchen from explosions and flying meters for $100 less.. .it is not worth it Plus this company is U.S. and all american made.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004S88Z/ref=oh_details_o08_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I love it! I also cooked a frozen solid roast in 30 minutes!

Just make sure you follow the instruction booklet when using it

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

I found this on e-i-e-i-omg!ven canning, so thought I'd share real quick.
Basically, this is what I do:

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.

Take clean, dry quart or half-gallon canning jars and fill them with whatever I am canning. Put them in a roasting pan, or other high-sided pan. I do this strictly for ease of getting them in and out of the oven - you can also put them on a cookie sheet. Once the oven has preheated, put the pan with open, filled jars (NO LIDS) into the oven and close the door. Leave them in the oven for one hour. Remove from the oven and, being very careful NOT to burn your fingers, wipe the jar rims quickly with a damp cloth and place clean, dry flats on top of the hot jars and screw on the rings. Let the jars sit and cool. As they cool, you may hear the telltale "ping" as they vacuum seal, depending on how quickly it works. Test for a seal. That is it. If a jar does not seal, which happens on occasion, I put that jar to the front to use first.

Thanks Nova

I know I read about it somewhere and I am trying it today. Just put 6 quarts in the oven. I left the other 1 & a half in the pantry as I am sure it will get used before it goes bad.

 

[MrsFox]

Hello! So I've been wanting to start learning to can some stuff. I've only ever done freezer jam so that is completely different. How do you go about learning. Did you just jump right in and just deal with mistakes as they happened? And where is a good place to get the canning supplies? I've searched garage sales and have never lucked upon any stuff but the jars.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Have you tried craigs list or goodwill/thrift stores? I would recommend getting the Ball Blue Book on canning. It's a great help for beginners. I had a friend show me how to can tomatoes 20 some years ago and that was a great help to me. I just started with jams and such in the last 10 years or so. Good luck and

 

[member 142084]

Hello! So I've been wanting to start learning to can some stuff. I've only ever done freezer jam so that is completely different. How do you go about learning. Did you just jump right in and just deal with mistakes as they happened? And where is a good place to get the canning supplies? I've searched garage sales and have never lucked upon any stuff but the jars.

This is your saving grace for near everything! From purchasing land, buildig cellar, pens, choosing and raising livestock, crops, gardening, recipes, preserving, and canning. If she does not have it her massive lists of references do. She was an amazing woman Ms. Carla Emery.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Encyclopedia-Country-Living-Fashioned/dp/0912365951

And I dove into it



Also helpful hint. Buy PH test strips, you can check your canned before eating them, if you are concerned. PH should be 4.5 and lower to be safe.

 

[rancher hicks]

I researched my pressure canner carefully. The one I found was the safest and most effective with the better reviews was about $200 on Amazon. Yet when you think about he chance of loosing someones life or having to repair your kitchen from explosions and flying meters for $100 less.. .it is not worth it Plus this company is U.S. and all american made.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004S88Z/ref=oh_details_o08_s01_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I love it! I also cooked a frozen solid roast in 30 minutes!

Just make sure you follow the instruction booklet when using it

Seems to me that whether or not someone gets killed or your kitchen is blown up, depends not on the pressure cooker you use, but how you use it. Follow the instructions and you should be just fine. Paying attention when cooking or canning is one way to ensure safety. Never leave anything cooking on the stove or in the oven unsupervised. When I am canning I don't even answer the phone.

Presto 01781 23-Quart Pressure Canner and Cooker for $74 should be just fine. (sorry this is so large I cut and pasted it.)


not all pressure cookers are Canners.