These old fashioned skills have a place in today’s home
Water Bath Canning
Water bath canning is one of the first things I learned when I started putting my food storage plan together. It is the easiest canning method to master and you will have success right from the beginning.
Only acidic foods can be safely processed in a water bath canner. These include all fruits and tomatoes, all pickles, and those vegetables that you can add sufficient vinegar to raise the acidity level high enough. Think dilled beans or pickled beets.
Bulk Buy: Canning 25 Lbs of Salsa Tomatoes
3 Ways to Preserve Asparagus
Canning 101: Canning Equipment
Home Canning is Making a Comeback!
The Organic Canner by Daisy Luther
Rethinking Food Storage – The Food Storage Law of 3’s
Bulk Buy: Storing 40 Lbs of Walla Walla Sweet Onion
Water Bath Canning: As Easy as 1, 2, 3
Don’t forget to download this handy Water Bath & Pressure Canning Checklist to use the next time you are canning.
Pressure Canning
Vegetables and meats are low in acid and therefore unsuitable for a boiling water bath unless pickled. You may hear a grandmother tell you that it was done in “her day,” but to keep your family safe and free of food poisoning – don’t do it! It only takes one spoonful from one jar of poisoned food to cause serious illness or death.
I don’t want to scare you away from this method, though. Pressure canners are completely safe (no matter what your cousin’s friend says, they do not explode!) and as long as you follow an approved recipe AND follow processing guidelines you can’t go wrong.
A Master Canner once told me that there has never been a case of food poisoning from a properly processed batch of home canned food. It’s only when people deviate from recipes and technique that they run into trouble.
If you’re still scared, find a friend and have them teach you, review the posts below, or order this excellent course “At Home Canning for Beginners” Give it a try.
Canning 101: Canning Equipment
The Organic Canner by Daisy Luther
Rethinking Food Storage – The Food Storage Law of 3’s
Afraid of your Pressure Canner? Do This Practice Test
Pressure Canning Conversion
Pressure Canning: The Dark Side of Food Storage
Other Methods of Food Storage
There are other ways to store your dry food without canning at all. Learn about these options in the posts below.
How I Use My FoodSaver Every Day | PreparednessMama
Storing Chia Seeds for Long Term | PreparednessMama
Dry Pack Canning | PreparednessMama
Home Canning | PreparednessMama
Quick Tip: How to Store 50 lbs. of Flour in 5 Gallon Buckets | PreparednessMama
Canning Recipes
Check back regularly, I’m always adding more ways to can my harvest. You might also want to check out my Pinterest Board – Food Storage for more ideas.
Make Jam Without Pectin
Crab Apple Crazy – A Collection of Recipes
Lemon Ginger Zucchini Marmalade
The Organic Canner by Daisy Luther
Early American Pumpkin Butter Recipe
Pressure Canning Conversion
In a Jam! Homemade Jam is Love
Prepared for Christmas – Jars of Jam
Visit the other Food Storage Pages: Canning Techniques – Food Storage Basics– Wholesale Bulk Buys – Long Term Food Storage – Other Preservation Methods – Grains – Thrive Life – Kitchen Tips – Recipes – for other in depth articles on getting your food storage plan together.