Canning Questions!

Aediekins · 06-29-2009, 07:09 PM

Any experienced canners out there? I planted 3 tomato plants this year so I will plenty to can! I also want to begin canning soups. Does anyone have any experience with a pressure canner? Is it worth the investment?

CramerNH · 06-29-2009, 08:24 PM

I love canning.. I make pasta sauces, pickles, stewed tomatoes, salsa, pickled jalapeno relish, you name it..

But I cant say I have ever used a pressure canning 'thing'.. I have been doing the old method since a teenager... its relaxing for me...

bdladie · 06-29-2009, 08:27 PM

You don't always need a pressure canner for tomatoes. Most recipes use the hot water bath.

google some canning things like salsa.

Tania

Aediekins · 06-29-2009, 08:48 PM

I wanted to do other things like chicken soup and stuff (non-acidic) and on the ball website it said a pressure canner was necessary for those... what do you think?

Laura in Arizona · 06-29-2009, 09:52 PM

Yes, you must have a pressure canner if you plan on canning low acid foods. I have only used a water bath canner and only canned high acid foods so I can't help you much there. Just make sure you get your recipes from good sources. There are lots of people out there sharing recipes that can low acid foods incorrectly (including some I have seen on LCF) and you are risking your life and your family's if you follow them. With that said, you can certainly can almost anything safely and can make better tasting and more nutritious foods than you can buy. Reputable sources on the web would be government, university publications and canning supply manufacturers like Kerr and Ball, but there are plenty of books too.

If you have never canned think about starting with high acid foods and use a waterbath canner (basically a big pot) to get familiar with it. High acid foods include all fruits, jams, jellies and most tomatoes. That will get you going to make sure it is something you like doing before investing in a pressure canner.

Good luck and have fun!

Darkfire · 06-30-2009, 07:19 AM

I have a pressure canner for low acid stuff. I got it at amazon.com.

livinlarge · 07-01-2009, 11:00 AM

I could be way off, but doesn't soup freeze well?

miboje · 07-03-2009, 11:37 AM

I could be way off, but doesn't soup freeze well?
Sure! There are some things I will freeze rather than can this year because it's easier, less risky (such as green beans), and may retain more nutritional content due to lack of high heat processing.
I froze cut corn one time, and it was just like fresh well into winter. What a treat! I'll have to see how my corn does this year cuz I hope to have enough to freeze. I know we will be tempted to give some away.

I'm looking forward to canning paste tomatoes this year, along with tomato soup and making my own ketchup, pear butter, peach butter, pears, raspberry pancake syrup, and hopefully apple butter. All with no sugar.

I've got my work cut out for me, don't I!

livinlarge · 07-10-2009, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miboje

I could be way off, but doesn't soup freeze well?
Sure! There are some things I will freeze rather than can this year because it's easier, less risky (such as green beans), and may retain more nutritional content due to lack of high heat processing.
I froze cut corn one time, and it was just like fresh well into winter. What a treat! I'll have to see how my corn does this year cuz I hope to have enough to freeze. I know we will be tempted to give some away.

I'm looking forward to canning paste tomatoes this year, along with tomato soup and making my own ketchup, pear butter, peach butter, pears, raspberry pancake syrup, and hopefully apple butter. All with no sugar.

I've got my work cut out for me, don't I!

First year/first attempt, but I've got zuchini, yellow squash, green peppers, cucumbers, 2 kinds of tomatoes, cabbage, radishes, onions, pears, peaches, apples, raspberries & blackberries to figure out what to do with. The new house I bought has a green house & I can't wait until next year to get started!!! I'll have to post pictures!

miboje · 07-10-2009, 10:50 AM

The new house I bought has a green house & I can't wait until next year to get started!!! I'll have to post pictures!
__________________
OMG! You are SO lucky to have a ready greenhouse!! Please post pics!! That is one of the things on my 'summer project' list.

It sounds like you are in the same boat as I am! You are doing well for your first year, too. Thankfully, all this stuff does not ripen at the same time. Good luck to you.

Will be waiting for pics of greenhouse.

06-29-2009, 07:09 PM	#1
Aediekins MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,169 Blog Entries: 1 Gallery: Aediekins Stats: St/199 Curr/189 Gl/160 and toned! WOE: General Low-Carb Start Date: 4th Restart- May 2009	Canning Questions! Any experienced canners out there? I planted 3 tomato plants this year so I will plenty to can! I also want to begin canning soups. Does anyone have any experience with a pressure canner? Is it worth the investment?

06-29-2009, 09:52 PM	#5
Laura in Arizona Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Arizona Posts: 699 Gallery: Laura in Arizona WOE: Paleo/Protein Power Start Date: June 6 2008	Yes, you must have a pressure canner if you plan on canning low acid foods. I have only used a water bath canner and only canned high acid foods so I can't help you much there. Just make sure you get your recipes from good sources. There are lots of people out there sharing recipes that can low acid foods incorrectly (including some I have seen on LCF) and you are risking your life and your family's if you follow them. With that said, you can certainly can almost anything safely and can make better tasting and more nutritious foods than you can buy. Reputable sources on the web would be government, university publications and canning supply manufacturers like Kerr and Ball, but there are plenty of books too. If you have never canned think about starting with high acid foods and use a waterbath canner (basically a big pot) to get familiar with it. High acid foods include all fruits, jams, jellies and most tomatoes. That will get you going to make sure it is something you like doing before investing in a pressure canner. Good luck and have fun! __________________ Learn from Yesterday...Live for Today...Hope for Tomorrow 34 pounds gone, 28.5 to go

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06-29-2009, 08:24 PM	#2
CramerNH Senior LCF Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 257 Gallery: CramerNH	I love canning.. I make pasta sauces, pickles, stewed tomatoes, salsa, pickled jalapeno relish, you name it.. But I cant say I have ever used a pressure canning 'thing'.. I have been doing the old method since a teenager... its relaxing for me...

06-29-2009, 08:27 PM	#3
bdladie MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Detroit, MI Posts: 1,319 Gallery: bdladie Stats: 311/156/150 for now WOE: South Beach kind of Start Date: 1/16/06	You don't always need a pressure canner for tomatoes. Most recipes use the hot water bath. google some canning things like salsa. Tania

06-29-2009, 08:48 PM	#4
Aediekins MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,169 Blog Entries: 1 Gallery: Aediekins Stats: St/199 Curr/189 Gl/160 and toned! WOE: General Low-Carb Start Date: 4th Restart- May 2009	I wanted to do other things like chicken soup and stuff (non-acidic) and on the ball website it said a pressure canner was necessary for those... what do you think?

06-30-2009, 07:19 AM	#6
Darkfire MAJOR LCF POSTER! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Baltimore, Maryland 21225 Posts: 1,659 Gallery: Darkfire Stats: 319/296/137 WOE: Organic, Lowerish Carb, Gluten Free, Caesin Free Start Date: June 1 09	I have a pressure canner for low acid stuff. I got it at amazon.com.

07-01-2009, 11:00 AM	#7
livinlarge Senior LCF Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: IL Posts: 880 Gallery: livinlarge Stats: 180/158/? WOE: LC Start Date: 5/1/09 LAST TIME	I could be way off, but doesn't soup freeze well?

07-03-2009, 11:37 AM	#8
miboje Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central PA Posts: 163 Gallery: miboje Stats: 147/134.1/133 WOE: Stella Style Start Date: Feb. 2009	I could be way off, but doesn't soup freeze well? Sure! There are some things I will freeze rather than can this year because it's easier, less risky (such as green beans), and may retain more nutritional content due to lack of high heat processing. I froze cut corn one time, and it was just like fresh well into winter. What a treat! I'll have to see how my corn does this year cuz I hope to have enough to freeze. I know we will be tempted to give some away. I'm looking forward to canning paste tomatoes this year, along with tomato soup and making my own ketchup, pear butter, peach butter, pears, raspberry pancake syrup, and hopefully apple butter. All with no sugar. I've got my work cut out for me, don't I!

07-10-2009, 10:50 AM	#10
miboje Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central PA Posts: 163 Gallery: miboje Stats: 147/134.1/133 WOE: Stella Style Start Date: Feb. 2009	The new house I bought has a green house & I can't wait until next year to get started!!! I'll have to post pictures! __________________ OMG! You are SO lucky to have a ready greenhouse!! Please post pics!! That is one of the things on my 'summer project' list. It sounds like you are in the same boat as I am! You are doing well for your first year, too. Thankfully, all this stuff does not ripen at the same time. Good luck to you. Will be waiting for pics of greenhouse.