Questions about food being preserved into glass jars, metal cans, or other air-tight containers using a variety of heat treatment steps to ensure an reasonable level of pasteurisation and/or sterilisation
15
votes
2answers
1k views
Why peel tomatoes?
Everyone seems to think it is necessary to peel tomatoes before canning or freezing them. Since I do not peel tomatoes when I'm cooking with them (soups, salsa, etc.), I'm wondering if I can freeze ...
12
votes
2answers
782 views
How to recover jam that has set too hard?
Every time I make jam I always manage to set it too hard. Is there any way to recover it once it's done this?
11
votes
3answers
552 views
Why do you need to peel peaches to can them?
I am going to be canning a bunch of peaches tonight, and I know that you have to peel them first (and I know how to do it easy), but I got to wondering, why do I have to do it?
I have always done it. ...
10
votes
2answers
1k views
Ball Canning Jars: Use them over and over?
A simple question:
Can I seal and reseal Ball canning jars over and over? How long before the seal gets busted usually?
Also, how do you clean the rubber seal ring without damaging it?
10
votes
5answers
2k views
Method of canning without pressure canner?
I'm debating canning but I don't have a pressure canner. I was just wondering what the best method to can would be since I don't want to get botulism and I want the canned food to last for a long ...
10
votes
4answers
436 views
Is there a way to safely can pesto sauce?
I grow basil and I have enough that I would like to can some pesto sauce.
I have tried to find a way to can it but I keep hitting a wall.
I would like to give a few cans of pesto to people for ...
10
votes
3answers
2k views
Will botulism growing in my home-canned vegetables pop the lid?
I remember that in my biology class in high school the teacher told showed us a puffed up can of pineapples which he claimed had botulism in it.
Is that remotely true? and if so, can I tell if my ...
9
votes
2answers
811 views
Can I can vegetables using sous-vide?
My girlfriend and I were talking about the summer produce season approaching and hit on the idea of canning sous-vide. That is, rather than sterilizing by high heat for a short amount of time, you ...
9
votes
4answers
3k views
Is the double boiling canning procedure really necessary?
It seems the usual procedure is to sterilize cans and lids by immersing them in boiling water, to fill the cans, and then to cap them and boil for a few more minutes.
If I sterilize a can and then ...
9
votes
3answers
1k views
I wanted to make homemade pickles, does it matter what type of salt I use?
I've got the spices, jars, etc. I was wondering if there is a special salt, or can I just use table salt?
8
votes
3answers
174 views
Pressure canning instructions
Where can safe and reliable instructions be found for canning? Including high and low altitude canning.
8
votes
1answer
147 views
Jar lids popping several times
I've canned my whole life (54 years old), I started when I was young helping my Mom, and I've never run into this before.
I've never canned just plain pork stock before, but wanted to try. I had 4 ...
7
votes
5answers
4k views
Minimum procedure for sterilizing mason jars for canning
My wife and I are about to do some tomato canning tomorrow. We have a bunch of mason jars that we didn't have time to sterilize. She thinks that just washing them in hot water is enough. After ...
7
votes
1answer
581 views
Does a dishwasher sterilize bottles?
I'm making tomato relish and am wondering if I can sterilize jars adequately by putting them in the dishwasher?
7
votes
1answer
179 views
In industrially produced soup, how does each can contain equal parts of all ingredients?
In the soup that you get at the store, how come you never get cans of just broth?
You'd think that if the soup were made in a large vat, the first few cans would have very little broth and the last ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
Do you need a pressure cooker to can home-made salsa?
I grew my own tomatoes this year and had success with making my own salsa. Do you need a pressure cooker to can home-made salsa?
7
votes
1answer
1k views
How long is SPAM really good for?
I wanted to buy some SPAM for my zombie apocalypse survival kit, and I noticed that it had an expiration date in 2013. Should I be concerned? I've heard it will last more than 25 years.
7
votes
1answer
172 views
Does cornstarch affect the pH of what I'm cooking?
I'm considering canning some fruit compotes to use with yogurt, and the recipe I want to use (which was not designed with canning in mind, found here: ...
6
votes
1answer
3k views
Why are my canning lids popped out?
My wife has been trying to can some foods using the canning techniques that she's familiar with from Romania, but with the American-style canning jars and lids that we get here. This involves packing ...
6
votes
4answers
186 views
New to jam making - do I need to can?
I am a noob-to-be jam maker and a noob seasoned advice member. I want to make this pectin-free jam recipe; but here is the issue: In English speaking sources, any jam recipe goes with instructions on ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views
Why is my blueberry jam grainy?
I recently made and canned blueberry jam for the first time, using this recipe and canning instructions.
I filled all my jars & canned them, but there was a little jam left in the pot. It was a ...
6
votes
2answers
481 views
Stockpot double as beer brewing pot
I wanted to buy a large stockpot for canning tomato sauce and be able to use the same pot for the double purpose of beer brewing. I'm considering Update International Stainless 40 Qt. stockpot. It has ...
6
votes
2answers
149 views
How to determine if canning is safe?
How can I tell if it is safe to can a particular homemade sauce? Is it just a function of pH and technique (pressure vs boiling water) or are there any other factors in play?
Specifically, I would ...
5
votes
3answers
514 views
Does canning stock raise its temperature too high?
I've read that the ideal way to make stock is to:
crack the large bones
place the carcass in a stock pot
cover with water
bring it to a simmer (not a boil) on the stove
place the whole thing in ...
4
votes
2answers
511 views
Is it safe to remove the rings on jars for long-term storage of home-canned goods?
Is it okay to store the canned goods without the ring screwed on it? I know someone who removes the screwed rings off her jars once they're processed and then stores her jars with the seal lids only.
...
4
votes
3answers
889 views
What are the costs to consider when making jam?
I am trying to dertermine what kinds of jam are particularly cost-effective to make at home.
I have been given a few bits of equipment for jam making, and am looking forward to getting started.
We ...
4
votes
1answer
173 views
Canning tomato sauce
I am asking for advice on canning a tomato pasta sauce. It consists of canned tomatoes, butter, and some onions.
I already did a Google search, but the results are contradicting. Some people claim ...
4
votes
2answers
148 views
What can I do if I didn't process my salsa long enough?
I made salsa last week, and processed the jars (quarts) for 20 minutes (may have been 25, I forgot to note exactly when the water started to boil). I got my times mixed up for the salsa and some ...
4
votes
1answer
50 views
Keeping ripe pears for canning later
I picked my pears Labor day weekend like I always do but when I went to can them the following weekend only about 1/4 of them were ripe. Now the rest are all very ripe and there is no way I can get to ...
4
votes
4answers
684 views
Plum preserving/storage method that tastes like plums, not prunes (I just picked 30 lbs)
I just did some neighborhood foraging and picked 30 pounds of red plums. They are delicious, but even I will have trouble eating them all this week.
Last year we made jam/preserves but it ended up ...
4
votes
2answers
361 views
How can I keep my jam from overcooking while I process it?
As we've rolled into fruit season this year I've started canning up some jams using a traditional boiling process in my big stock pot (though I'm getting pretty close to investing in a pressure canner ...
4
votes
1answer
203 views
Can I can bacon?
This question is my wife's. I don't want to save bacon for later.
I have seen commercial canned bacon for long term food storage and camping, etc.
Is it possible to can bacon at home? Does it have ...
4
votes
1answer
146 views
How can I avoid limp strawberries?
When using strawberries to make a preserve (canning process), they become limp and lose colour
Is there a way to avoid this?
4
votes
1answer
957 views
Has anyone had experience canning with “Quattro Stagioni” Jars?
I am in the midst of canning a variety of items that require either boiling water bath processing or pressure canning. I usually use a two part lid and screw band (Ball or Kerr) with jars, but this ...
4
votes
3answers
620 views
Can you safely can homemade caramel/butterscotch syrup?
I've done canning of jams and jellies. I would like to make caramel and butterscotch syrups and jar them to give away, too, but I'm not sure if this is do-able since they contain butter and cream. Can ...
3
votes
1answer
298 views
Hand operated can sealer
Do hand operated can sealing machines work as well as commercial automatic machines in terms of seal quality and storage life?
Keen to give it a go, but can't locate any hand can sealing machines. ...
3
votes
2answers
620 views
Canning in a Pressure Cooker
Well, unfortunately the present my mom got me last Christmas turned out to be a pressure cooker and not a pressure canner. I've read that it is unsafe to can low acid foods using a pressure cooker. ...
3
votes
1answer
65 views
How do you safely bottle or “can” bbq meat drippings?
I want to bottle (and store) about 16 oz of barbcue drippings I captured from cooking brisket.
Do I have to use the "pressure canning" method to can the drippings, or can I just bottle it using the ...
3
votes
2answers
328 views
How do I make shelf stable legume dishes in vacuum bags?
how do I make shelf stable cooked legumes in vacuum sealed bags at home?
2
votes
2answers
181 views
Shelf-life of pressure-canned soups - is it still good?
I am just trying to get a rough idea of how long a pressure canned soup can last. We made turkey soup with thanksgiving leftovers, which we canned. I have it dated from 10-28-2012, so it's a little ...
2
votes
1answer
63 views
How long should I wait until I put new jars in?
Currently canning some banana peppers. I have a large stock pot set up with a 3 jar canning rack. I just finished a round of jars in the stock pot and the water was boiling. How cool should I let the ...
2
votes
1answer
124 views
How to make shelf-stable chocolate milk?
Based on online reading, it seems like decreasing PH to < 4.5 is the way to reduce spore-former activity.
Is it possible to decrease the pH of milk without significantly affecting its taste and ...
2
votes
3answers
5k views
Can I use citric acid instead of lemon juice when canning?
I am making wine jelly and have run out of lemons. I have some citric acid in the pantry. Can I use the citric acid instead? The jelly calls for half a cup of lemon juice. If I can use it, how much ...
2
votes
1answer
122 views
How to take canned beans out of jar?
Is there any method to take canned beans out of the jar without spoiling the beans, as they are kind of sticking on each other?
2
votes
2answers
479 views
Is there a definitive way to know if a tin can is lined with BPA?
Many tin cans are lined with BPA which has been connected with various health issues in various studies.
Is there a way to determine whether a can of food contains BPA lining?
Can the place of ...
1
vote
2answers
716 views
How to make Grape Must
I just bought some grape must - it's a must on spinach salad! I am thinking of turning some of my own homemade concord grape juice into the same. Any advice, other than to reduce by slow boiling? Can ...
0
votes
3answers
103 views
Culinarily Flexible Pepper
I'm planning next years garden, and want to know what the most culinary flexible pepper to plant would be.
I plan on using peppers for canning & chili.
