School me on canning

[usmcveteran]

So I want to get into canning and have no clue where to start or what you can and can't can (like the wording there) lol.

I have seen the jars and lids and the grabber to take it out of the hot water and a funnel thing
Are those the only things I need in order to can?

Can you can things other then jams and jellies ?

[Sailor Jerry]

first and only time I did it was for pickles, followed directions from a canning guide by ball. my very basic understanding is foods with natural acids like tomatoes, pickles kraut can be canned using the water bath method.Less acidic foods, meats etc require a pressure canner which operates at a higher temperature and under pressure to kill any bacteria that is naturally in the food, wanted to get back into it, time is my enemy....

[Cgrutt]

^^^ and they were awesome. Sailor Jerry is a pretty good cook BTW. Esp. for large groups...

Hmmm, got me thinking about renting out Blackrock for a NYSG spring shin dig....

[tdpark]

Get a good size pressure canner with a pressure guage. Then get a book with a bunch of canning info - Ball makes a nice book with recipes and times and gives a good run down on the principles of how to do it. You can pretty much can anything. All American makes really good heavy duty ones- Fruits and high acid stuff can be done in a water bath but everything else needs to be done in a pressure canner.

[usmcveteran]

Thanks for the low down on a place to start.

[Meketrefe]

Define canning... LOL

[masterswimmer]

USMC, please reconsider. It is a barbaric punishment

[catskillkid]

Look into taking a class at your local County Extension Office. They'll give you the basics and some hands on experience. They basically teach what Sailor Jerry mentioned. Also recommend getting a good book. Think of it like reloading. The right equipment is important just as much as the knowledge of how to do it. If you're in or near Ulster County they have them regularly:

[Guest]

Google is my answer to everything and anything the past 15 or so years. Up to the second u can get directions, newest techniques, videos of exactness, better then any book in my view. And i do say, that goes for anything and everything

[usmcveteran]

Thanks, will look into any classes in Monroe County area.

How long does canned stuff last?

[Jackalope]

I've used pickles for at least a year and I've eaten items over three years old, it depends upon a lot of variables, like what was canned, at what temperature was it stored, out of sunlight, etc. There's lots of good suggestions in the above posts. The Ball Blue Book is one of the best resources you can buy, and the book is inexpensive. I'd recommend the American pressure cooker too, because it doesn't use gaskets, so it can last a lifetime. I use a turkey fryer propane burner to heat up my canner. I usually do my canning outdoors, and the project usually ends up to being an all afternoon affair. It's a great feeling to look at canned jars, knowing you did it yourself.

[Meketrefe]

Not Canning but FYI...... today I just boiled some ham bone legs and feet and made the concentrate stock that I put in the freezer.
this is amazing to give flavor to soups and other dishes.There is a lot of cartrilage and after 2hrs it amost melts the bones.
So the stock is really concentrate and it just solidifies like butter. So all you need is a tablespoon to give flavor to other dishes.
This is all natural w/o processing vs. the garbage they sell as the store.

[nortatoga]

I just got that Power Pressure Cooker XL it came with a booklet on canning, may look into canning myself! So far a friend of mine used and she made Corned beef for outrageous reubens we had at the her bar last Sunday

[usmcveteran]

I think I'm going to buy that book and read it then start!

Have to get a garden going as well.