Many people will be home canning for the first time this season because more people grew their own produce this year due to the slow economy. If you are new to canning, here are 3 things you must know before you start.
1. Always use brand new lids - You will want to make sure you always buy new lids when you are canning. You will not want to reuse lids as they will not properly seal your canning jars. You can reuse canning jars and bands from year to year. Just make sure you always check the jars for any cracks or chips, especially around the rim. If a chip in on the rim of the jar you will not get a proper seal of your canned goods.
Pressure Canner
2. Always follow the recipe and instructions - Canning is very easy and safe as long as you follow the recipe and the instructions. If you adjust the amount of sugar in a jam or jelly recipe for instance, you may not get it to gel properly. More importantly, you will always make sure you process your canning jars for the proper amount of time. Remember to adjust the processing time based on your elevation.
3. Always Use the Proper Canning Methods - You will also want to ensure you process low acid foods using a pressure canner. Never process foods such as meats and most vegetables using the boiling water canning method. For safety's sake always process foods using the proper canning method for the recommended time.
So, as you can see, these are three things you need to know before you start home canning. They will ensure you have a beautiful and safe end product.
