Getting ready for canning season
If you are planning on canning food at home this season, now is the time to plan ahead and prepare. Get your equipment and supplies out and inspect them so you are ready when the produce is. Proper equipment, in good condition, is required for safe, highquality home-canned food.
Pressure Canners
A pressure canner is essential for canning low-acid vegetables, meats, fish, and poultry. There are two basic types of pressure canners, one has a metal weighted gauge and the other has a dial gauge to indicate the pressure inside the canner. It is important to have the dial gauge tested every year. Call the Saline County Extension Office at 501-303-5672 or email kboulton@uada.edu to schedule a test of your dial pressure gauge.
An important note about pressure canning in electric Multi-cookers (such as Instant Pot):
Even if there are instructions for pressure canning in the manufacturer’s directions, USDA does not support the use of USDA canning processes in the electric, multi-cooker appliances with “canning” or “steam canning” buttons on their front panels. USDA pressure process directions have not been developed for that type of appliance. Our recommendations were determined for stovetop pressure canners which hold four or more quart-size jars standing upright.
Boiling Water Canner
A boiling water canner is needed for canning other foods such as fruits, pickles, jellies, and jams. The canner should be deep enough to allow at least one or two inches of water above the tops of the jars. A boiling water canner should have a flat bottom, so that it fits nicely on the stove top, and a tight-fitting lid. Both types of canners should have a rack in the bottom to raise jars off the bottom of the canner.
Use Standard Canning Jars
Use only standard tempered glass home canning jars, do not use mayonnaise or pickle jars. Check to make sure jars are not chipped or cracked. Always use 2-piece lids; it is recommended to purchase lids new each year (the sealing compound will break down in storage) and sort through screw bands to make sure they are not rusted. It’s fine to reuse canning jars, as long as they are not chipped or cracked.
Garage sales can be a great place to locate used canning jars, just make sure they are designed for canning. Other items that come in handy for home canning include jar fillers, tongs, air bubble removers, and lid wands.
Use Current Canning Instructions and Recipes It is highly recommended to use up-to-date canning instructions and recipes. Grandma’s favorite recipe or a recipe that is all over the internet are not good resources for reliable safe recipes. If the resource is older than 1994 consider it to be outdated and not following the most updated recommendations for safety.
Sources for reliable information, in addition to the County Extension Office, are the website for the National Center for Home Food Preservation www.uga.edu/nchfp/. The latest edition of So Easy to Preserve, a publication of approved recipes and detailed instructions for home food preservation is available at the Extension Office.
Another reliable book is the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning, also available online for free download at https://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/publications_usda.html. Current editions of books and publications from manufacturers of major canning supplies such as the Ball Blue Book published after 1994 are also reliable.
Planning ahead can save you time, money, and frustration with home canning. Make it a happy, safe, and successful canning season by getting prepared before your harvest is ready.
Recipe of the Week
Spring reunions and family fun times are being scheduled. Here is a great Pimento Cheese recipe for a potluck or luncheon. You can serve with crackers or make into a tasty sandwich.
1-½ cups mayonnaise
1 teaspoon dehydrated onions
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon red pepper
1 cup toasted almonds
2 cups shredded mild Cheddar cheese
1 (4 oz.) jar of chopped pimento
Combine the first 4 ingredients together. Add in the almonds, cheese, and pimento. Mix well. Chill before serving. Serve with your favorite crackers or bread.