Home Canners

Before beginning the process, Bowen said home-canners should inspect their jars thoroughly for any chips that could hinder possible sealing and don't re-use any old lids. All vegetables should be carefully and thoroughly trimmed, peeled and washed before they are canned to lower the microbial load.

The Mason jar is a mainstay in every zero-waste, plastic-free, home-cooking, tree-hugging household these days. Beloved by hipsters for mixing cocktails and schlepping cappuccinos, by home canners for preserving garden produce, by DIYers and Pinterest fans for organizing and decorating, the Mason ...

At that time Jarden, now Newell, owned Ball and Kerr brands, both longtime makers of the glass jars used by home canners. Wisconsin legislators became part of the trend when they passed the “pickle bill” in 2009, which permits the sale of a limited range of preserved foods processed in a home kitchen.

With harvest season upon us, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently issued important information, through Foodsafety.gov, about the dangers of botulism and the steps home canners should take to prevent the proliferation of toxins in their canned goods. Armed with this knowledge, ...

Michigan State University Extension encourages all home canners to follow current research tested recipes for ingredients and correct processing times. To learn more about safe canning practices contact a Food Safety Extension Educator at MSU Extension or take our on-line Food Preservation Course.

First of all, how many home canners have a way of determining FOR SURE what the pH of the food product they want to can is? Do You? No, really! Do you have a way to measure pH in your HOME KITCHEN? I sincerely doubt it. I also went, just now, to your referenced "expert" site, NCHFP.UGA.edu ...

Experienced home canners know to plan, and then can accordingly. If you don't spread jam on biscuits every morning, then don't preserve enough jam to feed the whole neighborhood. The time investment isn't worth it (although homemade jam with a hand-lettered label and a ribbon tie makes a great all-occasion gift).

This April 8, 2013 photo shows the ingredients for tomato sauce at a field trial nursery in Ventura, Calif. Almost 70 percent of all home canners are growing herbs -- second only to tomatoes -- with about one-third drying or freezing them for later use. Herbs are popular for flavoring sauces, soups, meats, ...