How to Get Equipment for Canning Fruits and Vegetables at Home

The reason to can fruits and vegetables is to protect them from growing bacteria and molds. In order to properly can fruits and vegetables, you must gather all of the necessary equipment for home canning. Once you learn how to can fruits and vegetables, you can save the garden's summer bounty to use several months from now.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vegetables or fruits
• Water bath canner
• Pressure cooker
• 2-piece ids
• Canning jars
• Canning rack
• Water
• Dish towel

1. Take stock of how many fruits and vegetables you need to can. This will most often depend on how much you have grown or how many fruits and vegetables you've been given from friends and family.

2. Pull out the largest pot you can find in order to process fruits at home in a water bath canner. If you are canning vegetables, you must have a pressure cooker or canner for vegetables.

3. Buy plenty of new lids and reusable canning jars. If using quart jars, you must use a very tall pot. Pint jars only require a smaller pan.

4. Use a metal canning rack, preferably with a handle, inside the pan to set the jars on. You can get an average of seven jars in each home canner.

5. Fill the pan with water about halfway up the jar. Use a timer to keep track of how long your jars are in the pan.

6. Remove the jars from the home canner and set on a dishtowel to cool.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose a pressure cooker/canner for vegetables. This is necessary because of the higher heat needed for killing bacteria in vegetable processing.
• Avoid the temptation to use mayonnaise jars for canning. The glass is too thin to ensure success.
• Throw away any canning jars that have cracks or nicks. Your equipment must be in good condition.

Resources

• Canning Pantry has a multitude of canning equipment choices.