How to Avoid Injuries When Canning

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By wearmanyhats
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Avoid Injuries When Canning

Learning to can produce is a great way to lower your food bills and save money. However, accidents in the kitchen can cause problems that can last for years. Here are some simple tips to keep you safe so canning those foods can be a rewarding experience.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Shoes
Apron
jar tongs
magnet lid lifter
hand oven mitts

Step 1

Dress properly. Always wear shoes and clothing when canning food. It may sound a little odd, but in a hot kitchen, it is tempting to do without those items. Don't do it. The biggest risk to your body is burns and they are absolutely preventable. Shoes will protect the feet from scalding water that splashes on them; clothing helps prevent steam burns. An apron adds extra layers.
Step 2

When lifting a canner lid to check the amount of boiling action, always lift the lid handle toward you, shielding your face with the cold, handle side. This should keep a cold lid cover between you and the steam that is sure to rise out of the boiling water. Steam burns are frequent because people just don't remember how they can happen so easily.
Step 3

When using a pressure cooker, be sure to check the seals before starting. Are they cracked? Is the lid on correctly once you start? Be sure to follow the manufacturer's directions. Never open the lid just after you turned off the heat, nor during a fast cool down stage. The steam will scald you quickly and unlocking the lid too quickly can actually be quite dangerous. The pressure can cause the lid to pop off violently and the steam to act unpredictably. Be sure you have read how to use a pressure cooker correctly before just using it, and train yourself to think twice about your actions when you do use it.
Step 4

Besides scalding and burns, cuts are the other most common safety issues when canning. Be sure your knife is sharp when chopping fruits or vegetables, and always cut away from your body. Use a cutting board if you are chopping quite a bit of material. Another way of getting cut is when you go to remove a glass jar from the hot water bath, and it has broken. It's best to use a jar tongs when removing jars from water, whether they are whole or broken. Dealing with glass requires extra caution.