posted
I've been reading a lot lately about canning and from what I've read there are 2 methods - hot water bath and pressure canning. But my grandma didn't use either of those. She taught me to make preserves, jellies, etc. and what she did was warm the jars up in the oven, spoon the preserves in, wipe off the jar tops, put the lid and ring on and sit them on her living room floor. She then covered them with a few towels and left them there. After a while you would hear the POP of the jars sealing. She canned this way all her life and never had any ill effects. Is this an effective way to can veggies? Like I said I only watched her can fruit items. It seems much easier than all the steps in the other methods I've read about.
posted
You need to pressure can veggies (except pickles) and meats. These are low acid foods and need the higer temps produced in a pressure canner to be safe. It really isn't hard to pressure can -- especially with the newer canners. I'll admit to being nervous the first time I used mine, but it was fine.
A pressure canner is a great frugal prep device. I can put up canned soups and meats for much cheaper than I can buy them.
posted
Your grandma's method is called "open kettle" canning and is NOT recommended today for anything. Every jar needs to be processed either in a boiling water bath or a pressure canner, depending on what's in it.
The only veggie that can be processed without a pressure canner is tomatoes, but I pressure can them anyway. Do yourself a big favor and buy the Ball Blue Book - it's cheap and covers everything.
posted
I love these answers! I started out canning as your grandma did,I think most of us old timers did,and was taught to start out canning jams and such.God bless your granny!There's not enough of us out there that still teach these dieing arts to our daughters and grandaughters. 200 years ago women gave their daughters a cup of bread starter as a wedding gift offten it was the same starter that their mother gave them when they married.My grandmother did this for my mother and left her all her canning jars and such when she passed.I on the other had had a mother that did away with all this and became a modern woman of the 1930's.............darn it!So when I started canning I had alot of kids and no money! So I went to yard sales and thrift stores to buy my canning supplies.Just make sure everything is in good shape and no rust,no chips or cracks,always use new lids and rings.On grocery day during this winter pick yourself up something small to help when canning season starts like..........a box of pickling salt...a box of lids and rings.........a canister of fruit fresh,some cheese cloth.Keep an eye open for canning and drying books at yard sales ect.....go to the online and go to the kerr or ball canning jar sites for new canning recipes and info every now and then,and get to know the old ladys in the neighborhood they are walking talking history books that can teach you alot of things you won't find in books or online!It doesn't hurt to BBQ an extra hamburgar or a hot dog for the old lady down the street what goes around comes around. And one day you'll hear your kids say this to a friend.....(what I heard my son say while fixing jelly sandwiches for some friends) "yea my mom drys and cans anything not dead.........and if its not dead mom will shoot it then can it!" Good Luck
quote:Originally posted by jackierawlings: I love these answers! I started out canning as your grandma did,I think most of us old timers did,and was taught to start out canning jams and such.God bless your granny!There's not enough of us out there that still teach these dieing arts to our daughters and grandaughters. 200 years ago women gave their daughters a cup of bread starter as a wedding gift offten it was the same starter that their mother gave them when they married.My grandmother did this for my mother and left her all her canning jars and such when she passed.I on the other had had a mother that did away with all this and became a modern woman of the 1930's.............darn it!So when I started canning I had alot of kids and no money! So I went to yard sales and thrift stores to buy my canning supplies.Just make sure everything is in good shape and no rust,no chips or cracks,always use new lids and rings.On grocery day during this winter pick yourself up something small to help when canning season starts like..........a box of pickling salt...a box of lids and rings.........a canister of fruit fresh,some cheese cloth.Keep an eye open for canning and drying books at yard sales ect.....go to the online and go to the kerr or ball canning jar sites for new canning recipes and info every now and then,and get to know the old ladys in the neighborhood they are walking talking history books that can teach you alot of things you won't find in books or online!It doesn't hurt to BBQ an extra hamburgar or a hot dog for the old lady down the street what goes around comes around. And one day you'll hear your kids say this to a friend.....(what I heard my son say while fixing jelly sandwiches for some friends) "yea my mom drys and cans anything not dead.........and if its not dead mom will shoot it then can it!" Good Luck
Now that right there is the answer I, personaly, have been "looking" for. Thank you so much for that gem of wisdom.
posted
It truly is a dying art. When my grandfather died, everyone was fighting over his meager worldly possessions. I slipped in and took all of th brunswic stew, vegetables, and fruits he had canned, as well as his beat-up pots and pans. I have great memories of cooking with him. He ran a chow hall for years in the army, and was the greatest backwoods scholar I ever knew. Point is, pass this skill down to at least one person. Good stuff to know.
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