Do you can?

United States
May 26, 2008 7:16am CST
We are going to start canning again. We will use the produce from our garden and we will also be getting produce from the farmers market and if there are sales at the stores. I think it is smart to put away food for later. We will have loads of tomatoes so we are going to make homemade ketchup, spagetti sauce, pizza sauce and just plain tomatoes. Do you can?
5 responses
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
26 May 08
I lived in MN a few years ago and had the space for a good sized garden, so I was able to put up quite a few jars of bread n butter pickles. We had enough tomatoes to eat, but not much more to do anything else with, although I think I put up a jar or two of salsa. I froze plenty of squash and green beans too. They are so much better than what you get out of a can from the store. I think I had enough bell peppers freeze a few of those too, but mostly used them in daily cooking. I wish I had the space for a proper garden now. The things I have growing in containers will probably provide enough for what we're eating now, but not to put up for later. I don't have any of my canning equipment anymore either, so it would be quite an investment to start over.
2 people like this
• United States
26 May 08
We have our pressure canner and stuff already just need to get a water bath canner. We do container gardening cause the sand here is not good to grow in lol. We have about 8 tomato plants. a big pot of cucumbers, a pot of squash, pole beans, peppers (hot as heck little suckers), onions, beets, blueberries and strawberries.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
26 May 08
A bit sweeter pickle (but not really sweet), and not dill. Here's probably a better definition: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-bread-and-butter-pickles.htm
1 person likes this
@GreenMoo (11834)
26 May 08
What's a bread and butter pickle?
1 person likes this
@tbomb2002 (269)
• United States
29 May 08
I have never canned anything in my life. I do remember my mother doing it though when I was young, and it seemed like a LOT of work. Although I think it might be a good idea, I'm just not so sure I am organized enough to take on a big project like that. Plus, I think I would be afraid that since I never did it before and don't have any supplies that it could get quite costly for me, especially if I didn't do it right. Just curious too, exactly how long would something you canned last before it went bad? I've heard of people keeping canned goods for years, but that just seems so gross to me.
• United States
29 May 08
On average most things will last atleast two years, if they are pressure canned. Yeah the initial outlay is a bit expensive but after you have your pressure canner and hot water canner and some jars then it is less, just buying flats and the occasional set of jars after you get your canners. I just got a hot water canner today and it was $19.00 and came with the rack. My pressure canner was significantly more than that when I got it 6 years ago.
• United States
30 May 08
It varies with each food. As foods preserved by water canning are high acid foods (pickles,pickled fruits and vegitables, fruits, and tomatoes) most last 6 months to a year possibly longer.
• United States
30 May 08
So 2 years for the pressure canning...how long will food last with just the water canning?
1 person likes this
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
27 May 08
I have done tomato juice, but if my garden does good, I will do more this year. The prices are getting so out of hand, we almost have to.
1 person likes this
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
28 Jul 08
I do, and have for years. I grew up on the farm and we raised a huge garden and had an orchard, and everything got canned or put in the freezer for winter. As kids, we would complain about having to help prepare the fruit or vegetables and you could count on my grandmother ALWAYS saying, "You'll be glad that we did this when the snow is blowing this winter!"
@GreenMoo (11834)
26 May 08
I preserve as much food as I possibly can, though my favourite method is drying as it requires the least energy to do and little space to store. I bottled loads of tomato sauces last year, plus figs, cherries, pickles, jams and chutneys. I'd really love a pressure canner, but they are very difficult to buy outside American.
• United States
26 May 08
Hard to find them inside the states also lol. We have one it was hard to find one 7 years ago when we bought it. We are going to be buying a water bath canner this tuesday. We also make preserves and jams from our asian plum tree and fig tree. If we can find fruit and berries at a good price we will make jams and jellies from them too. I have a food dehydrator I use also to preserve our food.
1 person likes this
@GreenMoo (11834)
26 May 08
Really? they're hard to find in the States too? That's weird, because all the ones I find on the net are in the US. Shipping one to me would cost an arm and a leg, and most of the companies won't ship outside of the US and Canada I have a food dehydrator too, but normally I just use the sun or pop things on a tray on top of our wood burner.
1 person likes this
• United States
26 May 08
They are hard to find locally I should say. I haven't tried to buy one on the internet. I love ours that we bought 7 years ago it is a nice canner. I am getting our water bath canner on tuesday and going to can something real soon.
1 person likes this