Not everyone enjoys canning . . I understand that so this post is not to try to convince everyone they should be canning. This post is for those who have thought about canning but have never decided to go for it.
Besides the face that I enjoy the process of canning, the two main reasons I can are these:
Having Shelf Stable Food:
When the power goes out, what’s the first thing you think about? Assuming you don’t have medical devices that require electricity, I think the first thing most of us think about is “How long will the food in the freezers last?” There are some of us who will always have food in the freezer. Will I have ice cream, a few bags of frozen veggies, a package of Sister Schubert rolls, and a bag of chicken nuggets in the freezer or will I have 4 chuck roasts, 20 pounds of ground beef, 2 round steaks, 5 packs of chicken breasts and a couple of packages of rib eye steaks in my freezer?
If I can those chuck roasts, at least half of the ground beef, the round steaks, most of the chicken breasts, that’s a whole lot less meat in the freezer for me to have to think about.
I try to keep enough empty jars on hand that I could can most of what’s in the freezer as it began to defrost of the power was out for an extended time. I would never can ALL of the ground beef, nor would I can steaks UNLESS the power was out and there was a chance I would lose them.
East of Use/Meals in a Jar:
Yesterday was a great example of the benefit of having food in jars. We had a late lunch and hadn’t planned on having dinner. About 4:00, Vince said “Are we going to eat anything else today? I’m kinda hungry!” I was too so I told him I had split pea soup in jars. It had lots of carrots and ham and he loves split pea soup. I opened a jar, heated it up, fixed toasted cheese sandwiches and it was great. One jar, a couple of bowls and spoons to stick in the dishwasher and one skillet to wipe clean.
Roast that has been canned is fork tender. If someone showed up to eat, all I’d have to do is heat up a jar of the beef, or two jars, thicken the gravy, make mashed potatoes or rice, add a veggie and a salad and dinner would be ready.
One of my favorite meals in jars is red beans and meat. I always have that on hand. Cook a pot of rice, make cornbread and open a jar of canned coleslaw.
The day I made the split pea soup, I made 14 quarts. I always try to make 14 quarts because that’s a full canner load. It’s hard to be that exact so I aim to have a bit more and what’s left that doesn’t fit in the jars will become a meal in the next day or so.
Those are the two main reasons I can. Other reasons include having food to share with Chad and his family, food to take on trips. Say we rent a cabin and I don’t want to take all the spices and herbs with me but we don’t want to eat out every meal . . bring a few jars of food so all we have to do is heat them and have a good home cooked meal!
Maybe it’s because my grandma always had canned goods in the pantry and that’s how they lived but I can’t imagine not having a pantry of canned foods.
Julie says
I have wanted to can for years, but my mother-in-law always said “oh you’ll kill us all.” So, not really knowing how to do it and not wanting to “kill us all,” I just never have tried it.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I haven’t killed anyone yet with my canning – at least not that I know of. 🙂
Dottie says
I always love being able to have a supply of food that I’ve canned and am always sad when I use the last jar, LOL.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I’m not sure I’ll ever open the last jar! I always seem to be canning something and on the things we really love, I try to make sure I make another batch before one is gone but, probably at some point, I will not be canning as much as I do these days.
Cilla says
I can because my grandma did and taught me. I feel her. I feel her and my dad while in my garden. It’s reconnecting. It’s a way of life.
Paula Nordt says
So, if I have never canned and don’t have anyone to tutor me, but I want to learn….. Best, but least expensive way to get started with equipment and learn?
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I’ll send you an email.
Julie says
I would love to know as well.
Rebecca Muir MacKellar says
I do can and I am glad that I am done for the season, the applesauce is always the last to do and I am happy.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I can all year. Soups, stews, chili, ground beef out of the freezer. It isn’t as intense as it is when the garden or fruit trees are producing and you have to do it non-stop in order to keep up. The canners I use most stay on the stove downstairs.
Pam Thorne says
I have just started canning meat. Used a pint of chicken for taco soup and it was delicious! Bought a roast today and just took it out of the canner. Can’t wait to pick up another couple as they are on sale this week.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Good for you!
Kellie says
Hi Judy,
I water bath can, but I haven’t pressure canned. I keep reading that you have to have the gauge on your canner checked every year but in Australia I don’t know if we would have any way to get the gauges checked. Is it true that you have to have them checked? Is there certain brands or models that don’t need checking? I have been really wanting to buy a pressure canner but have been putting it off as I am unsure what model to get. Pressure canning in Australia is not common so I haven’t had anyone local to discuss this with. I hope you are both well.
Kind regards
Kellie
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I’ve read the same thing but have never lived where the county extension office offered that service. In fact, every where I’ve lived, I’ve called and the person acted like I was asking them to perform brain surgery. They didn’t have a clue what I was requesting.
I use the All American that have the weighted jiggler, as well as the dial gauge so, I guess I can kinda check my own. Even the Presto canners have a jiggler so once you know the sound the jiggler makes at the appropriate pressure, you should be safe.
Most canners have replacement gauges that are not terribly expensive so if I had a canner that only had a dial gauge, I would probably just replace the gauge every few years.
I wish there were more places even here in the U.S. to get those gauges tested.