Tips for Canning Your Summer Vegetables

Maybe your summer garden produced more than expected or you found a great deal on some fresh vegetables and now you do not know what to do with it. Canning the vegetables is the perfect solution.

When it comes to canning vegetables, it is easier than most people think. The basic premise behind the process is to heat the vegetables to a certain temperature to make sure any of the germs are killed and to protect it from spoiling. The heat does double duty, by forcing the air to leave the jar and sealing it shut as it cools off.

To start off canning vegetables you will need the following items.

Pressure Canner - This is the center piece of your canning experience and comes with all sorts of bells and whistles thanks to modern technology. Makes sure you shop around and find one that fits your needs. Over the years, these have become more readily available, especially in the big box stores like Wal-Mart.

Canning Jars - You can decide to purchase new canning jars by the dozen or scour the garage sales to pick up where others have left off. Either way, you want to make sure you have plenty of canning jars before you start because you do not want to run out in the middle of the process.

Lids & Bands - The finishing touch for your canned vegetables to make sure it stays vacuum sealed. It is important to note, while some people tend to reuse lids to save a few extra bucks, you run the risk of having a break in the seal.

Canning Salt - If you would like to add some flavor to your vegetables, make sure to add a small amount of canning salt. Do not use any other types of salt because it will help break down your canned vegetables and make them soggy.

There are several things you need to remember through the process of canning vegetables.

Make sure to follow the operator's manual when it comes to the pressure canner. The last thing you need to do is to try an wing it because there may be an easier way.

Always leave some space when you are filling your jar. This way your vegetable will be able to expand when it is cooking.

Remove any air bubbles from the food before you seal it. Though the bubbles will not cause the food to spoil, the full flavoring may not be able to cover it completely.

Thoroughly check out the rims on the jars and the seals and gauge on the pressure canner. The last thing you need is to have a weak spot in the seal or gasket, which will cause the canned vegetables to spoil.

While some people say the only way to can vegetables is to you some canning salt and nothing else, there are those who want to push the envelope. You can find a variety of recipes for canning vegetables and everything else at websites like http://www.canning-food-recipes.com/ or http://www.mountain-breeze.com/kitchen/canning/.

Resources

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