Pressure Canner/Cooker and other canning equipment

[CW&M Mom]

I have mostly just gotten my jars free or near free from freecycle, family and craigs list and yard sales. The only time I have bought some...are after canning season when they are on clearance.

I've found lids and rings at walmart and Ace....rings if you keep them rust free last a long time.

I've done tomatoes, apricots, peaches, applesauce (need a good victorian strainer for that one), grape juice and jams. I've also done pears..but find them a HUGE PITA to do and would not recommend canning them unless you like to torture yourself LOL. easier to buy them.

For Jams I do Strawberry and raspberry but I add peaches or apricots to the raspberry to make it less gritty.

[momto8kiddos]

If you don't mind getting used jars and/or equipment, try some local churches, especially those which have lots of older folks. One of the churches I contacted placed an announcement in their worship service program explaining that a local mom (of 10) wanted to start canning but needed jars. I ended up with about 20 boxes worth, not to mention several canners, lids, labels, etc. I wished I would have gotten a list of those who donated or at least the number of donaters so that I could have gone back after the summer and brought them each a jar of homemade canned goods as a thank-you.

Also, you should realize that a pressure cooker is different from a pressure canner at least in strenth. The pressure canner is more heavy duty and built to withstand pressure for longer periods of time. If you use a pressure cooker to can you may find it actually explodes. And that could ruin your whole day.