Pressure Canner/Cooker and other canning equipment

[Andra]

I need advice about what type of pressure canner to buy. I've planted a ton of veggies for the summer and I really want to learn to can them this year instead of freezing some and giving most away. I've browsed prices online and it seems like they run $60-70 for a cheap one. Can anyone give me pointers on the different types/brands and sizes out there? Where can I get the best deal on the equipment I need (jars, lids, etc)? I'm clueless about canning. Thanks!

[CoveredinGrace]

I just bought a pressure canner (I already had a water bath canner) myself. Presto is a good brand, and Amazon is the best place to compare prices and get reviews. In my case it was also the cheapest with free shipping. You don't want to get anything smaller than 23 quart if you plan on using it for canning, and you really want it to say "pressure canner" not just pressure cooker.
If you don't own a water bath canner already, the ONLY place to get coupons on jars, lids, and other things you'll need to can with is in the Ball Canning Kit. It comes with a Ball Blue book (a great book on how to can with recipes and pictures), all the fun equipment, and a 23 qt. water bath canner, and it's not too expensive. You can only can acidic things (basically fruit) in a water bath canner, and need a pressure canner for anything like veggies or meat or soups.

I find that jars can be found for free or cheap on freecycle or craigslist when it is NOT canning season or older neighbors or little old ladies at church may have some old jars to give you since they stopped canning. You ALWAYS have to buy new lids, and you always have to sterilize the jars before use. Lids are cheaper than jars, though, so it's good to get old jars (that don't have any cracks or nicks in them) and just pay for lids.

The cheapest place to get lids and jars is usually your local hardware store, believe it or not.

Check out your county's local extension office, they usually offer free canning classes, and can provide you with safety information. That's all that comes to mind for me right now, but I know I'm missing some stuff.

[Andra]

Thank you CoveredinGrace! That's very helpful. I haven't even canned with the water bath method. I was thinking about canning mostly tomatoes or salsa (I have bell peppers, tomatoes and jalepenos planted). So, if I just do tomatoes/salsa it sounds like I don't need the more expensive pressure canner? Should I just start out with the Ball canning kit to see how much canning I do?

[CoveredinGrace]

I personally find water bath canning to be easier and cheaper, and Ball says that salsas and tomatoes are okay to can using water bath methods, so if you aren't planning on canning green beans, peas, corn, carrots, chicken, beef, etc., then I think you'd be okay using the water bath canner. The Ball Blue book will tell you what is safe and what isn't with each method, just be sure to follow it, b/c not following instructions exactly can be really dangerous-you could end up with botulism if you don't can correctly. That said, it's really not that hard, and I consider it a fairly safe activity as long as you follow recipes exactly and use the right canner for the job.

I started with jams and jellies, and jellies are the EASIEST thing in the world if you use fruit juice (like Juicy Juice) to make it. They are a great thing to try out as a first project to get you used to canning properly. Again, if you are going the water bath canner to start (likely after a while you'll find you want to do more types of canning, but water bath canning is a great start), then I would purchase the Ball Canning Set that includes the large water bath canner, the book, the tools, the coupons, etc. I got one for a friend not too long ago on Amazon.

[Andra]

Thanks again! Now you got me thinking about just doing water bath canning first.

[MrsPinecone]

I started out canning last summer. I made several different jams and jellies, and a batch of salsa. I just used the water bath.

I get canning jars free (from my mom's friends who had them lying around) or cheap (unopened boxes at yard sales for $1-3). I paid $8 for the jar lifter, etc at Walmart. I used my stock pot for canning until I decided I want to keep up with it.

I plan to go nuts this year.

[Genevieve]

In addition to the Ball Blue book, you should consider consujlting with your Home Demonstration agent (or what ever they are know as, now) at the USDA. The reason being, some of the growers have put low acid tomatoes on the market. Perhaps these would not work with the water bath idea. Yes, I know, I used the water bath method for years without a problem, but . . . why take a chance.

[CoveredinGrace]

In addition to the Ball Blue book, you should consider consujlting with your Home Demonstration agent (or what ever they are know as, now) at the USDA. The reason being, some of the growers have put low acid tomatoes on the market. Perhaps these would not work with the water bath idea. Yes, I know, I used the water bath method for years without a problem, but . . . why take a chance.

That's true, but I believe the new Ball book accounts for this and has you add some acid in the form of lemon juice to counteract the low-acid tomatoes. I could be wrong, b/c we don't really eat tomatoes, and am just going from memory on this, but I *think* the new book covers that. That's why it is essential to get the newest available Ball book if you are using it as your source of info and not an older version. You are right about consulting the USDA, though I think that's what the county extension office is now for.

[Andra]

Good ideas, everyone! Reps to you all. I've pretty much decided to get a water bath kit when my tomato plants have grown a little more and I'm sure I will have a big yield. This is my first year trying to grow tomatoes from seed starting out in a container garden. I have about 10 plants right now that are about two inches tall. I plan to transfer to homemade upside down planters once they get bigger. I also have cucumber, squash, and peppers. I think we can eat enough cucumber and squash that I won't want to can them anyway.

In case anyone else wants to share their experiences with canning.

[nmeadows0101]

does anyone blog or anything about their canning/ freezing?
I am going to attempt to do some this yr. I have several things saved to fav. to see how people are canning.