For those of you who don’t know what canning is, it’s the method of preserving food in jars at elevated temperatures for a prolonged period of time, killing microorganisms and inactivating enzymes that could cause food to spoil. Canning takes place throughout the year. However, certain products can only be canned during specific seasons. Some foods that are commonly canned are corn, corn cob, jelly, green beans, shell peas, crushed tomatoes, spaghetti sauce, cream-style corn, and much more. It’s important to be prepared when the canning season comes. So here are some materials you will need and a few tips to help you get started.

     Here are a couple of home canning methods: water bath canning and pressure canning. Water bath canning is a lower-temperature canning process, ideal for high-acid foods and recipes that incorporate the correct measure of acid. Pressure canning is a high-temperature method needed to safely preserve low-acid foods and is recommended more for meats, poultry, vegetables, chili, and seafood. Here is a list of things you will need to can at home:

Tongs: Tongs help to pick up hot jars and safely take them out of hot water after processing. Our Traeger BBQ Tongs would work just perfectly!

Ladle: A ladle helps to put food into canning jars. Our Melissa & Doug Stir & Serve Cooking Utensils Kit contains a ladle and other utensils that would be very useful during the canning process. 

A funnel:  One of our funnels designed specifically for canning purposes is the Norpro Plastic Canning Funnel. A wide-mouth funnel has a larger opening to fit jars. It prevents messes and helps keep the rims of your jars clean. One of the best funnels we carry is the  RCBS Powder Funnel 17-20 Caliber. However, you aren't limited to just wide-mouth funnels. If you are more comfortable working with one with a longer neck, the Funnel King Universal 6 Ounce funnel is highly suggested. It works equally as well as the wide-mouth one. The Funnel King Universal covers a wide range of applications, is chemical resistant, and the extended neck prevents splashing. 

Canning jars and seals: Use glass mason jars with sealed lids. Ball mason jars are highly suggested. We have a large selection to choose from. Most of them come in a case of 12. We carry the Ball Regular Mouth Decorative Canning Jar which comes in a case of 12 as well as the Wide Mouth Mason Canning Jar if you prefer wide mouth over regular. We also have Anchor Hocking 1/2 Pint Home Canning Jars with Metal lids. This is a set of 12 "1/2" pint capacity canning jars with metal lids and rings. These anchor glass canning jars feature thick side walls for added durability and a threaded, regular-mouth opening for ease of access. These jars are dishwasher safe, however, hand-washing is recommended for the metal lid and ring. If you have jars and just need lids and bands we carry those as well (Country Classics Regular Mouth-Lids 12 pack - bands not included or Country Classics 12-pack regular mouth lids & bands).

Large pot or water-bath canner: If you are focusing on fruits, jams, jellies, pickles, and salsa, a water-bath canner or large pot will work great. The Colombian home granite ware F0707-3 Steel Canner 21.5 will suffice. 

     Things such as fruits, tomatoes, vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood, jams, jellies, pickles, and fermented vegetables can easily be canned at home. The best way to get the most out of homemade canning is to use fresh produce so that they are in peak condition, make sure you know when to use a boiling water bath or pressure canner, fill the jars while they are still hot, listen for popping sounds, and make sure you do not overfill your jars.

     A few extra things you may want to purchase to make the canning process as easy and effective as possible are a chopstick or wooden skewer (Mr. Bar-B-Q Bamboo Paddle Skewers) to help get the air bubbles out, a jar lifter to help you lift the jars, a towel to set down the jars when you are ready to remove them from the pot, and a cooler to store your jars. As the National Center for Home Food Preservation recommends, you should store the jars in a cool, dry, dark place for up to 1 year. Cloths would be a useful purchase, so you can properly wipe and clean the rims before screwing on the lids. Steam canners such as the CanCooker Companion 1.5 Gallon Steam Cooker are necessary when using the atmospheric steam canning method. For an effective outcome, the steam canner must have the air vented out with pure steam before the processing time can begin. After you have completed the canning process with whichever method you choose, clean the jars and area with Superclean foaming degreaser and a sponge. The Acme cleaning sponge is an ideal choice.

     Hopefully, you have some insight on canning and how to prepare. Big R has you covered when it comes to supplies! Shop now before the season begins!