Home Canning Guide

There has been a resurgence of home canning in recent years. Whether brought on by the increase in awareness of organic foods, the desire to live more economically, or the need to preserve the bounty of the home garden harvest, learning how to preserve foods by home canning is a growing trend throughout our country.

If you are trying home canning for the first time or just need a great reference guide, the United States Department of Agriculture offers a Complete Guide To Home Canning.

This on-line resource will steer you through every step of the home canning experience. It is divided into seven sections that will coach the home canning novice on principles of canning as well as selecting, preparing and canning anything and everything that you want to preserve.

Below is what you'll find in the USDA's guide. At the bottom of this overview is a link to download the complete canning guide:

Guide 1: Principles of Home Canning

Even if you are an experienced home canner, this is a valuable resource that you don't want to miss. This lengthy guide to home canning covers the basics of canning including: a lesson in how canning actually preserves foods, how to safely can foods, jar and lid supplies, different varieties and recommendations for canners, how to test jar seals, identifying and handling spoiled foods, and proper storage of home canned goods.

Guide 2: Selecting, Preparing, and Canning Fruit & Fruit Products

This guide will take you through every aspect of canning fruit including preparing and using fruit syrups that will help fruit retain its natural color and flavor. Canning methods for fruit slices, whole berries, applesauce, citrus fruits, mixed fruits, fruit salsas and fruit pie fillings are also included.

Guide 3: Selecting, Preparing, and Canning Tomatoes & Tomato Products

For the gardener with a large tomato harvest, this guide will help you preserve a large variety of tomato products. You will find great advice and helpful tips for canning tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, tomato juice, ketchup and tomato salsas.

Guide 4: Selecting, Preparing, and Canning Vegetables and Vegetable Products

This guide will show you how to prepare and preserve over twenty varieties of vegetables.

Guide 5: Preparing and Canning Poultry, Red Meats, and Seafoods

Learn how to safely can a variety of meat, poultry, seafood as well as meat based stocks.

Guide 6: Preparing and Canning Fermented Foods and Pickled Vegetables

This is a great reference tool for learning how to make pickles. Information includes choosing suitable containers for fermenting foods, salts used in pickling, as well as recipes and directions for canning cucumber pickles, other vegetable pickles and vegetable relishes.

Guide 7: Preparing and Canning Jams and Jellies

This section will guide you through the art of canning jams and jellies with and without added pectin as well as providing recipes and directions on making reduced sugar fruit spreads.

When shopping for all the tools and equipment for your home canning project, look no further than your local Southern States store.