Pressure Canning?

wolfpack65

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Anyone do this as a means to preserve food?

I grew up on a farm where we had 2 very large hen houses for eggs/food, cattle, hogs, huge garden.
We lived off of that stuff all year, supplementing as needed with "stuff" from the grocery stores.

So, I grew up canning, freezing, smoking meats, etc.

I can now - green beans, pickled okra, tomatoes, homemade vegetable soup, pepper jelly, meats (chicken breast, thighs, pork, breakfast sausage, etc), anything I can pressure can, I will.
Never know when you might not have power and then your freezer full of food, goes bad.
My canned goods are still looking & tasting good, 4 yr later.

I'll be firing it up this summer for more veggies and anything else I can get my hands on.

Who else cans???
 
We pressure can as well, mostly garden veggies and deer meat. Neither of us grew up canning but have learned since being married.
 
Get a copy of the "ball blue book" the have recipe for everything. I can meats, veggies, soups, chili, spaghetti sauce. If you can shove it into a jar, you can "can" it.
It is not hard, just time consuming, it is a true labor of love.
 
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Firemedic54 said:
Get a copy of the "ball blue book" the have recipe for everything. I can meats, veggies, soups, chili, spaghetti sauce. If you can shove it into a jar, you can "can" it.
It is not hard, just time consuming, it is a true labor of love.
Truth ^
 
Tailhunter said:
I need lessons, please.
LOL...any of my friends who ask for "lessons" or help, invariably never do anything. I tell them to buy some boneless skinless chicken thighs when on a good sale. Easy to can. Will bring canner to their house, but guess they really aren't interested other than getting some free food. IDK.
 
Firemedic54;n38848 said:
Get a copy of the "ball blue book" the have recipe for everything. I can meats, veggies, soups, chili, spaghetti sauce. If you can shove it into a jar, you can "can" it.
It is not hard, just time consuming, it is a true labor of love.

Think about getting a subscription to Backwoods Home magazine, too. Jackie Clay-Atkinson writes the food/canning sections and really knows her stuff.

We have two pressure canners and have put up green beans, potatoes, cabbage, sweet potatoes, vegetable soup, strawberry jam, blackberry jam, tomatoes, and a bunch of other stuff that I can't remember right now.
 
Firemedic54 said:
Get a copy of the "ball blue book" the have recipe for everything. I can meats, veggies, soups, chili, spaghetti sauce. If you can shove it into a jar, you can "can" it.
It is not hard, just time consuming, it is a true labor of love.
I have my very old copy of this.

Yes, if you can shove it into a jar, it's pretty much cannable. Very time consuming as you state. But, well worth it - my green beans taste WAY better than that store bought stuff.
 
Tailhunter said:
I need lessons, please.
Well, that's what I thought I was gonna do when a friend asked me if I wanted "some" deer. Turned out to be a WHOLE FREAKING DEER and I had to get it processed.

Iv'e read that as long as deer or any other meat is thawed in the fridge, and not at room temp, you can then pressure can it.
I will be trying this sometime soon.
 
Firemedic54 said:
Get a copy of the "ball blue book" the have recipe for everything. I can meats, veggies, soups, chili, spaghetti sauce. If you can shove it into a jar, you can "can" it.
It is not hard, just time consuming, it is a true labor of love.
Absolutely.

Add some bacon grease (you do save bacon grease, don't you?), then cook them down until there's very little liquid left. If green beans squeak on your teeth when you eat them, they ain't done.
 
Firemedic54 said:
Get a copy of the "ball blue book" the have recipe for everything. I can meats, veggies, soups, chili, spaghetti sauce. If you can shove it into a jar, you can "can" it.
It is not hard, just time consuming, it is a true labor of love.
Of course I save bacon grease. Who doesn't???????
 
just be sure to follow fda approved canning recipes. you'll find many that say "X" can be canned, but there are not safe home canning methods for that item (or it hasn't been researched enough). a few pennies saved isn't worth the risk of food poisoning.
 
Firemedic54 said:
Get a copy of the "ball blue book" the have recipe for everything. I can meats, veggies, soups, chili, spaghetti sauce. If you can shove it into a jar, you can "can" it.
It is not hard, just time consuming, it is a true labor of love.
I figured. That was more of a rhetorical question anyway.
 
Firemedic54 said:
Get a copy of the "ball blue book" the have recipe for everything. I can meats, veggies, soups, chili, spaghetti sauce. If you can shove it into a jar, you can "can" it.
It is not hard, just time consuming, it is a true labor of love.
Guess I've not learned the nuances and "tone" of some of y'all.
I'll figure it out. :)
 
Firemedic54 said:
Get a copy of the "ball blue book" the have recipe for everything. I can meats, veggies, soups, chili, spaghetti sauce. If you can shove it into a jar, you can "can" it.
It is not hard, just time consuming, it is a true labor of love.
T'weren't your fault. What I typed did seem like it was aimed at you. I only asked because I imagine some of the city slickers around here toss out perfectly good bacon grease.
 
Diablos;n38982 said:
just be sure to follow fda approved canning recipes. you'll find many that say "X" can be canned, but there are not safe home canning methods for that item (or it hasn't been researched enough). a few pennies saved isn't worth the risk of food poisoning.

There is a big difference between, water bath canning and pressure canning. Pay attention and don't get the two confused.
 
Firemedic54;n39104 said:
There is a big difference between, water bath canning and pressure canning. Pay attention and don't get the two confused.

This.

Only high acid foods can be safely water bath canned. Foods with low acid content, like green beans, require the higher temperatures involved in pressure canning to kill Botulism bacteria.

Don't screw around with Botulism. It can kill everyone in your home.
 
Firemedic54;n39104 said:
There is a big difference between, water bath canning and pressure canning. Pay attention and don't get the two confused.

Even with a pressure canner, there are many things that cannot be safely canned at home.
 
My favorite, strawberry:

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/CORNYSHOP035.jpg"}[/IMG2]

Rabbit

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/Samoa023-1.jpg"}[/IMG2]

Squash

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/August001.jpg"}[/IMG2]

Vegetable soup

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/August004.jpg"}[/IMG2]


Squash and zuchini

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/August010.jpg"}[/IMG2]
 
Green beans, dilly beans, and sweet midgets:

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/August078.jpg"}[/IMG2]

Jalapeno relish, pickled okra, pickled jalapenos, and pickled peppers:

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/August138.jpg"}[/IMG2]

Homemade chicken noodle soup (one of those things you are not SUPPOSED to can, the noodles anyway):

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/Building038.jpg"}[/IMG2]

Pumpkin Butter (also supposed to NOT can, do so at your own risk)

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/CrapJan11084.jpg"}[/IMG2]


This is the real reason you are not supposed to can pumpkin butter, it's because baby chickens like to shit on the pumpkins:

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/CrapJan11081.jpg"}[/IMG2]


Cubed deer meat:

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/CrapJan11080.jpg"}[/IMG2]

Ground deer meat:

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/CrapJan11078.jpg"}[/IMG2]
 
Orange marmalade, another of my favorites:

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/CrapJan11070.jpg"}[/IMG2]

Pickled Quail Eggs. It's capitalized for a reason. They are special:

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/Eggs003.jpg"}[/IMG2]

Silver Queen corn:

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/CORN2017.jpg"}[/IMG2]

More deer meat:

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/109.jpg"}[/IMG2]

More strawberry:

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/vegggies079.jpg"}[/IMG2]


Cinnamon pickles from oversize cucumbers:

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/cucumber006_zpsfd9edb48.jpg"}[/IMG2]


[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/cucumber014_zps8466e7ec.jpg"}[/IMG2]


Chow-Chow:

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/CHRIS035.jpg"}[/IMG2]
 
Persimmon pulp (be careful with all your pulps or "butters"):

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/CHRIS031.jpg"}[/IMG2]

"Hotter" jalapeno relish:

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/CHRIS021.jpg"}[/IMG2]

Chicken, Chicken soup, and chicken stock, canning is a great way to save stock.

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/CHRIS016.jpg"}[/IMG2]

"Hot" pickled okra:

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/MiscOctober042.jpg"}[/IMG2]

Canned sweet potatoes:

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/FOODCOOLER060.jpg"}[/IMG2]


Canned thrilhill! LOL!

[IMG2=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","src":"http:\/\/i492.photobucket.com\/albums\/rr283\/thrillhill_2008\/Food\/MUSSELS%20030_zpscx0iev7s.jpg"}[/IMG2]
 
Some of the above is pressure canned and some of it is warm water canned. Do your research and know which is appropriate. If you experiment, do it on a small scale and test at logical intervals.

I second the Ball Blue Book as well as the Jackie Clay articles and compilations.

We also lean very heavy on the Encyclopedia of Country Living (by Carla Emery)

https://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia...1&keywords=the+encyclopedia+of+country+living
 
thrillhill said:
Some of the above is pressure canned and some of it is warm water canned. Do your research and know which is appropriate. If you experiment, do it on a small scale and test at logical intervals.

I second the Ball Blue Book as well as the Jackie Clay articles and compilations.

We also lean very heavy on the Encyclopedia of Country Living (by Carla Emery)

https://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia...1&keywords=the+encyclopedia+of+country+living
I knew you'd bring pics lol
 
dear baby Jesus, Thrillhill is a canning fool.


I made about a dozen jars of pickles for a test run this year (first time canning) and Im not dead yet, so I think I did ok.
 
Sneakymedic said:
dear baby Jesus, Thrillhill is a canning fool.


I made about a dozen jars of pickles for a test run this year (first time canning) and Im not dead yet, so I think I did ok.
Nah, my wife does all the canning. I'm just quality control! LOL!
 
Don't be afraid to update the pressure canning books too. Bacteria change and so do crops. So it is important to keep up to date
 
Sneakymedic said:
dear baby Jesus, Thrillhill is a canning fool.


I made about a dozen jars of pickles for a test run this year (first time canning) and Im not dead yet, so I think I did ok.
My job is to provide the infrastructure, and procure the hardware. Jar/ring/lid procurment can be a little tough. Some years she does upwards of 1,500-1,800 jars.
 
Man that's alot of canning. Some of my favorite memories now, I remember sitting on the porch swing with my grandmother and snapping beans for what seemed like forever. I can still hear the hissing weight of her pressure cooker rocking back and forth as well as the smells coming from her kitchen. Nanny, I miss you and would give anything to have one day back on that porch... When she died a few years ago I told my mom the only thing I wanted was a few of her cast iron pans and some of canning equipment. I got 2 pans, we don't know what happened to her other things. One day my mom was cleaning out some drawers and found her ball blue book from the 40's or 50's it had all sorts of hand written notes, tips, and recipes in it. That book is really special to me.
 
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