Canning FAQs - What to Consider Before Canning Season

While the practice of food canning is a centuries-old preservation technique that has been passed down for generations, it can be intimidating to try your hand at the process for the first time. The combination of operating a pressure canner, perfecting the packing process, and ensuring a proper lid seal can be difficult without the proper guidance. We at Everything Kitchens have created a quick guide with all of our most-asked canning questions to help you feel confident in preserving your seasonal crops or quick canned meals. Read below to learn more about canning your own foods!

Q: When is canning season? How long does canning season last? 

A: The great thing about preserving your own food is that you can do it year-round. There is no official canning season, though there are a few things to keep in mind when preparing to can:

• Can whatever is fresh and in season!
  Popular times to can are during the summer and fall when produce is at its freshest and harvests are abundant. Freshly harvested foods from your local farmer’s market or your personal garden are ideal for canning and stocking your pantry during these months. Summer canning season may be filled with cucumbers for pickling, a variety of berries for jams and preserves, green beans or carrots for quick dinner sides, and a variety of tomato-based recipes from salsas to marinaras and even homemade ketchup. Spring canning season may include “overwintering crops” that have been sowed during autumn, including peas, some cruciferous vegetables, and spring onions for pickling. 
• Can I can during winter or colder months?
  There are a variety of canning recipes you can prepare to keep your pantry stocked when fresh produce is not in season. Pressure canning is a convenient choice for preparing your own soups or stews, chili, and other one-jar meals. In addition to this, preparing marmalades, jams, or fruit sauces is possible year-round with canning - even with store-bought fruits! 
• How can I prepare food that I want to can later?
  Low on time to preserve your fresh fruits or vegetables? No worries! Produce that freezes easily can be thawed and canned at a later date, giving you ample time to prepare for a dedicated canning day. The best foods for freezing and then canning include strawberries, blueberries, corn, green beans, squash, and peas.

Q: How does the canning process work?

A: There are two traditional methods of canning: Water Bath Canning and Pressure Canning. The type of food you will be preparing will determine which type of canning process you will need to perform. High-acid foods such as tomato-based recipes, pickles, or jams and jellies can be water bath canned, while low-acid foods such as canned meats, fresh vegetables, and one-jar meals will need to be pressure canned. 

To read our guide on Water Bath Canning click here!

To read our guide on Pressure canning click here!

Q: How long does canned food last? 

A: According to the National Center for Home Food Preservation, it is recommended to use canned foods within one year for best quality and tasting results. Beyond this, it is typical to see some quality deterioration, as with any commercially canned foods. It is recommended to eat canned foods within a year, however, they are not spoiled once they exceed the year. While the National Center for Home Food Preservation cannot offer an exact expiration, it is assumed that canned goods that are sealed and stored properly will remain safe to consume. To determine if your canned goods are still safe to consume, you’ll want to ensure the seal is intact and examine the color-change of the foods. Foods kept longer than one year may begin to darken or form a cloudy appearance due to the starch content settling from the food. These factors can make it difficult to detect food spoilage. The USDA Complete Guide states that 50°F to 70°F is the optimal temperature to store canned goods and will ensure better quality retention over time. 

Q: What tools do I need for canning?

A: While the choice of what to can is up to you, there are a few tools that are essential to a successful canning process regardless of your recipe. In addition to a pressure canner, it is important to have clean jars, fresh lids and bands for proper sealing, jar and lid lifters for safe handling, and labels to ensure safe storage. Read our Top 10 Canning Supplies & Tools guide to ensure you have everything needed to start your canning journey. 

Q: What are the best canners? 

A: There are a variety of pressure canners that are ideal for canning. It is important to do your research on canners to decide which will work best in your kitchen. All American 1930 and Presto make some of the most trusted manual pressure canners on the market, and Presto even offers a digital version for easier operation. Shop our entire selection of pressure cookers and canners here!

Q: What jars are best for canning? 

A: The key things to look for when choosing canning jars are the mouth size and rim type. It is essential to use high-quality glass jars with threaded rims. Most jars that are safe for canning will come in a wide-mouth or regular-mouth rim size and can be reused with new lids and bands several times. We offer canning jars of all shapes and sizes from brands such as Kilner, Roots & Harvest, and Bormioli Rocco!

Q: Are canning jars microwave, oven, or dishwasher-safe? 

A: It is important to always check with the manufacturer of your jars, however, most glass canning jars are safe for use in the microwave, oven, or dishwasher. Metal bands and lids however should not be used in the microwave, oven, or dishwasher. 

Q: Can canning jars be reused? 

A: Yes! Canning jars can be reused several times as long as they are free from any chips or cracks. 

Q: Can I reuse my canning seal lids and bands? 

A: While you can reuse canning bands as long as they are free from rust or dents, it is essential to replace canning lids with every canning cycle. Canning lids must be recycled or tossed with each use, as the seal will lose integrity over time, resulting in premature food spoilage or improperly canned foods. 

Q: Are there other preservation methods that might work better for me?

A: While several foods are suited for canning, sometimes canning isn't the answer to getting the best flavor or texture from the foods you want to preserve. There are several other preservation practices that can achieve optimal results for a variety of foods:

• Freeze Drying: Freeze drying is ideal for preserving a variety of foods including high-moisture produce, milk, and even meats or eggs. Freeze drying is also perfect for preserving dry goods such as spices and herbs or coffee. Shop our freeze dryers here!
• Dehydration: Dehydrating is a great option if you enjoy camping or hiking or would like to preserve foods for even longer than the shelf life of canned goods. Dehydrated fruits and vegetables can make a nutritious and tasty snack on the go or can also be rehydrated to add to soups and stews. Shop our dehydrators here! 
• Vacuum Sealers: If you would like to freeze foods without the worry of freezer burn, vacuum sealing is ideal for you. Vacuum sealing is perfect for portioning meats before freezing, preserving berries or other fruits, freezing one-bag meals, and much more. Shop our vacuum sealers here!
• Fermentation: Fermenting is not only a safe way to store certain foods, but also adds nutritional benefits to foods such as healthy bacteria and probiotics. The best foods for fermenting include cabbage for a tasty homemade sauerkraut or kimchi, kombucha or yogurt, as well as soybean-based recipes such as tempeh or miso. We recommend using the Roots & Harvest Fermentation Crock Set, Kilner’s Fermentation Kit, or the Masontops Fermentation Pickle Pipes for fermenting foods. 

Q: Where can I find canning supplies? 

A: Right here at Everything Kitchens! We have an entire dedicated Canning Tools section that makes it easy to stock up on canning jars, jar labels, headspace tools, and more. Further, we carry multiple brands that are well-trusted in the canning world, such as Kilner, Roots & Harvest, All American 1930, and many more!

Canning can be tricky, but with the right information and tools you can make store-bought canned goods a thing of the past! For more information on the canning process, check out our entire selection of canning articles here! 

 

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