Canning question

[elalexander]

I know what you mean Bird. I won't be able to do any pressure cooking with it but I feel certain I can do a water bath processing. Really we aren't planning on canning enough to feed an armor division, just us two, and to be able to enjoy our stuff after the growing season. I remember before when we canned a good bit stuff was ready when there was a ball game etc and some late nights being in the kitchen. Want this to be fun, will it still be work yes, but more of a hobby thing. Hopefully our Grand kids will remember some of it and maybe one day do their own. After all this was past down to us, and like someone posted only 1 in 5000 homes can anymore. I think its a good family thing.

 

[Bird]

OK, I understand, Eric. And of course now with just the 2 of us, we don't do any canning anymore. But until 6 years ago, we did some water bath processing, but most of our canning was using one and sometimes two pressure cookers.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

My wife fried the catfish for supper in her electric deep fryer tonight.

Bird,

Glad you had a great supper.....all i had was a bacon cheese burger

Really we aren't planning on canning enough to feed an armor division

We didn't plan that last year either...But it turned out that way

Now we are trying to eat it all up to get ready for this garden and canning season.

 

[Bird]

we aren't planning on canning enough to feed an armor division, just us two

Yeah, canning can get to be an expensive hobby. My first thoughts were just enough for the two of us, but then we started giving cases of canned goods to her brothers, my brothers, our daughters and their families. Occasionally, we got some jars back, but I sure bought a lot of jars.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

but then we started giving cases of canned goods to her brothers, my brothers, our daughters and their families. Occasionally, we got some jars back, but I sure bought a lot of jars.

A couple years ago we gave a lot of canned food to family and never got our jars back...Then last spring we went and bought 15 cases of jars, and then in August everyone brought all the ones back

But it never hurts to have extra jars on hand.

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

When I started canning again several years back, I bought serveral cases from Big Lots, I kept a few of my moms. Also bought some at thrift stores people were getting rid of. I think I have enough for now, but Big Lots still sells them and Walmart also.

My husband found a box with the zinc canning lids in it at his mom's, brand new ones. Anyone remember those? I ordered rubber rings for them from Lehman's.

I have a big pressure canner, can do 2 layers of pints and 1 layer of quarts. Also bought a new water bath canner, didn't like the older one. It was expensive but it was not a China made one, was made at Columbia Enameling in Terre Haute, Indiana. My husband worked there right out of high school before getting drafted. I buy American anytime I can.

 

[elalexander]

Patriotic Stabilist; you go girl. Glad to hear some folks still look for made in the usa. I read sometime ago a lady tried not to buy anything made in China for a year and the hard time she had to that end. Not to start a bedate on Walmart because I think my wife has direct deposit there but, if you want a geography lesson go and look at shirt labels and where they are made. Then, time allowing go to another aisle pick up a globe and find it. I don't remember the zinc lids but I do remember the lid shortage of the early seventies. Grocery stores were limiting people to like 2 or 3 boxes of lids. That was a real pain but it made the jellies and other stuff taste that much better whenever a jar was opened.

As for a canner I am waiting an email back from Masterbuilt to hear what they have to say about an electric fryer. I think it will work just fine as a water bath. I'm not sure what to do if we need a pressure canner. As I said most of what we do is the water bath method.

Have to run going to put some potatoes and more onions in tonight.

 

[czechsonofagun]

Here is something about canning:

Red Meat

Warning: there are two kinds of people, some love RM and the rest thinks RM is wacko

 

[Patriotic Stabilist]

Actually went making jelly I use sealing wax. It's the old way. You buy this big block of wax and you still can. Melt it down, but be careful it can reach flash point and catch on fire so melt it slowly. Once the jelly is in the jar just pour it on top about a 1/2 inch at least. Make sure the jar was wiped clean down to the jelly, when it cools you will have a nice tight seal. It will keep better as will all canned items if you have a root cellar or a basement that is a bit cooler. I keep mine in my laundry room. Down here in the south it doesn't have a vent, heat comes in from the den but its not that warm. I can shut it off but the cats litter box and food is in there.

Dad used to have a big potato bin where he stored a winters worth of Irish Cobbler potatoes. I store onions for awhile here but just not consistently cool to keep them for very long.

 

[elalexander]

Prokop thanks for the link. There is a certain beauty to home canned goods. That is why people like to give them as gifts too. Pretty, and very tasty.