View Full Version : Canning jars
Hi all-
I am new to pressure canning, but I finally tried it out on some asparagus that I bought at Sprouts. I watched the pressure gauge like a (very nervous) hawk, but it actually was pretty easy. I am looking forward to when the farmer's markets open up; I am sure I'm not the only one tired of paying ridiculous prices for bruised and overwaxed produce in the stores!
With the price of meat on the rise, I'm also going to give canning beef a shot, soon.
My question for the experienced canners is: when do canning jars go on sale? In the springtime?
I've also heard people talk about how they found great deals on canning jars on Craigslist, but I'm beginning to wonder if that's an urban legend...
Check out Ace Hardware (their online/mail order division), their prices on jars six months ago was better than I've seen anywhere, including used ones on Craigslist.
Caithford
02-28-2013, 12:31
Wrong time of year. Late summer is when the sales at Walmart happen, and when people put stuff up on Craig's list. I second Ace Hardware, they usually have good stuff.
Where'd you get your pressure canner? I'd like to get one. Have had success with water bath canning, but would also like to can low acid foods.
Thanks! I'll keep an eye on Ace's prices, and will start stashing away a bit of cash for the end-of-summer sales.
I bought my canner at Mill's Fleet Farm when I visited family in Minnesota. They had a sale. It's a Presto. I've heard through rumor that you should buy an All-American Pressure Canner, but they're just too expensive.
Really, it was a lot simpler than I expected. I also found a nice pickling recipe for asparagus, if you're looking for that in-between step. I haven't looked yet- is there a thread for recipe exchanges for canning and pickling in this sub-forum?
Ace hardware has reasonable prices on most anything plus a comprehensive supply section.
Don't forget to get the book that they usually have in stock. "Ball BlueBook of Canning" it has LOTS of recipes in it. The only book I use, and I have been canning for years.
Wrong time of year. Late summer is when the sales at Walmart happen, and when people put stuff up on Craig's list. I second Ace Hardware, they usually have good stuff.
Where'd you get your pressure canner? I'd like to get one. Have had success with water bath canning, but would also like to can low acid foods.
Caithford, watch Amazon for sales on the canner you want. I got my Presto 23-quart on for 75 dollars with free shipping, after I blew up my other one.
I got my canner at ace as well it was about 80 bucks
ColoFarmer
02-28-2013, 18:39
Estate sales are good, older generation LIVED on home canned food, and never got rid of most of it, I've bought boxes on estate auctions for $1...One time they sold 15 or 20 boxes of jars, sold by the box until everyone quit bidding, then sold the rest for $1. Lots of times they come with the rings, and with lids that were past their prime 30 years ago. I do think more people are realizing the value of preserving your own, so I don't think the deals are as common now...
I've got the pressure canner that Grandma used when my Mom was a girl. You can still buy one just like it, I've replaced the seal and pressure popoff for safety, but works great.
I've got the pressure canner that Grandma used when my Mom was a girl. You can still buy one just like it, I've replaced the seal and pressure popoff for safety, but works great.
Should still have it when your grandkids are old enough to start canning. Can't beat American made stuff.
I have been through 3 presto canners. One was lost in the divorce, along with everything else in the house. (The woman had lots of time to move everything out the house while I was in the desert) The second one I used on a turkey fryer and turned the burner up too high (don't do that). So I am the happy owner of my third canner.
tactical_2012
03-01-2013, 06:31
Quick question for you canners do you need to use citric acid. I picked up a ball blue book on canning and a lot of the recipes called for citric acid or lemon juice. I was wondering do you really need to use these especially in SHTF secenario and if you don't will the food last?
Quick question for you canners do you need to use citric acid. I picked up a ball blue book on canning and a lot of the recipes called for citric acid or lemon juice. I was wondering do you really need to use these especially in SHTF secenario and if you don't will the food last?
If you are canning low acid foods, you have pressure can. If foods are already acidic, like most fruits, adding the citric acid is done to prevent food discoloration and maintain flavor. I don't believe it's necessary.
You can use other acids instead including: ascorbic acid, acetic acid (vinegar). You can buy a huge package of ascorbic acid and keep on hand for SHTF. Rule of thumb is 3000 mg (~1 tsp) of ascorbic acid per gallon of water. You can use vitamin C tablets which are also ascorbic acid: crush 6 500 mg tablets per gallon of water.
Rust_shackleford
03-01-2013, 10:56
Taddler lids!
Quick question for you canners do you need to use citric acid. I picked up a ball blue book on canning and a lot of the recipes called for citric acid or lemon juice. I was wondering do you really need to use these especially in SHTF secenario and if you don't will the food last?
A lot of added acids like for jams and such are for taste. IE: blackberry jam in the book calls for added fresh lime juice. I don't think that adds to preserving the food it just helps with the taste of it and prevent discoloration like bogie said above.
Jams are high in sugar which is the preservative and they are done in a boiling water bath canner, which you can use your pressure canner without the lid on tight..
When you are doing high acid canning, (pickled veggies YUM, or pickles, etc) you will be adding a significant amount of acid. sometimes half and half vinegar to water again you will use a boiling water canner for this.
hollohas
03-01-2013, 11:52
True Value carries a great selection of canning equipment. And they run 20% store-wide coupons about every other month. At least at the Littleton store, that makes the prices of jars about the best I have seen outside yard/estate/craigslist sales.
And Tattler reusable lids are on sale here right now
http://pantryparatus.com/featured-products/tattler-reg.html
And Tattler reusable lids are on sale here right now
http://pantryparatus.com/featured-products/tattler-reg.html
There is several bad scores on amazon about those lids... Do you think they are people using them wrong? I was thinking about picking up a case of them.
I have a case on order if you want to try a couple
hollohas
03-01-2013, 15:54
There is several bad scores on amazon about those lids... Do you think they are people using them wrong? I was thinking about picking up a case of them.
I think they are doing it wrong. I have had nothing but success with them for years.
Perhaps I'll buy a box and check em out. The majority of the reviews were good, but there were some seemingly well thought out bad reviews that got me a little bit nervous. I suspected inconsistent usage or not following good practices by those few that had bad luck with them.
I'll give em a try, they aren't that expensive and should pay for themselves after using them a few times.
5280Nole
03-04-2013, 11:59
Ace is the place! Late summer, early fall they are looking to make them go away and make room for other stuff. Sams Club normally has solid pricing, ship to store, and you can buy in bulk. The jars can obviously be re-used, the lids shouldn't be, make sure you stock on them as well. Canning is fun, I do it outside on a 3 burner 90,000 total BTU camp stove. House doesn't turn into a sauna.... Do a huge batch of something fresh once a week and you can really start stock pilling goodies.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3 Copyright © 2025 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.