Canning is becoming very popular these days with everyone trying to save money and eat healthier, less processed foods. Many people may be intimidated by canning. It is relatively simple if you read the recipe, use the proper canning supplies, and follow these three important canning tips.

Tip #1 – Always use brand new lids – It is important to always use brand new lids when canning. Some people will try to reuse old lids but this one of the main reasons why a jar will not seal after the canning process.

Tip #2 – Use Glass Canning Jars – Remember to use glass jars that are specifically designed for canning. Most of these jars are made by the Jarden Company and sold under the brands Ball and Kerr. Do not try to use one-time use only, commercial jars for canning. These are jars that you may purchase food such as mayonnaise, spaghetti sauce, or jelly from the store. Even if the band does screw on to the top of these jars you are not ensured a proper fit and most likely the lid will not seal on these jars.

Tip #3 – Do Not Over-tighten Bands – After you place the lid on the jar that you have just filled with your food contents it is time to apply the band. Only tighten the band so it is finger-tip tight. Many people over-tighten the bands and this can cause the lids to not seal after process. Over-tightened the band is also a cause of buckling lids.

So, follow these three important tips to ensure you get a good seal when doing your canning.

Q. Which Canning Supplies Can I Use from Last Year?

A. You can safely use canning jars and bands year after year. However, always use new lids when home canning to get a proper seal.

Canning jars can be used again and again. You will want to inspect them before each use for any cracks or chips, especially around the rim of the jar. If you have any old canning jars that are colored do not use them for canning. They probably have lead in them because that is how they used to make the colored glass.

Canning bands or rings, as they are sometimes called, can also be used from season to season. You will want to make sure they have not been bent. Test each one to make sure it screws on to a canning jar properly and it will be good to use again this year.

Canning lids should never be reused for canning. You will always want to use brand new lids when doing your home canning. You can, however, use old used lids when dry-packing in jars that you use for vacuum sealing.

Reusing your canning supplies is a great way to save money. Saving money is one of the main benefits of preserving your own food. If you give some of your canned goods to family and friends for gives throughout the year, don’t be afraid to ask for the jars back when they are finished. They will certainly understand and they probably won’t use them anyway unless they do home canning themselves.

Home canning is very popular these days. Many people are trying to save money on their food bill by growing their own produce and some just want to can their own food because it is healthier for their families. If you are new to home preserving you will need a few supplies. The basic equipment that you will need include canning jars, lids, bands, ingredients for your recipe, some saucepans, spoons and ladles, boiling water canner or pressure canner, and a couple towels. You will also want to have the following three canning tools.

Jar Lifter – A jar lifter is the most important canning supply to have. It is hard to replace or substitute for this great tool. It allows the user to lift canning jars out of the hot water. It makes moving hot jars easy and safe. It is by far the most recommended canning tool.

Large-mouth Funnel – Another tool you will want to have is a large-mouth funnel. This will allow you to fill your canning jars with ease. Just ladle your contents into your canning jars using the funnel and have less of a mess to clean up later.

Magnetic Lid Lifter – The magnetic lid lifter is a nifty little canning tool. It easily retrieves lids out of hot water without burning your hands. The magnet grabs a hold of both lids and bands making your home canning process easier.

So, as you can see having these three great canning accessories while doing your home canning will make the whole process easier and safer, especially a jar lifter. These tools can be found in most canning kits.

The number one benefit of home canning is saving money. Many people did a small garden for the first time this spring. They put some seeds in the grow hoping to save money on their grocery bill but now they may be wondering what to do with all that home-grown goodness. Canning is a great way to preserve that food for use all year long.  Even if you don’t have your own garden and produce, you can still buy produce when it is in season from either the grocery store or local farmers and save money. Just buy in bulk and preserve the food via canning for later use.

The second benefit of canning is you can monitor the quality of food you feed your family. When preserving your own produce, you can determine how much sugar or salt goes into the canned goods. You can also eliminate many preservatives as well. This makes the food you are giving your family much healthier.

The third big benefit of preserving your own foods is making great gifts to give throughout the year. It is a lot of fun and can save you money by giving a basket full of canned foods you preserved yourself as a gift. Specialty items, such as burgundy wine jelly or maple walnut syrup, make wonderful housewarming gifts.  A variety basket of your canned goods would also make great teacher appreciation or holiday gifts.

So, as you can see there are many benefits to home canning. You can save money, provide healthier food for your family, and make great gift baskets.

And if you would like more information about canning and canning supplies please visit our website at http://www.jrkfamilyoutdoors.com/canning  You can receive 18 free videos that answer many questions about home canning just by signing up for our newsletter.

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