Everything you need to know about canning
Posted by The Wares Team on 17th Feb 2023
What exactly is canning?
Why should we can fresh produce?
There are plenty of reasons to try canning - after all, this method of preservation has been around for centuries! Some of the reasons include:
1. To reduce your food waste - particularly after Christmas when many of those fresh items are starting to reach the end of their lifespan.
2. To use up seasonal gluts or large volumes of those bargain 'yellow sticker' fruit and vegetables! You can even can meat successfully.
3. A great way to batch-cook delicious items such as salsa.
4. To create a beautiful, well-stocked pantry with pretty, colourful glass jars in a row - and with ready food to hand whenever someone calls unexpectedly or you need some extra ingredients for that casserole or Ploughman's lunch.
5. To lock in the flavours of delicious, organic food that you may have grown your own - nothing tastes better than freshly-canned goods.
6. To save money, by canning your own rather than buying in cans. After all, we all need ways to save pennies this year!
What are the benefits of canning?
Canning is a natural, fun and easy process that requires minimal equipment and only basic skills. With some canning jars, such as Marson jars or other suitable canning jars, you can create fantastic preserved and canned goods that last for months - if not years - completely safely. This ancient art often brings back lovely memories too of our grandparents canning their allotment surpluses. As well as helping to tackle food waste, it can give you a new hobby - and potentially even a way to earn some extra income! We have plenty of customers who buy their glass Mason jars in bulk for kitchen table businesses.
How does the canning process work?
It's actually very simple to can food. First, your glass jar or tin can is filled with the food you wish to can - which can be anything from vegetables to meat or fish. The food is usually stored in a brine to help maintain its colour, texture and nutrition and individual recipes give advice on the best brine recipe for each type of food. It is then sealed, heated and usually put under pressure. The heating element kills off any damaging microorganisms that could spoil food or cause illness. The pressure helps to extract oxygen from the can or glass and maximise the lifespan of the contents. When the jar or can has been removed from the heat bath, the air inside it will compress and seal in the contents. This seal is protective from oxygen and microorganisms and it is broken when the lid or cap is unscrewed or opened. The food can then be stored for months - if not years - without spoiling, and nothing looks lovelier than rows of canning jars or small glass jars filled with colourful produce in a pantry!
Tips for effective canning
As with everything, canning is a skill that needs to be learned and the process must be followed carefully, focusing on hygiene and sterility. Here are some useful tips to follow:
1. Begin with a simple recipe for something you enjoy, such as a glut of garden tomatoes.
2. Only can food that is firm, fresh and in great condition to begin with, and remove any food with mould spots, blemishes or areas of damage.
3. Consult a specific recipe and manufacturer's guide for the type of canning jar you are planning to use. For example, if you're using a glass Mason jar to can and preserve, then consult the Mason-specific guide for times, temperatures and guidelines specific to the Mason jar range. This is very important if you are using a family or heirloom recipe, as guidance has changed over the years.
4. Cut food well, remove stalks and pips and create the sugar or salt brine in the proportions that the recipe calls for.
5. Leave head space in the jar to add your chosen preservative, which might be salt, sugar or a form of acid, such as ascorbic acid.
6. Remove bubbles carefully before securely sealing the jar, according to your chosen method.
7. Add a label because it's very easy to forget what the contents of your hard work are later down the line!
Stock up today
Whether you're looking for a small glass jar range to preserve chutneys or large canning and bottling supplies for a home business, Wares of Knutsford has everything you need. You'll find products from all the big names, a huge range of canning and bottling supplies, great prices and superb service. We also offer great rates on delivery, pallet orders for low unit prices and regular special offers and promotions via our newsletter and social media pages. See the latest additions to our canning range here: https://www.waresofknutsford.co.uk/jars/mason-jars-canning-and-bottling-jars/
Got any queries? Our helpful customer services team are here to help and advise during working hours, so please discover the Wares of Knutsford experience today!