Countdown to Canning Season
The first day of spring has come and gone and we, like you, are anxious for our favorite local fruits and vegetables to come to season so we can restock our canning shelves.
We’ve updated our master canning to do list – 5 Tips to Prepare for Canning Season – to help you get ready. This post is filled with much more than just 5 tips…you’ll find ideas about how to:
- Review your preserving history;
- Evaluate inventory;
- Prepare, inspect and organize your supplies;
- Build a resource list;
- And so much more!
In celebration of canning season 2015 we are giving away a $100 credit to Fillmore Container. One lucky winner will fill their cart with handy tools, new jars and lids, a canning book, or whatever they may need to gear up for canning season.
Good Luck!
My best advice? Read your recipe & gather all your things before you start! That way you can be sure someone else hasn’t used up your last bit of “fill in key ingredient here”.
I work in retail, so I’d say my best tip is to buy your supplies early before they are hard to find.
GREAT post and good tips!
The best tip I can think of is to have everything you’ll need at hand. It may seem pretty basic but I’ve learned over the years that when it comes to canning I cannot multi-task. Multi-tasking actually loses me time and allows for mistakes.
What’s my canning tip? Make sure that your sealing lids are new. It’s so very frustrating to use old lids that won’t seal.
Make sure that you have all your canning supplies at the ready before you begin! Nothing is more frustrating than realizing you don’t have enough lids, jars, rings, etc! Love my bottles from Fillmore Container for BBQ sauces and Homemade Ketchup1
My tip for canning season? If you are a serious canner, be prepared with a collection of good equipment. View it as an investment that enables you to have quality product and the satisfaction of doing it yourself.
Write EVERYTHING down! I go through my canning books and pins before the season starts and plan out what I’d like to make – I don’t have a garden (I live in an apartment and my tiny balcony is in deep shade so even container planting is out) so I’m not dependent on managing any bumper crops, although I do leave some room for any utterly insane sales at the farmer’s market. This means I don’t have produce sitting in the kitchen getting icky while I try to figure out what to do with it. It also allows me to plan my purchases of things like pectin, canning salt, white vinegar, sugar, spices like pickling spice or vanilla beans before I actually need them, so I’m not making any frantic runs to the grocery store. When I get to making things, I write down in my canning notebook what I made, the recipe with any changes I made, the date and the yield.
Enlist the help of willing friends and family to make cannier easier on you.
My best tip is to get help if you’re doing a large amount of something.
My family helps pick, clean, and prep produce for canning. If they didn’t, I’d never keep up with it when everything in the garden is ready at the same time (at least that’s how it seems most years).
i didn’t can anything last summer because i was busy with my wedding, and i was super bummed this fall and winter! can’t wait to get back to it this summer.
Be prepared!!
Use a calendar to determine what’s in season or speak with a farmer at your local farmer’s market. Sure, you can buy strawberries in July but they’re really at their tastiest during April and May.
This is so generous! What a great way to kick off canning season 🙂
My best tip is to actually read the directions first. Then read them again before you start. It’s too easy to make a mistake otherwise.
Always expect a recipe to take twice as long as advertised
Make sure you have jars of various sizes on hand! When recipes make more or less than expected, it’s nice to be able to can everything with the proper headspace, which is where having just the right sized jar for that last little bit of jam is perfect!
I’m getting ready to start learning how to can. So far from what I’ve read, the best tip for me is don’t overload yourself.
My best tip is to keep a running notebook of what I canned from year to year. I note quantities, where I purchased it (for what price), what recipe I used, yield, etc. Then around this time of year, I do an inventory of what’s left, and I start to make plans for what I’d like to preserve in the upcoming season. This has helped me SO much over the years!
Don’t just wait for harvest season to can. Do a little canning all year long!
Buy those fruit seconds! For 1/2 price I can get ‘ugly’ peaches, apples, pears, etc and they taste just fine!
Keep a journal of everything you can each year so that you can refer back to it the following year.
Always, measure & prep before starting any recipe. And, by prep:
I have fabulous glass measuring cups with lids. The large one holds 8 cups. This is perfect, can prep, measure, cover and refrigerate as appropriate! makes canning easy.
Also, have an empty dishwasher ready- rather than my sink, my dishwasher holds all used supplies and is immediately ready for a run.
And, I have 3 large pots for cooking. I fequently prep each with necessary ingredients so I can can in succession, assembly line fashion. They too, fit into my fridge(s) until ready to go on the stove!
One last thing, set some good music!
Make sure that you will have enough time to prep and can without distractions. Turn off the phone, the TV, and send the kids to Grandma’s on canning days. Enlist serious help if you need it, and lay out all your equipment the day before to double-check that you don’t need anything from the store. Make yourself a pad of checklists that you can use multiple times. Shop for your ingredients early in the day when they’ll be at peak freshness.
Keep on trying! If you don’t get in the kitchen it’s hard to improve your skills.
Make extra so you don’t gift it all away!
Must get out to the garage and gather jars. Moved across country and did not organize well before move. Adore the photo up top of that gorgeous canning storage space. Must recreate! 🙂
I tend to make sure I have my tried & true recipes on standby. I have to write everything down. I also keep notes from year to year with each recipe.
I am fairly new to canning so I have no tips, I am still amazed that my stuff comes out good.
Start small! Give yourself some time to get comfortable with the process. Read books on canning and follow recipes exactly for canning so your end product is safe to eat. And have fun!
Plan ahead!
I like to keep a list (one per year) of all the items I’ve canned (including the source of the recipe.) I make notations on that list (what was popular, what was not so successful, etc.) — this way I can go back to these lists when I’m looking for a winning recipe.
Plan what recipes you want to make so when the veggie/fruit is ripe and in season you have all the ingredients to do your canning
My best advice is to get the best produce available and gather all your materials before you get started. That way you won’t forget anything!
Best canning tip: get all of your items and ingredients out BEFORE you can something! And make sure you have more lids and bands than you think you’ll need.
take notes so you can duplicate the great results
Make sure you’ve got enough jars on hand. Too many jars, okay. Not enough… well, you’re having strawberry jam for dinner, and dessert, and breakfast…
Keep track of what you can each summer and what’s left, what you liked, what didn’t get eaten.
Don’t get carried away and can more than you will use or give away!
Keep an inventory of everything you can, with dates. I never want to forget about any of that goodness hidden in my pantry!
Can early and can often! 😉
Make sure you have everything prepped before beginning
Organize and plan ahead. I need to start a journal now!
I take a look through the canning recipes I’ve pinned and printed over the last year and make a short list of those that I most want to make this season.
These are great tips!!
My best advice is to start early so you don’t feel you have to rush and can enjoy the process!
my best canning advice? leave more time than you need. my worst habit is starting in the evening and going way past my bedtime! and if you’re canning jam, test for set before you can. or be prepared to call it a glaze/syrup/etc!!
My best tips are to lay out everything you need before you start canning, and heat your jars in your canner while you hear the water.
Plan ahead. Wash everything and have it handy before you start. Measure out the ingredients in a separate bowl. Prepare the fruit or veggie.
I make strawberry jam every spring. Love it warm and fresh on a town house cracker.
Remember to enjoy it!
My tip is to have a good jar lifter in your canning toolbox.
While it is fun to make and try new things, keeping notes of what you made, how you made it, etc. help you decide if it’s worth making in the future. There are so many wonderful things to make and preserve and enjoy through the year it can be overwhelming at first. So make small batches to start and make sure you have plenty of supplies on hand!
Always use the most luscious produce for canning. Take sterilizing seriously. Enjoy the meditation.
Lots of great tips! (I’m a novice, so I can’t offer any advice yet!)
Get your supplies early and plan out what you’ll make each season.
Great tips everyone! Most of what I was going to put has been stated. You might also want to make sure there is space in your freezer for overruns. I’ve found some batches make more than you expect and some make less. for the extras I put in the freezer and make sure to use them up first.
Keep track of what kinds of things you give away most, so when you’re making more you don’t make too little and wind up without enough of that kind.
Write on the lids when they are cool and flat on a table before you process the jars because Sharpie won’t come off in the pressure canner.
Keep written details of what you can and how long it lasted last year. It also helps to know how much you and your family used and how much you gave away. Include notes on any feedback about taste and texture.
Can with a friend – it’ll make the process more fun and it’s a better division of labor!
Awesome tips & advice! Looking forward to my first season of pickles and salsa!!
Great tips, all. I also like to buy fruit in season, prep it (peeling, mainly) and freeze for freshly made Jan in the middle of winter. I just made a batch of apricot jam and it’s a real treat as we struggle out of winter.
Write down any changes you make to the recipe and make sure Mom and Dad get to taste test first!
My advice, be prepared! All too many times I start the canning process only to realize I’m missing something – salt, tools, etc.
Have fun! Relax and enjoy! That’s my advice.
I have to agree that making sure all of your supplies and ingredients are together beforehand. Double checking before you start is always helpful.
I’ve never really canned before but want to start. I would imagine reading the recipe thoroughly and making sure you have all ingredients & equipment ready to go would be a good place to start.
Just enjoy the process and the product! Canning is a treasure.
My best tip is to lay everything out you need ahead of canning, then you won’t waste time going through drawers searching for tools!
Know the rules and your recipe, but don’t let fear paralyze you. As long as everything’s clean and the right temperature, what you make will be safe and delicious.
Be sure to always use clean sterlized jars for best success !
My best advice? Freeze fresh produce to can later. Take advantage of the seasonal fruits and vegetables while you can. You can freeze them and process later.
Can fresh and carefully
Make sure you enlist enough hands to help! Makes things go by much more quickly and efficiently!
I make sure that I have friends and realatives at the ready to help!
label everything immediately!
Make it canning season all year long! I like to freeze s lot of my products that will be turned into jams and jellies and make them during the long cold winter months.
Be flexible! I have brought home a bunch of plums to make jam and found my family wanted to eat them all fresh. I’ve also found myself canning produce to make use of it because it won’t get eaten before it goes bad. Keeping the basics on hand and easy to access makes it easy to shift gears for me, and it makes it fun when I get a bee in my bonnet to do some canning.
Read your recipe first and follow it exactly. Make sure you are not rushed.
To keep recipe books or pages out of the way and fresh and dry, use a skirt or pants hanger (hung from a cabinet knob) to hold your recipes !!!
Have everything ready before you start.
Know why your an is ahead of time and have everything ready!
Have the right tools, including funnels and plenty of hot pads! I’ve splashed myself with hot water too many times, so now I take the time to have everything I need at hand so I don’t hurt myself while canning!
love it so much I showed it off on my site!
Check your family’s recipe boxes for wonderful canning recipes to try!
Read through all the instructions twice and make sure you know what each step is!
Be sure to have all supplies ready before canning season begins!
Shop sales for things like sugar so you’ll be prepared when the fresh fruits are available for preserves and jams you love during the cold months of the year! Check jars and other supplies to be prepared.
Here in Utah, the growing season is pretty short. Don’t put off canning while you can!
Relax, take a breath and take your time. Enjoy the process. The mess will get clean.
Share the bounty, your family will love you for it!
My best tip is to make sure the countertops and stovetop are clean and clear of all other clutter before starting a canning session. When you need space to set something down, you need to have the space ready right then and there, especially those precious finished jars, which need space to rest when they come out of the canner.
I’m fairly new to canning so I’m loving all of these tips!
My canning tip: If you are unable to grow anything yourself, you can search for a produce auction in your area. They have canning tomatoes (and other veggies and fruits) in big quantities, and you can usually get them for a very good price!
Great tip! I bought 20 lb. boxes of tomatoes for $2 at our produce auction!
Study up on canning and understand why the rules are what they are.
Read through all your recipes twice before beginning to make sure you have everything you need, you understand the recipe and have all supplies clean and ready to go!
These are all great comments, learned a few things. I agree, make sure you have everything you will need before you start the project.
My canning tip is Have all your supplies ready to use before you start preparing your food.
Love your products. Use them in my candle business. You are quick getting my orders out and I have never had anything broken.
My best advice is to make a list of everything you want to can that year and how much of each item. You should plan your garden around this so you can use your own fresh produce instead of relying on the grocery store. And, it also helps you make sure you have enough other ingredients and supplies in addition to jars and bottles!
I don’t have a tip. I’ve never canned anything but I’d love to learn.
Use the freshest fruit available!!
My favorite canning trick is when I empty the contents of a jar, clean the jar and re-can with water, using the reusable canning lids to save money. I use the water from the jar in the canner and for plants. No waste canning! 🙂
you dont have to wait for a full canner do small batches or a few different items just use the longest time
Keep great notes. You want to be able to duplicate or make changes to improve your canning goodies.
Read your recipe twice and have all ingredients and supplies laid out before you start!
I agree with everyone regarding being organized and having what you need out before you start. I keep my tools-lifter, lids, lid wand, etc in a handy basket and return all to that basket after every session.
My tips: Don’t be afraid to try something new.
If possible, can it in a pressure canner. It’s faster and requires much less hot water.
My tip is for canning mommies- even if your friends don’t can, have one over to wrangle your little ones at key moments when it’s important not to have them underfoot. It’s also nice to have company, and if your non-canning friend sees that what you are doing isn’t too complicated, they may want to join in next time!
If you garden, keep track of which varieties of fruits and vegetables are best for canning. Order seeds early! I pulled out my seed packets from the refrigerator to start them this spring, and my favorite canning tomato (Royal Plum) seed packet was totally empty. It was too late to order more seeds, and most of the really good seed varieties can’t be purchased at the big box garden centers. Now, I’ve dedicated a page in my date book for seed varieties I need to order for 2016.
This will be my first year canning so I don’t have many tips but one I think I could provide is to can the things you use the most and narrow it down to a few until you get the hang of it and not try to can anything and everything at first. I feel the same way about gardening :).
My advice is to think about what you would like to eat or gift, and only can those things. If it’s a new recipe or technique, try a small batch in case you don’t like it. (My learning experience was making a lot of Radish Relish which turned out to be way to sweet for my taste!)
Can often and in small batches!
Two tips – start with a clean kitchen because you need all the space you can get. And start with small batches for new recipes – nothing is worse than lots of jars of something you wind up hating!
Measure properly
plan ahead. keep track of you plan to make during the season and make sure you’ve got enough jars and lids. so frustrating when you find you’re short the morning you’re going to put up a bunch of stuff.
Last year was my first year canning, so I can’t really say what would be a good tip for preparing for the new season yet. I’m just glad I already have all the equipment this time!
My tip would be to plan ahead and buy sugar and canning lids all year long. Also you can can all year long to enjoy the process.
Great tips!
Being prepared is key for me
Take advantage of good prices on jars, lids, seasonal fruit, etc. Local orchards have great deals on fruit when it is at its peak. Fillmore has excellent prices on jars, but also keep an eye out for yard sales for jars.
Get rid of my husband and sons on canning days!
I don’t have a tip, I have never canned anything before, but you’re never too old to start…
Plan ahead!!!!!
Make things that you will actually USE (even if it is for gift-giving). Then, add in something that is just for fun (and in a small batch – just in case of, you know – ick).
My best advice for camning season , invest in the proper equipment. & inspect all each season before use. Follow tested and approved recipes.
Review canning guidelines if you haven’t done any canning over the winter or just need a refresher. Definitely organize and inventory your supplies so that you know what you have and what you’ll need to replace. If you have a garden and intend to use your own produce, pinpoint recipes and ensure that you’ve started or will be buying herbs/veggies/fruit that you need. Many have already said it, but yes–always prep everything needed prior to starting the canning process.
Organize all your supplies before you start any canning recipe.
My best advice is to take lots of notes! That way you can repeat when you have a great result!
Follow the directions for safe canning!
I don’t have a canning tip.. My dad used to can everything when I was a kid.. Now I’m buying my first house, my dad’s long gone.. but I’ll actually have room to do this now, and can’t wait to start!! Already cruising Pinterest for ideas on what to grow and how to can..
Keep your staple supplies on hand, so when you see bargains you can nab them! Raspberries are very dear here, but last fall I found them for 50 cents / 6 oz. (I felt bad buying 16 boxes until the checkout lady told me the man in the store earlier that day had bought 72.)
My best advice for canning is take veggies you normally wouldn’t eat and pickle it ! You’d be surprised how it changes your tastes! (People tend to enjoy okra this way)
When the summer fruit are coming in hot and heavy, freeze some to make jam during the winter months when you have more time available.
My best tip for the canning season is to grab your gear and enjoy the process! It may be overwhelming and seem like it will never end. But once you’ve tasted and shared the fruits of your labor, it will be ever so satisfying.
Make sure you have everything you need before getting started!
When canning keep it clean! I make jam year round and it is awful when I don’t clean up along the way just because set jam that is all dried out on the counter!
Just do it!!! I so often say I’m going to do it and end up not. 🙁 Even if you don’t have all the perfect tools. Do what you can and you’ll be so happy that you did. 🙂
My tip for canning… Plan on spending the entire day canning! Once you have everything out, it’s much easier to just keep going. Order a pizza and tell everyone to stay out of the kitchen!
I just love my jars and lids i ordered for my spices…now they have matching labels and look near professional!!
Use the best fresh ingredients….especially from your own garden!
As a newish canner, I think it’s best to be prepared and to have your supplies, notes, and canning books at the ready!
Organize…and write down everything you do or try. You’ll never remember it for next season!
The best tip I can think of is to have everything you’ll need at hand. Its hard to multi task when everything begins to finish at the same time.
I am not a good canner, I don’t have tips, I need tips……however, in saying that, I am trying very hard to learn. and need all the equipment.
If a beginner, start with tried and true recipes – ones other people that you know have used before. Trying to learn the art and craft of canning AND learning a new recipe all at the same time isn’t a good combination.
Only can what you love to eat!! Nothing worse than wasted food, time and money when you have to throw it out.
Just do it! That food will taste awesome in the middle of winter!
Turn on the music and belt out some tunes while you can. Makes the process a whole lot more fun 🙂
My best tip- use the non-perfect or blemished produce to make pre-cooked food. Like canning leftovers, except you’re doing a sort of ONce a Month Cooking/Canning session. This can give you a big stockpile of soups, stews, jellies, and more that you’d normally wait to open jars to make later on.
My favorite tip for canning is finding the best and most affordable produce and items to can. I always scope out local farmer’s and produce markets, like Roots here in Lancaster, to get great deals on produce. Many vendors will sell bushels of produce for next to nothing because they are considered seconds, which in my opinion are just fine for canning.
Great tips!
Stay organized!
The biggest thing to me is making sure you have everything together, clean, and ready to go before getting started. No sense fussing when time might be short!
Enlist the kids, especially early teens!
Make sure you have everything laid out and ready to go before you start. That way you don’t get in the middle of things and discover you’re out of something necessary to complete the project.
If you have your own garden, don’t be afraid to plant extra! Canning takes all of the worry out of having a bountiful garden.
My other tip is to invest in a good quality pair of canning tongs. The cheap ones can be disastrous – take it from my experience!
Always buy more jars. I always start the season short; I think it’s because I give out so many jars of preserves as presents and forget to mention that I reuse jars 🙂
I can and jar preserves with my mother! It is more fun to sweat it out in company.
It truly makes the time you spend canning so much easier to gather all the ingredients first. I typically gather it all together and have everything set up ready to go the night before I can. The best thing you can do for a successful canning experience is make sure you have good lids – lids that have a continual even coat of rubber or sealing material. Bad lids won’t last and you have then wasted product and your time. And – old recipes don’t mean bad recipes, some of my best recipes have been handed down through the generations!
I like to make notes to refer back to the next year and a clean kitchen with no dirty dishes already in the sink helps also.
Allow yourself plenty of time. You can’t rush the process because you suddenly remembered an important appointment.
Well I don’t can but I use Fillmore’s products for candle making so I don’t know if I am eligible for this contest but I would love to be. I eat canned food….does that count! 🙂
Canning with good music and good friends is always more fun!
Most important canning tip: Always remember to order enough supplies! The LAST thing you want is to be in the middle of the canning process when you realize you don’t have enough of the supplies you need! Fillmore Containers has such wonderful selection of everything I need to be fully prepared. Thank you Fillmore!
Pick and can your cukes same day for the best results! 🙂
order enough supplies and take notes
Great company, their jars make our canned products look as good as they taste.
Plan ahead! Make sure you have enough jars & lids (and ingredients!) on hand before you get started.
My best advice is always leave extra time for canning more canning!
I always seem to get the itch (and the time, since I have a toddler and a baby underfoot all day) to can at night. My tip is make sure you have the time to finish what you start! Or figure out where you can stop and pick up the next day. I’ve finished a few too many canning projects after midnight.
Best tip: Learn to use that pressure canner sitting in your basement!
I only canned with others. I’ve watched and learned to take things in stride and relax. Wish me luck on my first attempt to take on this process alone. 🙂
I love glass jars!!! I have used them for canning, fermenting, dry storage, office supplies, Christmas presents, etc. I love to find new uses for glass jars. All shapes and sizes. 🙂
Sit quietly and imagine all that you’ll need for your canning adventures. Then, order and get your supplies lined up BEFORE you’re ready to can.
Being prepared with ingredients and supplies is first, of course. I have a couple others from “lessons learned”. Label your jars with what is inside and the source of the recipe, no matter how busy you are. You may think you will remember what is inside and when you made it, but that doesn’t happen. If you like what you made and can’t remember which recipe you used, it is very frustrating.
be prepared!
I have not yet learned to can… but I decorate the jars!!!! 🙂
My best tip is to make sure you have all the supplies you need before starting!! Stock up when there’s a sale!
get organized and take that phone off the hook, never leave your kitchen unless you’re going to be right back. Always have more jars ready than you think you will need.
Never throw out old jars with cracks – use them for craft projects.
Make sure to write down changes you make to a recipe – otherwise you will not remember what you did the next time!
I am always looking for different shaped jars or replacement lids of old jars I have and Fillmore has them.
I can’t wait to plant my garden so I will have everything needed to can ssalsa!!
Get all your ingredients/supplies ready before you start. It’s incredibly annoying to have started only to realize you’re missing/short of that ONE thing you really need! Also, love the previous tip of buying fruit seconds — your fruit doesnt have to be pretty to taste delicious!
I’m still a canning newbie, but my best recently learned tip is that freezing some under-ripe apple skins and citrus ends and scraps helps me collect a good batch of materials for DIY pectin. I really like using the odds and ends to make new stuffs.
Always have extra supplies. I usually run out in the middle of canning 🙁
I love to can. I use a hot water bath, and have recently canned apple butter, apple pie filling, and apple jelly.
I use Fillmore Containers and lids for candle making. Love them! I have only canned once in my life. Did enjoy it.
Gather all of your supplies before you start and the pick the best quality fruit and vegetables.
Jump on Facebook if you have a surplus. We have a local “yard sale” site on Facebook, and you would be amazed at what you can trade for! If something of yours didn’t come up, it may have for someone else and vice versa!
Be organized!!
Grow + can what you love to eat!
Buy your supplies from a local supplier, don’t rush it through it and prepare a place for storage.
The best tip is to check your recipe and gather all ingredients and supplies before you start.
My best tip is keep track of what you do each batch you make. I have often found slight differences in each batch and months down the road wonder what made this batch different.
My best advice comes in three parts:
1. Small batch canning – trying to do too large of batches sometimes comprimises the product. Small batches are good especially if you are trying something new.
2. Stay organized! Make sure you have all your mise en place before you start – both equipment and ingredients!
3. Be adventurous! Always try new things- I’ve seen what’s fresh and local and made great canned items from that!
get supplies early!!
My best advice would be to stay in the moment, and enjoy every minute you spend harvesting, preparing, and preserving your fruits and vegetables. Also, make lots of salsa and tomato sauce! Its a great way to use up tons of tomatoes, onions, garlic, peppers, herbs and spices all in one shot!
Don’t multi-task! Plan to do one canning project at a time. You’ll enjoy the process and be more focused on the details(timing,etc)
Always be prepared and remember to enjoy yourself!!
Great tips! Will definitely help me since I’m not a terribly experienced canner. Thanks for sharing!
Get it together. Over the year, as jars are opened, given away, returned with it without lids, I tend to tuck jars anywhere they’ll fit (I’m even worse with kids). Come Spring, it’s nice to gather everything and cull through to see if there any size I’m short on.
I use glass jars for everything! Trail mix, drinks, packaging for capsules…and canning!
Keep an inventory of what you can each year, and don’t be afraid to try new things!
I haven’t done much canning, but I would think having a clean work area and all the necessary supplies handy would be very helpful! 🙂
My best tip is to have way more jars and bottles than you think you’ll need! People always seem to say, “May I keep the jar?” 😉
Its a good idea to not only keep a log of what you do, quantities, process etc, but also of the results you get – PH, consistency, taste, quantity, problems encountered.
Work with friends to make the work go faster
Start the season with a practical assessment of what you will eat. Try and think realistically.
read recipe twice, make sure it is a safe, tested recipe from approved sources (NCHFP, BALL, USDA), measure accurately.
What really helps me get ready for canning is to have my kitchen counters and sink clean and empty, have lots of towels and rags/cloths handy, have my supplies nearby, clean, and organized (which in my small space usually means stacked on or in each other, LOL). Also, it doesn’t need to all get done in one day, I like to sometimes spread it out amongst two days to make it less stressful and time consuming; do whatever prep I can the day before (like soaking beans, gathering my supplies together, etc.). Last bit– I like to do it alone, that way there is no stress with other people being around distracting me or dirtying my tiny area or cluttering it up with non-canning related stuff! 🙂
I have been in the process of making vanilla and have learned to make sure I do not tighten the lids to tight. I had to have my husband open the lids for me.
Freeze fruits and pure in blender for a smoother jam!
My tip is not to let fear keep you from doing it! I’m planning to jump in this year and do more than I did lalast year, but I still struggle with worrying that I’m going to do it all wrong.
Love Fillmore Containers various designed canning jars etc. Can’t wait to go shopping if I win.