Although many of you preserve year round, some of you are anxiously awaiting your favorite local fruits and vegetables to come to season. We’ve picked out some of our top preserving posts that will be helpful, as you evaluate your equipment, gather your supplies, and set your preserving goals. We are also sharing our...
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Updated – August 2023 If you’re preserving low acid foods – like meats and most vegetables, pressure canning is the only safe way to create a safe and shelf stable product. Ball jars and their 2-piece lids are tested and approved containers and lids for use in pressure canning. Pressure Canning Basics is a good...
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I am quick to admit that it is very satisfying to see my countertop lined with cooling jars, and then to know that I can grab one just seconds before the contents are needed for a meal or snack. It is enjoyable to browse the shelves of preserves & choose a few jars perfect...
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Updated – January, 2022 Pressure canning is a different preserving method than water bath canning, and not all jars are designed, tested, and approved for pressure canning. This post will discuss which jars are safe for pressure canning. Pressure canning is the only method recommended safe by the U.S.D.A. for preserving low-acid foods such...
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Updated June 2023 Richard Kralj, Food Safety & Quality-Senior Extension Educator at Penn State Extension presented a pressure canning demo at our Preservation Station at the PA Farm Show. There were many questions regarding pressure canning at the PA Farm Show, and we continue to get questions about this topic. As more small kitchen...
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Veteran judges, Louetta Hurst and Vicki Becker, have seen their share of judging. They’ve shared their expertise at many local & county fairs and we caught up with them at the PA State Farm Show. For a couple of years, now, we’ve been participating in the PA State Farm Show. This year, however, I...
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Can I re-use my Baby Food Jars? If you want to reuse old baby food jars, ask yourself these three questions first. Do you plan to use old baby food jars for a vase or craft project where you’re not expecting the lid to do anything important? Do you want to preserve food in...
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Rusty Rings We won’t tell you that rust is good, but it doesn’t have to mean the end of the road for your canning supplies. Water Bath Canners & Racks: If you’re using a typical agate water bath canner, chances are, it has many stories to tell and the battle scars to prove its...
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