When you get into canning, it can be a little overwhelming. You understand the benefits of using up your produce in your fridge and having unprocessed foods at the ready, but there is a lot to be considered in the beginning. There are also lots of different types of canning methods to consider. Before you get started, here are some common canning mistakes to avoid and the amazing benefits of canning.
The Benefits of Canning
It’s Eco-Friendly
It’s encouraging to think about how canning reduces waste and is also environmentally friendly.
Because cans are recyclable, you won’t have to worry about producing a lot of waste while canning your food.
Canning Maintains the Nutrients and Flavor of Food
When growing and canning your own food, you can expect that the nutrients and the flavor of the food will be preserved. It will assure you that the food you are consuming is clean, healthy, and tasty.
It Helps You Save Money
Canning means that you can save energy because doing so reduces the need of using the refrigerator.
Plus, you’ll save money since you won’t be buying all the jarred products you would have normally bought at the grocery store.
Common Canning Mistakes
Filling the Jars Too Much
This is probably one of the most common mistakes people tend to make when they first get into canning.
It looks like you have enough space in your jars, so you fill them to the top, but then later find out it didn’t seal properly because you filled the jars too much.
Read the canning instructions carefully and you will see that it asks you to leave about ½-1 inch of space at the top of the jar before putting the lid on. This is going to help you seal the jars properly, allowing them to be stored for a longer period of time and still remain fresh.
Not Using the Correct Jars or Lids Will Not Let You Enjoy the Benefits of Canning
‘What do I need to start canning?’ If you’ve ever pondered this question, you should know that the jars and lids you use are important things you need for canning.
Aside from that, reading instructions carefully when you first start canning is crucial. This starts with the supplies you intend to use.
You can’t just use any jar you find when it comes to canning. You need to use glass jars that are made to handle a water bath, which gets to high temperatures. Don’t reuse your pasta sauce jars for canning.
The same goes for lids. You don’t want to reuse lids along with your reusable jars. Get the proper canning jars WITH the proper canning lids. These are going to not only help with the high temperatures but to make sure your jars are sealed.
Lastly, make sure you are using high-quality canning jars. They shouldn’t be chipped or cracked, neither on the jar itself nor on the lid.
Failing to Follow a Recipe
One of the benefits of canning is you can choose what ingredients to use. However, while you can tweak recipes over time as you learn more about canning, in the beginning, it’s best to start with a specific recipe. Canning is all about science, so you need to listen to the experts when you first start.
From supplies to use to what you add to your foods and how it is heated up before being sealed is all equally important.
There are also many types of canning so it’s essential to understand how they differ in terms of the processes required.
Not to mention that the instructions are often different depending on what you are canning as well, so that is something else to consider. The more you can preserve foods, the more you will understand just how much attention to detail makes a difference.