Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
being canned, then the canning time and temperature for the
entire mixture is based on that of the ingredient that requires
the most time. By using the correct method, container, and
processing time, you can be assured of the safety of your
canned food.
Home Canning Jars
Jars for home canning are available at Walmart and many
hardware and grocery stores, although their availability is
seasonal. These jars are heavy walled and specifically
designed to withstand the rigors of temperature, pressure, and
vacuum created by home canning. Forget the old-style
(though attractive) jars with rubber gaskets and wire closures
since they are no longer recommended by the USDA. Today's
standards specify two-piece caps that include a reusable metal
ring called a “band” and a flat nonreusable lid that has a
sealing compound around its outer edge. The bands can be
used until they have warped or rusted, but the lids must be
thrown away once they have been used and bought new.
Home canning jars are expensive—about $7/dozen at the time
of writing. So figure a bit over $0.50 apiece. However, their
durability easily justifies their cost—home canning jars will
last decades. By the time a jar has seen use for 20 seasons, its
cost has dropped to $0.02. Once the jars and bands are
purchased (new jars usually come with bands), you just need
to buy new lids for each use—which are usually less than
$0.10 each. There are a handful of brands of home canning
jars available, and on the basis of my own experience, I
recommend Ball and Kerr, which are both manufactured in
the United States by Jarden Corporation. I especially
recommend Ball lids, because their underside is coated with a
