Speedy Publishing - Canning and Preserving Guide including Recipes: Boxed Set

Table of Contents

Canning and Preserving

For Beginners:

Essential Tips and Guide

By: Angela Pierce

Introduction

Preserving is defined as the process of maintaining a foods state or condition even for a long period of time and canning is considered as one of the most popular processes of preserving food items. Food items like fruits, vegetables, etc. have a shelf life period by which they would stay fresh and edible, but usually, this shelf life is not as long as you want it to be. However, if they undergo the process of canning and preserving, they can maintain their condition and still be edible even if they are past their actual shelf life already. This is because canning involves putting these foods inside airtight cans or jars in order to lock in freshness and prevent spoilage as well as preserving involves putting ingredients such as salt, lemon, vinegar, etc. that have the ability to preserve food and lengthen their shelf life.

Canning and preserving are usually performed by companies manufacturing canned goods and preserved foods but this process can also be done at home. However, as a beginner, before starting to can and preserve foods at home, it helps when you get to know more about this process first especially its advantages and some essential tips to consider.

Chapter 1. Advantages of Canning and Preserving Foods at Home

While there are so many canned and preserved food products you can buy from department stores nowadays like jams, etc. it is still a better option for you to try canning and preserving your own food at home. Here are several reasons why:

Convenience. When you can and preserve your own foods at home, you give yourself access to portable food items when you need them and you no longer have to shop for these foods from department stores because you already made what you need in your own cupboard. For instance, if you need something to pair your bread with, you can easily make your own jam that you can use not only at present but for future use as well. It saves you time, money and effort in running to the store to buy them.

Longer Shelf Life. If you have a lot of fruits at home or if you are growing your own food in your backyard, they will all be wasted if you do not consume them at once before their expiration date but when you can and preserve your own food at home, you are saving these food items from demise by extending their shelf life. This is because you are turning them into something that is useful for you but wont easily expire. This will help you avoid wasting resources and being wise in thinking of new ways to make use of the food resources you have.

Nutritional Value Preserved. When you can and preserve your own food, you are not only maintaining their condition and their state or locking in their freshness but you are also actually preserving their nutritional value. So, even if chemical reactions may have changed the way the food items taste and their texture in your mouth, you can be assured that their nutritional value are still intact and that even if you are not eating the food in its original form, you are not depriving yourself of the nutrients from these foods.

Safety and Control. When you can and preserve your own food at home, you know what you are putting in it or the ingredients that you are using as preservatives and you know that you wont be putting synthetic and chemical ingredients to your preserved foods just to preserve them well. In other words, you have control over the foods you are canning and preserving. This way, you are also in control of your safety when it comes to consuming canned and preserve foods. Some of the canned and preserved foods out there may use preservatives that could be toxic to the body and health but when you can and preserve your own foods at home; there is no threat to your safety.

Cost-Efficient. Canning and preserving your own foods at home could mean a hefty initial cost but it can still be considered cost-efficient because you will not be paying for labor and expensive cost of operation unlike when you buy canned and preserved foods from companies. This is also cost-efficient in the long run because you no longer need to buy these food items from stores as you have access to your own canned goods already. Therefore, it can indeed save you money too.

More rewarding. Aside from the fact that canning and preserving your food at home can benefit your safety, your budget, your convenience, etc. this process also proves to be more rewarding than when you simply buy canned goods and products out there. This is because after you have gone through the effort of preserving and canning your own foods, there is a feeling of satisfaction you would feel knowing that you are the one who made the food you are using and that despite the time and effort you have invested, you still managed to succeed.

Chapter 2. Canning and Preserving Tips and Guidelines

Canning and preserving may be a process that can be done at home, but as a beginner, it may be a bit challenging for you to embark on this process without bearing in mind some specific tips to ensure that the canning and preserving process would be a success.

1. Gather the right canning tools and equipments. This refers to the important tools and equipments necessary for canning and preserving such as jars, pots, tongs, racks, pressure canners, etc.

To start gathering these tools and equipments, first, decide how much food items you are going to can.

Then, you can now decide how big or how small the canning jars you need are.

Next, determine the reason why you are canning and preserving food, whether it is for business or personal. If it is for business and you are caning a lot, you will know whether a pressure canner is necessary or not.

And of course, gathering the right ingredients also means buying the quality ones.

2. Learn the canning and preserving method. As a tip, if you are a beginner, do not just start canning if you have no idea about how the process or the method is done. You can research online or you can also attend canning and preserving training or even watch tutorial videos.

To can your own foods at home, some basic steps to be familiar with are packing the jar with the food and the boiling water the right way which is by leaving a head space; the right way to add the preservatives; as well as removing air bubbles or how to shut the jar airtight.

Canning recipes can also help you learn how to can your own food.

3. Prepare the foods for canning. To prepare the foods you are going to can and preserve, start by choosing the foods you are going to can. Are you going to make a jam, a pickle, etc? Decide first and then gather some canning and preserving recipes so you can also be guided on what foods to prepare. This is also means deciding how much food you are planning to can and the right foods to can such as jelly, applesauce, oils, garnishes, dips, etc.

4. Clean foods to can and jars to use well. It is important to clean all the food items you are planning to can as well as the jars you are going to use for canning. This also goes to all the tools you will need for the process. This is to ensure that your canned goods would be free from harmful bacteria that may have gained access to the food due to dirty items and tools.

To clean your food and tools well, start by washing them thoroughly with water.

Then, sterilize the equipments and the tools from jars, to seals to tongs, etc. by using boiling water.