Basic Household Supplies Needed
-Large Stock Pot (
at least 3" taller than canning jars inside the pot on a rack, that holds 4-5 jars)
-Large pot for cooking the jam or jelly (about 5 quart - jam boils up, so don’t use a small pot!)
-Bowl (big enough to hold all of the sugar called for in a recipe)
-Measuring cups & spoons
-Ladle (soup size, not gravy boat size)
-Stainless Steel Spoon (for skimming off foam)
-3-4 Kitchen Towels (that you don’t mind getting stained)
-Small saucepan for heating lids
-Half Sheet Pan or rimmed Cookie Sheet
-Kitchen scale (useful but not 100% necessary)
-Timer (Egg timer, microwave clock, oven timer, your watch, phone, whatever you got is fine)
-Whisk (not shown)
Essential Canning Tools Needed: Canning requires a few specific tools. The items listed below do not have links, because I have linked money-saving canning tool
sets further below.
-Rack for inside your stock pot (mine shown is a green plastic basket; your rack may be a round metal cake rack, or flat silicone like the one in the Ball Starter Kit)
-4 Half-Pint Ball canning jars, bands and
brand new, unused lids
-Jar Lifter Tongs
-Headspace Tool (or a clean chopstick and a ruler)
-
Magnetic Lid Wand
-Canning/Widemouth Funnel
Canning Tool Kits available from Amazon
Ball Preserving Starter Kit (Silicone Rack, Jar Lifter, Funnel, Headspace Tool, 4 half-pint jars, packet of pectin) $15
Inspoline Canning Kit (Metal Rack, Jar Lifter, Funnel, Headspace Tool, Magnetic Lid Wand, Tongs, Lid Wrench, Cleaning Brush) $30
Bare Bones Utensil Set (Jar Lifter, Funnel, Headspace Tool) $12
Alternate Bare Bones Utensil Set (Jar Lifter, Funnel & Magnetic Lid Wand) $16
Note on Canning Jars & Lids
Canning jars can, and often are, reused many times. They are designed to be sturdy, and see you through many canning seasons and recipes. If you choose to reuse jars already in your stash, you must check them each over carefully for any nicks or cracks anywhere on the jar or rim. A cracked jar will not hold up to processing, and a nick in the rim may cause your jar to not seal properly, allowing food to spoil. The same is true for the aluminum bands. They can be reused, but should be free of any rust or damage like dents.
Lids however, CANNOT ever be reused for food preservation. They are made with a thin band of glue around the edge, that helps seal the jars properly. Once the lids have been used, the glue is gone. The good news is that you can buy a brand new box of 12 lids for about $2. (If you are missing lids and bands, you can buy a box of both of those together for just a few dollars.) Once you have opened a new box of lids, be sure to use them all that year. An open box in the back of your cupboard will expire, as the glue in the lids dries out. Check the back or side of the box, and you’ll find an expiration date. Take it seriously! Old, dried out lids will not seal properly, leaving you with a bunch of jars of food to use up right away.
If you buy brand new canning jars, they will come with brand new lids and bands. All of these supplies, (as well as various kinds of pectins, canning salt, and pickling spices) are available in your local grocery store, usually near vinegars and baking supplies. Another great source of canning supplies is your local hardware store, like Ace Hardware, True Value, Tractor Supply Store, or Aubuchon Hardware. (Don’t bother with the Big Box stores.)
Resources:
USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning - FREE PDF (Everything you could ever want to know about canning every type of food, including the science behind it.)
USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning - Print Copy of the free PDF above
National Center for Home Food Preservation
Ball / Bernadin - Ball & Bernadin are both the same company. Both are owned by Newell, with the Ball brand being used in the US, and the Bernadin brand being used in Canada.
Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving - Excellent resource for learning to can, and contains 400 tried & tested recipes.
Ball Blue Book - This is the classic your grandma probably had. As long as you are using the most recent edition, it’s still highly useful.
Pomona’s Pectin - This is more of a niche resource. Pomona’s is a different type of pectin, that does not require sugar & acid to gel. Instead it uses calcium to achieve gelling. It is perfect for very-low or no sugar recipes, which can be great for diabetics. If using it, you must use their specific recipes to can safely! You cannot use it in place of traditional pectins in recipes from other sources.
Better Homes and Gardens Complete Canning Guide: Freezing, Preserving, Drying
Southern Living Little Jars Big Flavors - Specifically a small batch canning book, though some recipes border on full size. Gives recipes to use your canned goods in. Has ideas for hosting a canning party, with 4 seasonal menus.
Books to AVOID
Food in Jars, Preserving by the Pint, Naturally Sweet Food in Jars, The Food in Jars Kitchen, all by Marissa McClellan
Additional Recipes for Beginners
Jalapeno Pepper Jelly (Detailed, step-by-step recipe with photos is included in class PDF)
Bananas Foster Butter - makes 5 half-pint jars
