i am a canning novice for sure, and i am here to encourage anyone who has not given it a try to do so! i made some blueberry jam last year during a little canning adventure with a friend (cara:) and have been looking forward to doing more canning this year. so, after we went strawberry picking a little bit ago i was ready to make jam! i have been a bit intimidated about canning (afraid someone might end up with food poisoning from something i canned improperly) but, it really isn't so hard! that said, there are different ways to can, and all i have done is a water bath. the supplies are pretty basic and you can actually make do without some of them, but others are pretty handy- (like a funnel and jar lifter) when i started researching this whole canning thing last year i came across this website http://www.pickyourown.org/index.htm which has a TON of information on it.
you can find listings of farms near you to "pick your own" produce, information on types of canning supplies and equipment and where to get them, and recipes and detailed instructions on how to can, pickle, dry, freeze, etc...
when it came time to actually make the strawberry jam and can it, i really just followed the pretty basic instructions on the pectin box. one note- definitely check out the low sugar or no sugar added pectin this is the kind i used http://www.amazon.com/Sure-Jell-Premium-Fruit-Pectin-1-75-Ounce/dp/B001E50XBQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=grocery&qid=1279043852&sr=8-1
you use significantly less sugar with this kind than the usual pectin, and it tastes great!
even with a couple minor deviations (not fully intentional) from the recipe the jam turned out good with everyone in our house willingly eating it. so, if you have any interest you should give it a try!
now i know some of you have lots of canning experience, so if you have any wisdom or resources to share please do! happy canning!!
ps. http://www.simplebites.net/ is doing a series on canning right now that looks pretty cool...
fantastic picture, but the jam itself is superior!! love ya ~ me
ReplyDeleteWhen I have made jelly in the past, I just put the jars in the dish washer with no soap or dishes, and let it run on a regular cycle before and after filling. Much easer than all that in and out of the hot water bath because you can do them all at one time. Usually you get one or two jars that don't seal, but I just put them in the fridge to be eaten first.
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