Canning Question

[Edgemont]

My wonderful fiance and I are learning to can. We're not sure if we can put our jars directly on the bottom of the pot when boiling? Or do we need to put the jars on some sort of steel contraption that brings the jars up off of the bottom of the pot?
I have seen this "steel contraption" in my Ball Blue Book of Preserving... And I'm not sure if I have to have it. We are canning strawberries! We made jam last weekend... Delicious! 7.4lbs of strawberries for 10 bucks at a U-pick. And also another question by a newb, how long do properly home canned foods last? Any feedback is very much appreciated!

(I never thought that ME, a 26 yr old "dude" would be so excited to can food! Shouldn't I be out with the other mindless, self absorbed fools drinking or something?... I don't think so!)

[1Admin]

I think it's called a rack. It helps to keep the jars off the bottom and remove them all en masse if you so desire.

[ThePreparedMom]

I've done extensive research on canning, as I've just begun doing it myself, and everything I have read has said that you MUST place a rack on the bottom of the pot so that your jars DO NOT touch the bottom. Using a rack keeps your jars from breaking during processing and it also allows the hot water to get under the jar and ensure proper processing.

Hope this helps! Happy canning!

[claymore]

Wire rack for a water bath and that aluminum plate ( not sure what its called ) for a pressure cooker. Any question call the county extension office.

[Edgemont]

Thanks for the info. It was helpful.

[1Admin]

Get the latest edition of "Stocking up" 3rd edition is what we've had for years, their might be one newer. We still reference it a lot.

Putting up apples and sweet corn now.

[610Alpha]

Putting that book on my list. Thanks!!

Sweet corn and apples already...just now starting to see my peas and green beans forming.

[boomhower]

Just started canning myself.

The Ball Blue book is like a bible.

I bought a pressure cooker from Lehmans, and it came with two stamped steel rings for keeping the jars off the bottom of the pot and separated.

Boom

[RememberGoliad]

When the water boils, the jars will bounce. SOMETHING needs to be under them. The rack gives them the space needed so that when the water boils, it doesn't push the jars around. I've used a hand towel in the bottom of my boiling water canner, and it works fine--it just floats up when you take out the jars, and can be annoying. If you don't have the little holey plate that comes with the canner, i think a piece of flat face expanded metal will serve the same purpose, just cut it into a size to fit flat on bottom of canner, and you're good to go. Main thing is to give the bubbles from boiling an 'escape route' without having to lift the jar to float away.

Happy canning! Everything tastes better, I think :)

Bill
Coastal south Texas

[mtnmom5]

I have even used an old towel as a rack. I had lost my rack for my canner one summer so I tried different things and they all worked. I laid a row of canning rings in the bottom of the canner and set the jars on top of that. The towel worked but the rings were better. :)

But yeah, you DO want to use something. I also discovered that you can double layer pint jars in a normal size canner. I have one of those granite canners that fits 7 quart jars and I can fit a lot of pints in there if I skip the rack and just put the rings down and then two layers of pint jars. I have even canned meat like this - boiling them for three hours ( which is the normal cold packing time for meat) And yes, I have been canning everything from meat to vegetables with the cold packing method for over 20 years. You can do it. I hate pressure canners. ( My mom scared the bajeebies out of me with the pressure canner when I was a girl,by warning us what could happen if we bumped the pressure / jiggly thingie... long story, but it pretty much alienated me from ever using one!)