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Canning
Blueberries and other berries
blackberries, blueberries, currants, dewberries,
elderberries, gooseberries, huckleberries, loganberries,
mulberries, raspberries
Using
fresh fruit is the most desirable when canning blueberries.
However frozen berries will can nicely too. If
there is any sugar on the frozen berries you'll need to rinse them
while still frozen then defrost before you can them.
Using organic berries will avoid all the
chemicals involved in spraying.
Prepare
Gather
your canning supplies
Ingredients
Start by
preparing jars,and get water in your canner
heating.
(see Water
Bath Canning
for full directions)
Procedure
Make syrup of your choice to pour over your berries.
I
prefer extra light syrup. You could use just water if you don't want to
add any sweetness.
- extra light - 1 cup sugar to 4
1/2 cups water
- light - 2 cups sugar to 5 cups water
- medium - 3 cups sugar to 5 1/2 cups
water
- heavy - 4 3/4 cups sugar to 6 1/2 cups water
Wash berries and stem if necessary.
Next are directions for hot or raw pack. Use the raw pack
version if you have a softer variety of berries.
I'd like the hot pack for canning blueberries or other firmer berries. It draws out the
natural juices for the syrup and does not add as much water.
Either works fine in the end.
Hot
Pack (great for canning blueberries or other fruit that will hold up to the heating)
Measure your berries and add 1/4 sugar for each quart of
berries.
Place in a large pot and let sit for a couple of hours. Then
heat the berries until juices are flowing and berries are heated.
Fill
your jars with berries and syrup. Leaving a 1/2 inch
head space. If
you need more liquid top off your jars with hot syrup of your choice or
boiling water. |
Raw
Pack (best if you have softer berries like raspberries)
Fill your jars leaving 1/2 inch head space.
Add 1/2 cup
or so of syrup to the jar, then fill half way with berries.
Tap the bottom of the jar on a pot holder laid on the counter to settle
contents. Fill the rest of the way tapping to settle without
smashing.
Cover berries in jar with hot syrup leaving 1/2 inch
head space.
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When jars are filled. Remove air bubbles and clean rim of
jar. Pace your lids and process.
Pack and process according to water
bath canning instructions.
Don't forget to adjust for
altitude.
Processing
time
Time given is for elevation of 1000 feet or less.
Process
pints or quarts for 15 minutes.
| Altitude
Adjustments for Boiling Water Bath Canner |
| Altitude
in Feet |
Increase
processing time |
| 1001-3000 |
5 minutes |
| 3001-6000 |
10 minutes |
| 6001-8000 |
15 minutes |
| 8001-10,000 |
20 minutes |
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