Canning safety is simply a matter of avoiding risks.  Use safe canning methods. Be clean, use common sense.  

Did you know life is full of risk? Sure you did. We all take risks all the time. Simple everyday things are risky.  What about driving to town?  Crossing the street?

We also take steps to lessen the risks. We drive safely, We wear seat belts. We teach our children to look both ways when crossing the street. The same is true of canning safety.  Look both ways , lessen the risks.

For you who may be new at home preserving,  

I am not trying to cause "fear"....  I have been canning with no problems for many yrs.  I just want to emphasize safety procedures in your canning process.  

There are risks involved. Take the steps to be safe and you will enjoy feeding your family just like you enjoy being able to jump in the car and go to the grocery store.

Are you a seat belt wearer? I am.

Remember these simple things:

    * Low acid foods must be processed in a pressure canner
    * High acid foods may be processed in a water bath canner
    * You must use the recommended time, pressure and methods.
    * Remember to adjust for altitude.
    * Remember to boil low acid foods before serving.  

Read the articles below

Learn more about canning safety and the precautions you should be taking or the methods you should NOT be using.

Stick with these guidelines and you are on your way to having great tasting, healthy, chemical free food provided by your very own hands.

Now ~~ Go and enjoy the harvest.

(if I have not scared you off with all this talk of botulism and risks)

Really!  Just put on your seat belt, read these articles.

Botulism
A severe, sometimes fatal food poisoning caused by ingestion of food containing botulin. 


Canning methods
Which Canning methods to use? Is my food high acid or low acid?
Should I process in a water bath canner or pressure canner? Why? That is a common question ~ and a good one....

 
Canning Tomatoes Safely
Tomatoes have long been canned by the traditional boiling water bath method.   Tomatoes are very close to the safety borderline of acidity.
Apparently, some varieties have recently turned up that do not have a high enough acidity level for water bath canning....

 
Unsafe Canning Methods
Canning has come a long way since our Grandmothers time. Yet, some canning methods are still being used that are not considered safe anymore...

Sterilizing Canning Jars
Sterilizing jars is not needed IF processing time is more than 10 minutes    Most recipes call for at least 10 minutes processing time or more.  If not here is an easy way to sterilize your jars.

Spoiled Food
When you take food out of storage, do not eat food from jars that have lost their seal or have bulging tops. If in doubt, throw it away!...

Canning Terms
Canning terms can really mess us up if you think a word means one thing, and I think the same word means something else.

Altitude Adjustments
Altitude adjustment charts.....




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