logo for simplycanning.com


Home
Get Started Here Canning Safety
Equipment Pressure Canner
Water Bath Canner
Canning Recipes Canning Tomatoes
Canning Fruit
Canning Meat
Jam or Jelly Recipes
Using Home
Canned Food
Articles Budget Cooking
Canning with Honey
Other site stuff

LEFT for simplycanning.com
   

 Liquid Loss while home canning food. 

 Will foods be safe if there is some liquid loss in the jars after processing.  

This is another question that has been asked numerous times.

Sometimes liquid is lost during processing.  This might mean you had incorrect head space.   Or possibly you did not get out air bubbles before putting on the lids.  It happens to me on occasion as well.

As long as you used the correct processing pressure,time and method  you should be ok.  

Your foods will be fine.  The food above the liquid level may darken a bit.  
If liquid loss is excessive (like well below halfway) go ahead and put it in the front of your storage area so it will get used first.     


Here are some of the letters I've received.  


 
I just put up 35 quarts of green beans using a pressure canner.
10 lbs of pressure for 25 minutes.

I thought I packed the jars tightly / filled with boiling water. When I removed the jars from the canner the water level in the jars was a lot lower. The water doesn't cover the beans in some of the jars. What did I do wrong? Should they still be safe to eat?

Fran~ SC

Hi Fran

First I am assuming you adjusted the pressure you used for your altitude.

Yes your beans should be fine.  Sometimes liquid is pushed out during processing.  Usually this has to do if you had not enough or too much head space. Or possibly you did not get out air bubbles before putting on the lids.

35 quarts.... that is a lot!  Fantastic.

Canning Green Beans


I have a question about the corn I canned this week. This is the first time I have ever put corn up in canning jars. I have usually put it in the freezer. I did not blanch it first so I used the hot pack version I found in the booklet that came with my pressure canner. 

After processing and cooling  the liquid in the jar had reduced quite a bit. I am not sure why or if this will affect the safety of the corn. This is worse in the quarts and only in a couple off the pints. 

I am wondering what might have caused this. I would appreciate any help you can give me with this. I am new to canning and even though it is a lot of work it is a very gratifying hobby. Thanks in advance for your help. 

God Bless You,  Renee ~ Louisiana

Hi Renee,

As long as you followed the correct time and pressure required for canning corn you should be all right.  Liquid loss will sometimes occur. I have had that happen as well and the corn is fine.

It is possible that there was not enough head space in your jars.  Corn is starchy and will swell when being processed.  That might have pushed the liquid out.

Be sure and check the seals on your jars.  Sometimes if the liquid gets pushed out it may leave deposits on the sealing compound and prevent a good seal. 

I hope that helps and I hope you continue to enjoy your new hobby!

Canning Corn


 
Hi,
I'm new to canning.  A couple of weeks ago I made pickled beets and water bath canned them.  The vinegar mixture does not cover the top layer of beets.  Are they still safe to use?
Debbie ~PA

Debbie

Yes your beets should be ok.  I assume you mean after you processed the liquid level was down but you had the liquid full to the correct head space when you filled your jars.

Sometimes liquid loss happens during processing. Unless it is extreme your foods will be fine. The food above the liquid may darken a bit.

Sharon        Canning Pickled Beets




Return from Liquid Loss in home canning to  Home Canning Questions

Simply Canning Homepage



Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands.... 1Thessalonians 4:11


footer for Canning page
Site Build It