Canning Vegetables: Learn what vegetables to can and how.

Home canning vegetables is actually easy once you have learned to use a pressure canner. Really…vegetables must be pressure canned. There is no way around it.

Read about using a pressure canner here…

Many frequently asked questions and a list of vegetables to can and those not suitable for canning.

A jar of bright home canned pumpkin or squash cubes.

Skip directly to Canning Vegetables Recipes and Tutorials

Frequently Asked Questions on Canning Vegetables

Many frequently asked questions and a list of vegetables to can and those not suitable for canning

Can I can vegetables without salt?

Salt is optional for most vegetables. You’ll have to check each recipe directly to make sure it is appropriate. But for the most part, it is not required. So if you need to leave it out you certainly can.

I don’t recommend it because salt really does add to the flavor. Usually you’ll want 1 tsp per pint, and 2 tsp per quart. If you need to lower your sodium you can reduce that or eliminate it all together.

Keep in mind this is for plain vegetables only.

What Vegetables are the best for Canning?

Any of the canning vegetables recipes you see on this page are great for canning. There are many many vegetables to can. So many I couldn’t possibly list them all here. Just know that when you search out your particular vegetable make sure you are using a reliable resource.

Green Beans
Tomatoes (technically a fruit)
Carrots
Beets
Parsnips, Potatoes, Turnips
Pumpkin, Winter Squash
Peppers
Okra
Corn

What Vegetables Can Not be Canned?

It is much easier to create a list of vegetables not to can. Here are a few vegetables (but probably not all) that do not have tested recipes to preserve and store in your pantry. This may not be complete. Some of these might be surprising to you.

Artichoke
Broccoli
Brussel Sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Eggplant
Summer Squash
Pureed Winter Squash
Lettuce

Cabbage is one that many people want to can. It can be preserved as a pickled item though. Sauerkraut is a great way to preserve cabbage.

Summer squash is another that can’t be canned as a plain vegetable, but is easily pickled. These would be things like zucchini, crook necked squash.

Winter Squash IS something that can be canned as a plain vegetable. That would be squash like pumpkin, butternut squash. But you should can them in chunks, not as a puree.

Can Greens Be Canned?

Yes greens like Swiss chard, spinach, beet greens can be canned. Lettuces wont’ work. I’ve got more on Canning Greens here.

How Do I Know if a Recipe is Safe for Canning?

What do I mean by ‘tested recipes’?

There are many canning recipes floating about the internet. Many of them are fine. But some are not. So how do you know if a recipe is safe? Check the source.

The person writing the recipe should be able to tell you where the recipe came from. This will tell you if it has been tested.

The USDA / National Center for Home Food Preservation is a safe resource. That is where many of our recipes here on Simply Canning come from. These folks have access to the testing that has been done.

The Ball company and her Canadian counterpart Bernardin have books and websites with tested recipes. Just check the source. If you can’t find the source I’d look further.

What about canning Tomatoes?

Tomatoes are actually a fruit but I’ll put this here as it is often thought of in the vegetable category. Tomatoes can be canned with either the water bath or the pressure canner. Both methods will ask for added acidity in the form of lemon juice or citric acid to make the tomatoes a bit more acidic. The acidity levels in combination with the processing methods is what stops bacteria and spoilage from entering your jars.

I’ve got a whole page on canning tomatoes here to for more information. Canning Tomatoes

My son washing fresh vegetables in the kitchen.

If you’ve seen it canned at the store then you can can it at home.

I specifically put a strike through on that header because many people scan through articles and might not read this paragraph.

It is NOT true that when you see something on the shelf at the store you can put it in a canning jar at home. You must remember that items that are commercially canned have been through a completely different process.

We do not have the right equipment in our home kitchens for preserving some of these items. Remember food preservation is a science. Just because you see it in the store does not mean there are safe processes for at home.

Can Vegetables be canned in a Water Bath Canner?

No, vegetables are a low-acid food, so they must be pressure canned to prevent the risk of botulism.

However, if you want to pickle them water bath canning is sometimes appropriate. Dilly Beans, for instance. Since you add an acid (usually vinegar), this makes it a high-acid food which is safe to process in a water bath. Be sure the pickle recipe you use is a tested recipe, so you know there is enough acidity in your mixture.

FYI – Some people call ‘water bath canning’ a ‘boiling water bath’ or a ‘hot water bath’ This is generally the same process. Submerging jars fully with water and boiling for a set amount of time. Great for fruit, pickled items, jams and jellies but not canned foods like vegetables.

Can you Can Raw Vegetables?

Yes, actually some vegetables are ok for a raw pack. Remember this does not mean to not use a pressure canner. Raw pack is just a method of packing your jars with raw food instead of blanched food. Green beans for example can be canned either raw pack or hot pack. Both must be processed in a pressure canner.

Are Canned Vegetables Less Nutritious than Fresh Vegetables? Or Does Canning Preserve Nutrients?

Fresh vegetables will always be the most nutritious. I get that. However, the benefits of canning vegetables or other preserving methods are that you can save the food for later, so that it won’t go to waste if you can’t eat it all now.

What is the shelf life of home canned vegetables?

Home canned vegetables are best if used in the first year. However it is a quality issue not a safety issue. If you sure you’ve used tested safe recipes then your jars will last longer than that. If it has been a year, don’t throw your food and hard work away. Just plan on using it up soon.