How can I can without a pressure canner?

Michelle
by Michelle

I am battling a rare form of bone cancer and decided to grow a vegetable garden and some berries so I can eat healthy foods. I’d like to can some of my vegetables and berries but can’t afford a pressure canner, or a canner at all at this time.so for the time being is there another way for me to can my vegetables?

  7 answers
  • Janet Coryell Smither Janet Coryell Smither on Aug 21, 2018

    Tomatoes, yes, because you can add some lemon juice when you can them, but most vegetables, because they are so low in acid, cannot be canned safely unless you use a pressure cooker. Blanching vegetables and freezing them would be a better way to preserve them--less expensive overall, if you have freezer space. And unless you have a large garden, you probably won't get enough of a crop to invest in a canner. We didn't can our own till we got a garden that was 16 x 24--the rest of the time we went to the farmer's market and bought canning quantities. See if you can find the Ball (company that makes the jars) Canning book--it has info on canning and freezing, dehydrating, etc. Walmart has one online: https://www.freshpreserving.com/ball-blue-book--guide-to-preserving-%2837th-edition%29-1034026.html

  • Peg33886122 Peg33886122 on Aug 21, 2018

    Hot water bath works great for most veggies and fruits. But look up the bath "times" for each. Pickles is 15 minutes and tomatoes take 45 minutes. All you need is a canning pot with rack and lid, canning tongs, canning funnel and jars with lids and rings. Look up the directions on the internet or, if you love cookbooks, get a copy of The Joy of Cooking for complete directions.

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    • Peg33886122 Peg33886122 on Aug 22, 2018

      Some people only use the pressure method. Some say it is the only safe way to can and with your illness you may want to take every precaution. That said I have always used the water bath method with no problems. Some veggies I only freeze because the canning cooks the food too much for my taste i.e., squash and green beans. The main thing is to follow the canning directions and enjoy the process. I have a daughter-in-law who is battling cancer and I know That she is happiest when she is doing something she enjoys even if it's "work". Stay strong and may you have a full recovery. 😊

  • Dfm Dfm on Aug 21, 2018

    There is a water bath method, but it depends on the acid content of the veggie.get yourself a copy of the ball blue book of canning. Call around to second hand shops, occasionaly a pressure canner shows up..freezing veggies is also an option. To help with color of veggie and to make them a bit more acid, ci

  • Dfm Dfm on Aug 21, 2018

    Oh cats..citric acid is added to veggies to increase acid content, vinager is used for others. Another option of preservation is to dehydrate the veggies.

  • Patti Nicholas Patti Nicholas on Aug 21, 2018

    Absolutely, we never had a pressure cooker and canned everything from our garden for years. You’ll want to follow the directions for water bath canning rather than pressure canning. The Ball website has great recipes and instructions

    https://www.freshpreserving.com/waterbath-canning.html

  • Michelle Michelle on Aug 22, 2018

    Thank you , I was wondering what people did before pressure canners lol is it possible to use water bath method to can vegetables, or just for tomatoes? I have carrots, green beans, brussel sprouts , 2 kinds of cucumbers, radishes, 4 types of tomatoes, lots of strawberries, potatoes, turnips, peas, and celery and broccoli. I have a huge garden with tons of vegetables so I can get a boost of good nutrition before treatments and recovery begins. I am so excited to try canning. I have blanched and froze a few things but not the same. Hoping canning will be a different outcome. 🙂