Any Tips for a First Time Canner???

Trish M
by Trish M
I Have Never Canned Before...I Have All The Supplies...Because My friends would Can The Food For Me For sharing My Crops.The Last Few Yrs.I have Dehydrated or Froze everything.I Would Like To Do Salsa and tomatoes...Any Tips from anyone who Has Done This..Would Be GREATLY Appreciated...Thanks
  6 answers
  • Lori J Lori J on Jul 23, 2012
    What are you canning? I have done lots of water bath canning, mostly tomatoes, salsa, pickles and fruit. I always froze the veggies cause I don't like working with a pressure canner. Oh, and lots of jams and jellies. I had a great cookbook years ago, just a little one from Better Homes and Gardens that was al I haver needed to feel like I knew what I was doing.
  • Trish M Trish M on Jul 23, 2012
    Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas.
  • Lori J Lori J on Jul 23, 2012
    Tomatoes are easy. I loved making salsa, but didn't work from a recipe. Lots of tomatoes, cored and peeled and mushed up a bit. Chopped onions, green peppers and jalepenoes with a bit of sugar. Cilantro to taste. Be very careful working with those hot peppers--gloves are a must. Removing seeds tames the heat a bit, but we always liked it hot so I just put the into my blender with some tomatoes and let my blender do the work.I always added some vinegar, because sometimes the tomatoes aren't as acidic as we like. The acid is what makes it safe to waterbath tomatoes. We started out canning salsa in pints, but the homemade goes fast because it is so much better, so I ended up canning quarts. Process like you would for tomatoes. Man, you are making me wish I still had room for a veggie garden.
  • Carleen Carleen on Jul 23, 2012
    as a retired home economist the best canning, freezing recipes are in The Ball Blue book. this is published the ball jar companycoccocompany.
  • Trish M Trish M on Aug 01, 2012
    Thank You VERY Much Girls...You Have Been Extremely Helpful!!!