Home Canning

Ready to give home canning a try? Here are all the supplies that you need to get started:

Have a question about canning? Find the answer here.

Definitions of common canning terms and tools.

An ever-growing collection of canning jar labels for you to print and use.

Use these strategies to get canning jars for less.

10 tips for better homemade jam, jelly and marmalade.

A list of canning methods that have been deemed too dangerous to use.

Most jam and jelly recipes call for pectin; but what is it, and what does it do?

Three ways to tell if your canning jars have sealed properly.

An explanation of the hot-pack method of canning.

An explanation of the cold-pack method of canning.

See rawpacking mentioned in a canning recipe, and not sure what it means? Here's the answer.

Doubling recipes saves time, but can it be done successfully with canning recipes?

Want to eliminate or cut back on the amount of salt used in your home canned vegetables, but wondering if it's safe to do so? Find out.

Hoping to cut back on the amount of vinegar in a pickle recipe? Find out if it's safe to do.

Hoping to cut back or eliminate the sugar in a canned fruit recipe? Find out if it's safe to do.

Hoping to reduce or eliminate the salt content in a pickle recipe? Find out if it's safe to do.

Many people save the jars that spaghetti sauce and pickles come in for reuse in their home canning, but is it safe?

Some people store their home-canned foods with bands on, some with bands off. Find out if they're required.

Is it okay to reuse last year's canning lids or do you need to start with a fresh batch? Find out.

Wondering if it's okay to reuse last year's canning jars? Here's the answer.

Canning recipes often mention leaving headspace, but what does that mean?

Recommended headspace amounts vary by food type. Find out how much the USDA says you need to leave.

Find out which foods the USDA says must be pressure canned.

Find out which foods are safe to water-bath can.

Find out when you need to sterilize canning jars – and just as important – when you don't.

Step-by-step instructions for proper sterilization of canning jars.

Instructions for reprocess unsealed jars of home-canned foods.

Three approaches to making sugar-free jam.

How-to books on pickling, smoking and canning foods.

Canning tips and resources.

Find out what aspirin/salicylic acid canning is and why it's no longer recommended.

A definition of brine as it pertains to canning.

Find out what a jelly bag is used for.

Find out what alum is used for, and why its use is no longer recommended.

Find out what pickling lime is used for, and why its use is no longer recommended.

An explanation of what a jelly strainer is and how it works.

Find out what pickling salt is and what it's used for.

An explanation of what a jar lid wrench is used for.

Find out what the bubble remover tool does and what you can use in its place if you don't own one.

Canning recipes often call for fingertip-tight lids, but what does that mean?

An explanation of what the inversion canning method is and why it's no longer recommended.

Find out what processing time is and what it accomplishes.

Find out what oven canning is, and why it should be avoided.

An explanation of the purpose and characteristics of a mason jar.

An explanation of how paraffin wax used to be used in canning.

An explanation of the design and function of a canning lid, along with a picture.

An explanation of what fermented pickles are and how they're made.

An explanation of what fresh-pack pickles are and how they're made.

Find out what steam canning is and why it's no longer considered safe.

Find out what dishwasher canning is and why it should be avoided.

Find out what solar canning is and why it should be avoided.

Find out what microwave canning is and why it should be avoided.

A definition of relish.

A definition of jelly.

A definition of fruit preserves.

A definition of jam.

A definition of marmalade.

An explanation of a what fruit conserve is.

An explanation of what fruit butter is and how it is made.

A definition of pickling.

Find out what a band is used for in canning and what it looks like.

Find out what a pressure canner is and what it looks like.

Find out what a canning funnel is used for and what it looks like.

An explanation of what a canning rack is used for.

Find out what a magnetic lid lifter is used for and what it looks like.

Find out what a jar lift is used for and what it looks like.

Find out what a water bath canner is and what it looks like.

Find out what the open-kettle canning method is, and why you shouldn't use it.

A definition of low-acid foods as it pertains to canning.

A definition of high-acid foods as it pertains to canning.

Find a community cannery near you, and discover a great place to do all of your canning.

Know several people who like to can? Then, consider throwing a canning swap party. It's a fun way to fill your pantry with lots of home-canned...