Home Canning Equipment

Home canning is the process of preserving foods, especially fruits and vegetables, in a can or a tin. It is also known as processing and can be used to preserve meat in addition to fruits and vegetables. Home canning usually requires some equipment, which are known as home canning equipment. Such home canning equipments include glass jars, lids, water bath caner, pressure canner and jar lifter. Successful home canning requires proper selection and use of such equipment. Let's have a brief look at some important equipment and their essential qualities for home canning.

Home Canning Equipment

Home Canning Glass Jars
Usually glass jars are used for the purpose of canning. These jars are available in many different shapes and sizes. They usually contain a flat brass lid and ring. The brass lid is fitted with a rubber gasket or washer on the underside of the rim. One of the earliest glass jars developed for food preservation are the mason jars. These jars were invented in 1850 by John L Mason and they are still used for home canning. Mason jars are made of soda-lime glass and you can notice a dimpled shape on the lid, which actually can be compared with an indicator. It indicates whether a jar is properly sealed, as a sound is produced on pressing that area, if the jars are not sealed properly. Cans or metal containers can also be used for home canning, however they cannot be reused like the glass jars. They are also expensive and may require some special sealing equipment.

Home Canning Lids
The next important equipment for home canning is the jar lid. The old, rusted or deformed jar lids should not be reused for home canning, as they cannot seal the jars properly. Instead, purchase a new lid for your jar. Though a variety of jar lids for home canning are available in the market, you need to choose one that can properly seal the jar. Many of the lids are found in two pieces, a small cap and a band or screw. The small cap is designed in such a way that it can fit into the jar rim, while the band or screw hold the cap in place. Get the right sized cap for your jar and test if it can seal your jar completely. The right use of jars and lids is crucial for the success of home canning.

Water Bath Canner
The home canning process also involves the use of a water bath canner, which is a home canning machine used for processing jellies, fruits and other high acid foods. This equipment usually comes with a canning rack, where the filled jars are placed before inserting inside the water bath canner. This facilitates both insertion and removal of the jars from the water bath canner. A canning rack keeps the jars in place and also prevents their contact with the bottom of the canner. For purchasing a water bath canner, first decide on their size, as the jars have to be completely accommodated by the water bath canner. The water bath canner should be able to accommodate all the jars in such a way that the water level remains at least one or two inches above the top of the jars.

Pressure Canner
While a water bath canner is suitable for high acid foods, a pressure canner is ideal for foods that contain low acid levels and also for canning meat. This is because the temperature required for killing bacteria in low-acid foods is usually higher than the one that can be achieved with a water bath canner. Pressure canners are generally made of aluminum or stainless steel with twitch-on lids fitted with the gaskets. The jars or bottles are not required to be completely immersed in water inside the pressure canner.

Jar Lifter and Non-Metallic Spatula
Jar lifters are the tool used for lifting processed jars from inside the water bath canner or pressure canner. This tool enables safe insertion as well as removal of the hot jars by providing a secure grip, while a non-metallic spatula is used to release the air bubbles from inside the filled jars.

Though home canning is an easy process used for preserving foods for a considerable period, it needs to be done with appropriate care. Sealing the jars or cans can be termed as the most important part of home canning, which if not done properly, can even lead to food poisoning. The appropriate use of the various home canning equipment would help avoid such conditions.