Catholic Info
Traditional Catholic Faith => Health and Nutrition => Topic started by: s2srea on August 29, 2011, 02:32:40 PM
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I was curious if anyone one here is into canning. I'm really interested. My dad has about 6 fig trees and they produce so many tastie figs. I brought some to church Sunday and everyone loved them! I've been interested in canning and found this website HERE (http://www.pickyourown.org/figrecipes.htm) with some info on canning figs. It has a LOT of great info!
Curious if anyone is into canning other fruits/vegetables/cheeses etc.
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you can can cheese?
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Apparently so. I was on a canning forum where someone mentioned it! Interesting huh?
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s2srea,
Have you thought of drying them? Dried foods take up less room, you don't have to have them in glass jars so you don't have to worry about breakage and dried figs are delicious. It's also very easy to do if you have a food dryer.
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Apparently so. I was on a canning forum where someone mentioned it! Interesting huh?
it cant taste too good i would think.
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you can can cheese?
Yes you can and I have successfully. If anyone wants to know how I'll tell
them and point them to my source in a pm. It it not approved by the FDA.
Because I don't wish to be sued if things go awry, I don't wish to post
the information to a public forum.
I've also successfully canned farm fresh milk.
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Curious if anyone is into canning other fruits/vegetables/cheeses etc.
I have canned for over thirty years, any questions feel free to ask.
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s2srea,
Have you thought of drying them? Dried foods take up less room, you don't have to have them in glass jars so you don't have to worry about breakage and dried figs are delicious. It's also very easy to do if you have a food dryer.
OPM- yes, I have thought about it, but not recently. Its a wonderful idea. I have dried beef (jerky) in the oven, with some success... well my mother-in-law loved it lol but she's just extra nice and easily pleased.
I think i'll look into a food dryer as well :wink: Do you use a food dryer?
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Curious if anyone is into canning other fruits/vegetables/cheeses etc.
I have canned for over thirty years, any questions feel free to ask.
Where do you get your jars and canning equipment? Do you prefer buying online, or at a local store? I heard Wal-Mart was inexpensive.
Also, when canning, is sugar 'always' used? It seems like so many fruits require a syrup during the process. I'm curious if there's a way to preserve in this method, which doesn't require so much syrup, or if you have any suggestions.
I was planning on taking my eldest (3 years old) to a 'U-Pick' farm this weekend. Fortunately, where I live, there are a lot of apple, strawberry, and other-berry farms/orchards locally! I saw online you could go and pick your own fruit, and I thought it would be a great family outing. There is a family from church who I'm hoping will bring their son as well! :cowboy:
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Curious if anyone is into canning other fruits/vegetables/cheeses etc.
I have canned for over thirty years, any questions feel free to ask.
Where do you get your jars and canning equipment? Do you prefer buying online, or at a local store? I heard Wal-Mart was inexpensive.
Also, when canning, is sugar 'always' used? It seems like so many fruits require a syrup during the process. I'm curious if there's a way to preserve in this method, which doesn't require so much syrup, or if you have any suggestions.
I was planning on taking my eldest (3 years old) to a 'U-Pick' farm this weekend. Fortunately, where I live, there are a lot of apple, strawberry, and other-berry farms/orchards locally! I saw online you could go and pick your own fruit, and I thought it would be a great family outing. There is a family from church who I'm hoping will bring their son as well! :cowboy:
1. Jars: First ask around and see if anyone has some they don't want. Sometimes you may come across someone older who no longer cans. When it comes to jars, free is always the best price!
The cheapest place I've found for jars is Big Lot/Odd Lot. I have had luck at
Amish hardware stores and Amish bulk food stores as well. I find it cheaper to buy lids in bulk at the Amish stores.
When you're ready, Walmart will be the cheapest place to buy a pressure
canner. Don't be afraid to pressure can, it's not hard. The hardest part I find is to align the darn lid with the pot.
Unless you can find free shipping, canning supplies will be more costly buying online.
2. Sugar: If you're talking about jellies and jams, yes, yes, yes! Without it, your jam won't gel. You can purchase a product called Sure-Jell in a reduced sugar amount.
3. Pick your own: Usually it is cheaper to pyo. I've found around here when it comes to cherries, it's about the same price picking it yourself or buying it already picked at the orchard. Do call your local berry farm before going to make sure what you want is ready and to check to see if they allow children in the fields. Some places have learned the hard way how much damage little ones can do to berry bushes. Also, some berry bushes (raspberries) have nasty thorns, not good for little ones.
Seems to me, you're starting off just right. Jellies, jams, and high acid foods are they way you want to start, all are water bathed and this process is easier then presser canning. Just start off slowly and next thing you know, you won't even have to get the canning bible off the shelf, The Ball Blue Book (it's a must have), it costs seven to nine dollars.
I do believe it was Ora pro me mentioned canning; another great way to preserve summer's bounty. Dried fruit minus sugar is a wonderful snack for wee folk.
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s2srea,
Have you thought of drying them? Dried foods take up less room, you don't have to have them in glass jars so you don't have to worry about breakage and dried figs are delicious. It's also very easy to do if you have a food dryer.
OPM- yes, I have thought about it, but not recently. Its a wonderful idea. I have dried beef (jerky) in the oven, with some success... well my mother-in-law loved it lol but she's just extra nice and easily pleased.
I think i'll look into a food dryer as well :wink: Do you use a food dryer?
Yes, we've dried fruit and vegies in our food dryer. We had a dryer for many years that we got back in the 70s but finally bought a new one when we found out that the new ones dry food in a fraction of the time and don't use so much electricity. Our old dryer would also heat up the kitchen which is great in the winter but not in the summer when we were doing most drying and it'd take all night to dry most fruits. Our new food dryer is made by Nesco.
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I do believe it was Ora pro me mentioned canning; another great way to preserve summer's bounty. Dried fruit minus sugar is a wonderful snack for wee folk.
Duh, Ora pro me mentioned food drying, not canning :fryingpan:. Let this be a lesson to other members, no posting before coffee.
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Our new food dryer is made by Nesco.
I love my Nesco! I now have 12 trays for it.
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Curious if anyone is into canning other fruits/vegetables/cheeses etc.
I have canned for over thirty years, any questions feel free to ask.
That is seriously impressive.
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Curious if anyone is into canning other fruits/vegetables/cheeses etc.
I have canned for over thirty years, any questions feel free to ask.
Hello Cheryl been canning for 7yrs now sometimes when Im tired or lazy I simply put hot jam or fruit into hot jars with softened lids without putting them into a canner. The lids seem to seal the odd one not. I also use my lids at least 3 times for fruit and once for meat. What do u think?
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Does anyone here use BPA free lids? Most of my jars/lids are older and I worry about BPA contamination, but I wonder if the risk is that significant just from the lid which isn’t touching the food.
I am also wondering if anyone has ever heard of any health from canning with tinted glass. I love the Ball line of turquoise tinted glass mason jars.
I have a nice crop of tomatoes, the bulk of which should be mostly ripe within the next week or so. I am hoping to put away a dozen jars of spaghetti sauce.
I've already enjoyed some romas and lots of cherry tomatoes. :)
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I made fig jam one year. I used it for pinwheel cookies and in sweet roll bread as a filling. Very good. I make Cactus Prickly pear jelly every year. I get my jars from thrift stores, estate sales and if I need to, then Walmart. When walmart has clearance sales, I buy then and am ready when canning time comes. I get my pectin from Walmart. I don't like paying more that $1.50 per box. I think I paid just a little more this year. I watch the price of sugar and try to get the best price. Happy canning!
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I made fig jam one year. I used it for pinwheel cookies and in sweet roll bread as a filling. Very good. I make Cactus Prickly pear jelly every year. I get my jars from thrift stores, estate sales and if I need to, then Walmart. When walmart has clearance sales, I buy then and am ready when canning time comes. I get my pectin from Walmart. I don't like paying more that $1.50 per box. I think I paid just a little more this year. I watch the price of sugar and try to get the best price. Happy canning!
I found pectin for $1.00/box at a local grocer. I am pretty new to jellies and jams but I have a good book.
I have been making pickles and pickled green beans. I should be able to do peppers soon.
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I hope it is a good pectin. What I mean is I picked up one from Frys and the price was low. I tried one box and the pectin was very slow to dissolve, and it was not expired. So, I made note not to by it again.
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Thanks for this topic. I will have to come back and check it out. I have never canned. I was just at tractor supply and they had a book on canning so I skimmed through it. My friends all can. I am hoping to meet up with them and learn.
And being farmers, we have ton of tomatoes. We grow for canhouse. My Mom says she makes sauce and stores it in freezer bags. Bpa free jars sounds better to me. They say that during world War II, many people had victory gardens and canned food. Certain food products were rationed like sugar.
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IN 1974, in my state of Indiana, we had a shortage of canning lids. Now, that could have been in other states. But anyway, we had tomatoes that rotted in the fields.
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Thanks for this topic. I will have to come back and check it out. I have never canned. I was just at tractor supply and they had a book on canning so I skimmed through it. My friends all can. I am hoping to meet up with them and learn.
And being farmers, we have ton of tomatoes. We grow for canhouse. My Mom says she makes sauce and stores it in freezer bags. Bpa free jars sounds better to me. They say that during world War II, many people had victory gardens and canned food. Certain food products were rationed like sugar.
Tomato based sauces freeze just fine, I've done that too. It is less work in the beginning, but thawing is inconvenient. Cans are safe from power outages too, if you're thinking about food storage for emergency preparedness.
I hope it is a good pectin. What I mean is I picked up one from Frys and the price was low. I tried one box and the pectin was very slow to dissolve, and it was not expired. So, I made note not to by it again.
Yikes! I hope mine is okay. I have big plans for making Christmas gifts. :)
I am going to experiment tonight and can some hot fudge sauce. My boss gifted me a significant quantity of chocolate, and I need to seal it off somehow for my own safety. ;)
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Everyone here has some great tips!
I have canned tomatoes, grape juice, beets, and apple slices using the hot water bath method.
A friend told me green veggies need to be canned using a pressure cooker -- I am afraid of them, so I never tried it. We froze our green beans, etc. and used them over the winter. true: as already said, canning is best, due to any power outages.
I NEVER reuse lids - I have a cow checking mine over and over again to make certain nothing spoils. I have never tried the BPA free stuff, but I'll look into it.
Thanks all.
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A friend told me green veggies need to be canned using a pressure cooker -- I am afraid of them, so I never tried it. We froze our green beans, etc. and used them over the winter. true: as already said, canning is best, due to any power outages.
Actually,now it is supposed to be a pressure canner, because they say a pressure cooker isn't safe enough either. My Grandma says the experts are full of it, and that she will boil can her carrots and green beans until she dies. Hopefully she won't die of botulism. :wink:
If the veggies are pickled, there is enough acid to can them safely using the boiling bath method.
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I was curious if anyone one here is into canning. I'm really interested. My dad has about 6 fig trees and they produce so many tastie figs. I brought some to church Sunday and everyone loved them! I've been interested in canning and found this website HERE (http://www.pickyourown.org/figrecipes.htm) with some info on canning figs. It has a LOT of great info!
Curious if anyone is into canning other fruits/vegetables/cheeses etc.
My wife and I can vegetables. I garden every year. I can Tomatoes , Salza , Jalapeno peppers and make pickles. Usually Dill and Sweet Pickles.
This past weekend I canned 4 quarts of Salza and 14 quarts of Tomatoes
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Nice Malleus.
I did tomatoes, pickled peppers, and pickles this past weekend. I've enjoyed gardening but it is hard to have a plot that isn't on our your own property. I'll be ready to start cleaning it up this weekend.
Does anyone here save seeds from year to year? As hard as it is to find non-gmo seeds I am really hoping I will have success with this.
Oh and this isn't canning, but if anyone still has access to fresh sweet corn, this recipe is great for stocking up the freezer.
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Freezer-Sweet-Corn
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Nice Malleus.
I did tomatoes, pickled peppers, and pickles this past weekend. I've enjoyed gardening but it is hard to have a plot that isn't on our your own property. I'll be ready to start cleaning it up this weekend.
Does anyone here save seeds from year to year? As hard as it is to find non-gmo seeds I am really hoping I will have success with this.
Oh and this isn't canning, but if anyone still has access to fresh sweet corn, this recipe is great for stocking up the freezer.
http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Freezer-Sweet-Corn
Are heirloom seeds gmo?
Only someone planning to grow a very large number of plants would really have a good reason to save seeds. (except to save a few bucks)
Although it's fairly easy.
With tomatoes and peppers and probably other plants as well, you end up with a situation where some of the plants you get will have been from cross-pollinated seeds. Which means they won't breed true.
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In my experience the very best squash to grow is called Pennsylvania Dutch Crookneck.
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A friend told me green veggies need to be canned using a pressure cooker -- I am afraid of them, so I never tried it. We froze our green beans, etc. and used them over the winter. true: as already said, canning is best, due to any power outages.
Actually,now it is supposed to be a pressure canner, because they say a pressure cooker isn't safe enough either. My Grandma says the experts are full of it, and that she will boil can her carrots and green beans until she dies. Hopefully she won't die of botulism. :wink:
If the veggies are pickled, there is enough acid to can them safely using the boiling bath method.
Oh, Penitent, you're right! I should have said. canner! :laugh1:
I hope your Grandmother doesn't die from the B word, too - :barf: or anytime to soon!
So, water bath veggies with some vinegar, spices, and herbs cold, before boiling?
I don't know, I might try it. If I don't come back over the winter, you'll know it was not a success. :faint:
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The most interesting thing I've ever canned: Carp. Carp, as in fish. It made excellent tuna loafs and patties. It looked absolutely discusting sitting on my shelfs, though! I kept those jars towards the back where the visiting eyes did not see. :)
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The most interesting thing I've ever canned: Carp. Carp, as in fish. It made excellent tuna loafs and patties. It looked absolutely discusting sitting on my shelfs, though! I kept those jars towards the back where the visiting eyes did not see. :)
Jenn - how did you do that? Will it work with any other fish?
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Not sure how Jen canned her carp (would love to know!) but I think you can pickle any kind of fish. I love pickled northern.
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The most interesting thing I've ever canned: Carp. Carp, as in fish. It made excellent tuna loafs and patties. It looked absolutely discusting sitting on my shelfs, though! I kept those jars towards the back where the visiting eyes did not see. :)
Jenn - how did you do that? Will it work with any other fish?
It's really simple. I use pint jars. Fill the jar nearly full with fish. Put in 1 Tbsp of canning salt and a little bit of vinegar. 10 lbs of pressure for 90 minutes.
You don't need to add water, because there is so much water in the fish. In the end, it will look like you added water. I've done it with carp, gar and white bass and it was successful. I imagine it would work with most types of fish, but when I tried it with catfish it turned out miserably. What kind of fish were you thinking, Clelia?
Pickling fish is a great idea, PW! Thanks! I will try it. :)