Articles · Topic
Articles about Canning
16 articles across 3 sections
Section
Self-Reliance
Food Preservation Methods Compared
Ten home food preservation methods compared side by side: what each one costs, what it keeps, how long it lasts, and the pH 4.6 question that decides which methods are safe for a given food. Includes why vacuum sealing is not a preservation method.
Fruit Trees: Selecting, Planting, and Establishing a Home Orchard
How to choose fruit tree varieties for your climate, plant and establish young trees, manage the first three years, and integrate fruit production with preservation. Realistic timelines and regional guidance.
Canning, Avocations
Thinking about taking up home canning? What the hobby is really like, whether it fits your kitchen and schedule, how to can a first batch with a tested recipe, and what to buy first.
Food Preservation
Extending the life of food through canning, drying, fermenting, curing, and sealing. Tested methods, honest safety gates, and the equipment each one requires.
Food Preservation, Avocations
Food preservation, including canning, drying, fermenting, and curing, connects the seasonal kitchen to the long-term pantry. What the practice is, what it builds, how to start, and how it connects to
Pressure Canning: A Calm, Safety-First Guide
Pressure canning explained without alarm. The botulism science, All American vs. Presto, dial vs. weighted gauges, altitude tables, and USDA-tested recipes.
Water-Bath Canning for High-Acid Foods
A complete, USDA-approved introduction to water-bath canning. Learn the science, equipment, step-by-step tomato sauce process, and the four mistakes that compromise safety.
Section
Gear and Buying Guides
Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving
The standard reference for home canning, 400 tested recipes for water-bath and pressure canning, pickles, jams, and more. Why we recommend it, what readers say, and how to buy it or borrow it.
Best Canning Jars
Canning jars compared the way extension services judge them: Ball Mason jars as the standard, Kerr as the same glass for often less, which jars to pass over, and why the lids matter more than the glass.
Best Canning Tool Sets
Canning tool sets compared: the Norpro six-piece set (top pick), Ball's own utensil set, and an honest look at which tools you actually need, starting with the jar lifter.
Best Pressure Canner (2026): All American vs. Presto
The two pressure canners that earn a place in a long-term food preservation setup. What makes them different, which one fits your kitchen, and the USDA safety rules that apply to both.
Best Water Bath Canners
Water bath canners compared on material, cooktop fit, and rack quality: the Roots & Branches stainless multi-use canner (top pick), the Granite Ware enamel classic on a budget, and the stockpot you may already own.
Food Books
The best books for growing, cooking, and preserving food, canning, gardening, and self-reliant kitchens. Buy a copy, or find it at your local library.
Putting Food By
In print since 1973, Putting Food By covers every preservation method, canning, freezing, drying, smoking, pickling, root cellaring. Why we recommend it, what readers say, and how to buy or borrow it
The Backyard Homestead
How much food you can grow on a quarter-acre lot, and how to preserve everything you harvest. New York Times Book Review. Why we recommend it, what to verify for food safety, and how to buy or borrow