Supplies Needed for Safe and Healthy Canning

Canning foods is a very easy process once you understand how it works. It is possible to can a huge variety of fruit and vegetables once you have the proper supplies and you know what to do. By canning the fruits, you will allow them to preserve their delicious flavors for years to come. It will also allow you to give them away as gifts to friends or relatives. When you start canning fruits, you need to make a small investment in the supplies. Here are the supplies you will need while canning, and how you should choose them.

The jars are the most important decision when canning. You will have many different choices for the way the jar seals, the shape of the jar, and the exact dimensions. You ca choose from decorative jars to give as gifts, or industrious jars that you can stack by the dozen in your pantry. Find out what the options are, and decide on what you think will work the best based on how much fruit you will have and what you plan to do with it.

The syrup is the trick to what allows the fruit to be preserved. The most basic kind of syrup is a mixture of sugar and water, usually a 1 to 2 ratio respectively. However, you can also use corn syrup, brown sugar, or honey for interesting flavor combinations. While you may only be changing the syrup, it can alter the taste of your fruit in an extreme manner. Look on the internet and see what kind of syrup “recipes” are the most popular.

It is always a good idea to label your cans of fruit. Put your name, the date of canning, the contents, and any other information that you feel is relevant. If you are giving the cans as gifts, you can include a cute little message to the recipient. But with the vital information on there, you can make sure that your canned fruit is always well documented, and you know which cans are from which year. You can create labels with almost any computer.

Your first time canning can definitely be intimidating. But once you have done it once and you understand what is required of you, you will be much more comfortable with it in the future. You will even become familiar with brands and techniques that you prefer.