If you are interested in putting aside food for the future, it is important you save things that will be very healthy for you in time of need. Canning fruits and vegetables is the perfect way to save for the future, and can be a fun family process as well.
Canning is an age-old method of preserving fresh foods by packing them into jars and boiling them in hot water until their lids form a long-lasting seal. You can open the jar in the future and put them into pies, make them into jam, or just eat them in slices for a healthy snack.
Whatever fresh fruit you have from your garden, you can turn into food for the future. You simply need to learn the process of canning, and make sure that you have access to the supplies you need.
To begin with, make a plan for what foods you are going to work with. Much of the process of canning is trial and error, as you will find that some work much better than others.
Look at what fruits and vegetables you have access to, and decide what you want to preserve. Figure out how much exactly you are going to need-the rule is three pounds of fruit will fill a one-quart canning jar.
Make sure you have all of your supplies before you begin. Once you have them, you are ready to get started.
Be sure to wash your produce in clean water, and then pat each one completely dry. Examine each piece for any bruises, rotten spots, or blemishes.
Cut out all bad spots and send them to your compost pile. Be sure to sterilize everything you are going to work with, including all of your jars and lids.
To sterilize them, rinse the pieces in hot tap water, and put them gently in your kettle. Allow water to fill to about one above the tops of the jars.
Turn the heat onto high, allow it to boil, and cook it for ten minutes. This will kill any germs and bacteria sufficiently.
Next, it is time to prepare your fruits and vegetables-simply cut them into the portions or shapes you would like them to be. Add any spices or sugars that you would like add.
In most cases, you will want to remove the skins, such as with peaches or tomatoes. Once they are prepared, remove the jars from the hot water, empty and dry them, and allow them to cool.
Once they are cool and dry, put all of the food you want inside of them. Fill them to within a half an inch of their lip.
Sometimes it helps to run a dinner knife down the sides to remove air bubbles. When they are full, wipe around the lip with a clean, damp towel and then place the lid and sealing band on and tighten them the best you can by hand.
Next, place them back into the canning kettle, allowing the water to be a little cooler this time so the glass does not crack. Cover your kettle and turn the heat to high.
Allow it to come to a high rolling boil, reduce the heat to medium, and begin timing your processing period. Research how long it takes to process individual fruits and vegetables because each one has different requirements.
Carefully remove your jars from the water when they are done. Use tongs to protect your skin instead of using your hands.
Place them on a clean kitchen towel, where they will be safe. Wait for the little popping sound that the lids make as they cool and form a seal.
When the glass is thoroughly cooled, make sure that the lids have sealed by pressing down gently with your fingertip in the center of the lid. If it gives any, it is not sealed properly.
Put unsealed jars in the refrigerator, and use them promptly. Leave the bands on your sealed jars when you store or remove them.
Make sure that you store your products in a safe place, that is cool and dry. They will likely keep for a couple of years at least, but make sure that you rotate through them often-enjoy the fruits of your labor!
Author Resource:-
Tom Selwick has worked the past 21 years in the food storage industry. He suggests buyingfreeze dried food storage from a quality company so you know your food will last.
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