Canning Recipes

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Canning is an exact science, you absolutely should only use recipes that are proven safe be a reliable source, and NEVER alter the recipe or canning instructions. Modifying the tested recipe may alter the pH value and that affects the processing time. Unlike the old recipes your mom or grandma used to can, today's tested and proven recipes are designed to be safe and nutritious. Find out the most common canning mistakes, and learn why some things you may be doing now could be putting your family at risk. Download this file.

Updating your recipes
Articles on canning typically very widely. Someone might still be using grandma’s high school, domestic-science textbook, copyright 1918. Maybe you have an old USDA pamphlets dating from the 1940s. Putting Food By, first published in 1973 is also still found in rummage sales and thrift stores. All of these sources were reputable in their day, and everyone wants to know, “What’s wrong with them now?” Canning instructions and food safety changed dramatically in 1989, so be sure your recipes are current. Food preservation is more precise and much safer than it was years ago. The most accurate, up-to-date, and dependable guidelines are in the current bulletins put out by the USDA, available at a small cost from your local county extension office. Read these pamphlets carefully, and follow their instructions, regardless of what your recipe may say.

 

A final note of caution: Check yearly with your county extension office to see if any of your recipe pamphlets have been updated. If so, they will have new pamphlet numbers. It’s always best to work from the most recent information.

Canning Methods and Information

Major Canning Sins - a 3 page FAQ Sheet from Utah State University. Tells about food safety and how to avoid mistakes in home canning. Download this file.

Using Pressure Canners - a 2 page FAQ Sheet from Utah State University describing pressure canning. Includes an altitude conversion chart. Download this file.

Using Boiling Water Bath Canners - a 2 page FAQ sheet explaining how to can high acid foods without a pressure canner. Download this file.

Miss Vickie Recommends
Canning Books from Amazon

The Complete Book of Year-Round Small-Batch Preserving: 300 Recipes
cover

The Joy of Pickling: 200 Recipes for All Kinds of Produce
cover

Complete Guide to Home Canning and Preserving
cover

Canning adjustments for High Altitudes - a 2 page fact sheet for anyone living in the higher altitudes. Download this file.

Food Canning Illness - a 2 page fact sheet with important information for anyone you plans to can food at home .Download this file.

Steps to Success in Home Canning - a 6 page paper from the University of Missouri. Provides information on pressure canning. Download this file.

 

 

Principals of Home Canning - a 30 page booklet from the USDA. Everything you need to know about home canning, with lots of charts and illustrations. Download this file.

Tested and Safe Canning Recipe Sources

Canning Jams and Jellies - a 10 page FAQ sheet from Utah State University with recipes and info on making refrigerator jelly. Download this file.

Canning Fruits - a 25 page booklet with recipes and instructions for canning fruits, pie fillings, butters, etc. Download this file.

Canning Tomatoes and Tomato Products - a 10 page booklet with everything you need to know about tomatoes.. Download this file.
 

Vegetable Canning - a 20 page FAQ sheet from Utah State University with time tables, information and charts for vegetable canning. Download this file.

How To Make Dill Pickles - A 2 page booklet al about how to make batches of pickles. Download this file.
 

How to Can Fruit Pie Fillings - A 4 page booklet with recipes for apple, peach, blueberry, cherry and Green Tomato Pie Fillings. Download this file.

Salsa Canning Recipes - A 4 page booklet with several recipes and canning instructions.  Download this file.
 

Pickling - A 6 page booklet with recipes for sweet, bread and butter, dill pickles, sauerkraut, and hot peppers. Download this file.
 

 The USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning - booklets for EVERY subject related to home canning, pick and choose the ones you need. Download this file.  BEST CHOICE! 

 These are all PDF files, be sure you have the Acrobat Reader installed on your computer before downloading. There are a lot the graphic in these files so be prepare for a longer download time, but well worth the effort as these are excellent reference documents.