If You’re Preserving Food Throughout the Summer, You Need These Canning Supplies
Inside: A look at all the canning supplies you’ll need to begin one of the most frugal and rewarding hobbies out there.
Preserving food is a great way to save money and keep your pantry stocked, but it’s so much more than that. Canning is about connecting with old-fashioned ways of doing things, learning a skill that will always be useful, and enjoying delicious food that you made yourself.
Ready to dive in? Here’s everything you need to get started.
Mason Jars (All Sizes)
These should be at the top of your list. Remember that it’s always best to invest in the smaller mason jars to preserve unless you know what you’re canning will be eaten quickly once opened, then a bigger jar might be suitable.
Jams, jellies, and salsas are best in half-pint or pint jars, whereas green beans, marinara sauce, and pickles would be better in larger mason jars like a quart.
I always use half pint sizes the most because I like them for jams and relishes. A pint is just too big.
Don’t forget that jars come in both wide-mouth and regular mouth. You’ll need lids that fit whichever one you get. I prefer regular mouth for canning and wide mouth for plain storage.
If you’re nervous about jars breaking in shipment, check your local stores. You’ll find the best selection in spring and summer, often in the produce section.
Mason Jar Lids (Wide and Standard Mouth)
For a proper seal, new lids are a must. So you’ll need extra lids for each season. (You don’t need new rings each time, just new lids!)
Make sure you pay attention to whether you are buying wide-mouth or regular mouth lids, and that they match your jars. (Again, it’s nice to have some of each.)
There are reports of off-brand canning lids not forming proper seals. Invest in the Ball or Kerr brand. Make sure you shop around, as prices on these can vary.
Waterbath Canner
Water bath canning is the best way to start when you’re new to canning. You can find a water bath canner and canning rack online as a set
or sold separately. Canners are better than stockpots because they are light. I store mind above my fridge and it’s easy to get in and out.
But if you’re still not sure how much you want to invest in canning, then you can find a very large stockpot with a lid and use that instead of a water bath canner.
Keep in mind that if you decide to use a stockpot, you must make sure that the biggest jar you are using can hold at least 2 inches of water over the top of the mason jar lid, and the stockpot lid can also rest securely on the top of the pot without spilling.
Pressure canners can also be used for waterbath, but I like to have both.
Dark Kitchen Towels
You’ll want a lot of these. Prepping your produce will make a mess. As you remove hot jars and lids, you’ll get some water on the counter. Then, you’ll need somewhere clean to set your jars as they cool.
Don’t use your pretty white tea towels on canning day. Have something dark, old, or ugly. Just make sure they’re clean, and have extra clean cloths for wiping rims.
Pressure Canner (Optional)
Pressure canners can be found online or occasionally in stores. They can even double as pressure cookers (although they are so heavy and unwieldy that it’s not a super realistic idea!).
I don’t typically recommend pressure canning to beginners, but it is essential to understand the difference between water bath canning and pressure canning.
Water bath canning is better for high-acid or high-sugar foods, like fruit, tomatoes, or pickles.
Pressure canning is for low-acid foods, like meat and vegetables. The pressure cooker’s ability to reach higher temperatures ensures the safe preservation of low-acid foods.
If you know you want to get into pressure canning, it is safer for high-acid or high-sugar foods, like fruit, tomatoes, or pickles. Pressure canning is safer for low-acid foods, like meat and vegetables. The pressure cooker’s ability to reach higher temperatures ensures the safe preservation of low acid foods.
The All-American brand is the gold (It’s an investment, but it will probably outlive you!)
Apron
I very rarely wear an apron when I cook, but I always wear one when I can. Honestly, it’s not the canning process so much as the prepping process that makes a mess. You’re dealing with large amounts of produce and your clothes will get destroyed.
Labeling Method
You think you’ll always be able to identify those jars you worked so hard for, but you don’t. In six months, the barbecue sauce, the tomato puree, and the raspberry syrup will all look the same.
You can use pretty labels or write them on the lids in Sharpie—it’s up to you. Label your jars as soon as they are cool with what’s inside and the year you made them.
Food Mill
A food mill and strainer are quick to grind or puree foods. If you don’t want to remove the skin from tomatoes, you can make a beautiful tomato sauce just by milling tomato halves. I wouldn’t want to make tomato sauce or applesauce without one.
Organized Recipes
Please don’t find yourself searching for a jam recipe as you’re chopping berries. It’s much better to have your recipes chosen ahead of time because every ingredient is important, and substitutions don’t always work.
I recommend printing recipes and keeping them in page protectors. This is just one little thing that will make canning day easier.
Staple Ingredients
Once you know what recipes you will use, check your recipes to ensure you have all the ingredients. Here are some common canning ingredients needed in most recipes, and be forewarned, you might need a lot of one item (like literal pounds of sugar.)
Check your supplies of pickling salt, pectin, citric acid, fruit fresh, and pickle crisp.
Canning Rack (If You’re Using a Stockpot)
If your water bath canning pot didn’t come with a rack or you’re using a stockpot, you will need a rack for the bottom of your pot. You can easily grab a few canning rings and place them all along the bottom of the pot, then tie them together with something that will not melt.
A small pizza pan or round cooling rack for baked goods could also be a good suggestion for a makeshift canning rack.
If none of those ideas work, pull out the trusty aluminum foil and make a homemade round rack to rest at the bottom of your pot. You can start in a circle and then have multiple rows with even spaces in the middle of the circle for a makeshift rack. Just remember, the rack’s purpose is to prevent the bottom of the mason jar from resting at the bottom of the pot.
Canning Funnel
A funnel is another excellent kitchen tool that, luckily, is typically on the cheaper end. Canning funnels are larger than traditional funnels to fit into both wide-mouth and regular-mouth jars.
These are handy to have in the kitchen all year long so I keep them with my everyday stuff.
If you don’t have a funnel around, you can grab a plastic cup that can withstand heat and cut the bottom out of it to create your makeshift funnel.
This will be included in a beginner canning set.
Canning Tongs
This tool is designed to fit perfectly over the mason jars so you can lift them out without burning yourself. I don’t consider these optional, but I understand you might not be able to get them on time.
If you don’t have canning tongs, place rubber bands all along the edges of a pair of metal tongs. The rubber bands will provide a grip to hold the can in place while pulling it out of the water bath. Without the rubber bands, the metal and glass would slip and cause a complete mess.
Remember, a beginner canning set with tools will include this!
So there you have it—your starter kit for a summer filled with canning adventures. Remember, it’s not just about the jars on your shelves; it’s about the satisfaction of knowing you’ve captured the essence of the season. Now, grab a recipe, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to experience the simple joy of making something delicious and lasting with your own two hands.
By Katie Shaw
Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.