Why Canning Jars Break

There are many reasons why canning jars break. The good news is that it is rare that they do, and most common reasons for breakage can be easily avoided keeping the following things in mind.  

15 Common Canning Questions Answered

The act of canning your home-grown or store-bought food is becoming increasingly popular as people begin to realize the precariousness of our food growing and food distribution system.

Canning - Why Headspace is So Important

 

Why is headspace so important?

So first, what is headspace? 

Headspace is the space at the top of the canning jar between the underside of the lid and the top of the food or liquid in the jar. 

List of Items NOT Safe to Can

Pressure canning and water bath canning have recently become much more popular due to the increase in home food growers, so it follows that there's also a big increase in newbies or first-time canners.

Signs of Spoilage in Home Canned Food

Signs of Spoilage in Home Canned Food

When preserved correctly, homemade canned foods won't go bad, ever. But realistically speaking, the food can last for at least two to five years easily without compromising on the taste or nutritional value.

The Role of Vinegar in Canning

Which Vinegar to use in Canning

The Role of Vinegar

If you have been looking into the process of canning your own food, you've undoubtedly noticed a lot of talk about safe canning.  Some of the most-asked canning questions relate to the correct use of vinegar.

Causes of Canning Jar or Contents Darkening

 

Four Reasons Canning Jar Contents Darken

First, how pressure canners work to keep food safe.

Pressure Canners basically heat the jars to a temperature high enough to destroy the microorganisms that could cause food spoliage and or foodborne illness.    The heating process also removes air from the product and creates a vacuum which helps to prevent recontamination by harmful microorganisms.

Pressure Canning Item List

With this fast-paced and ever-changing world we live in now, there is no better time to learn to pressure can food.


Many people are taking a renewed interest in learning to can food in light of the recent world events taking place.


Pressure Canning Check List

In addition to saving money by buying food in bulk at grocery sales and farmers’ markets, a pantry full of jars of food can give you confidence that your family will stay safely fed.


Whether you are harvesting the food from your own large garden or farm or beginning to grow some veggies on your deck or porch, the art of canning food is a great way to stock up on items you regularly use. To learn the basics of pressure canning, a good book like this one is very important.


There are some essential kitchen appliances that you will need to get started. The cost of some of these items may seem a bit daunting at first, but the investment will be well worth it.

Pressure Canner

First, you will need a pressure canner. NOT a pressure cooker, but a pressure canner. A pressure canner is used to cook, sterilize, and preserve low-acid foods that are to be canned for future use.

Water Bath Canner

Another way to can food is by using a water bath canner. This is a large pot with a jar rack. It is used with all high-acid foods. High-acid foods include all fruits, jams, jellies, pie fillings, pickles or condiments, and tomatoes with added lemon juice.

You will need a good supply of canning jars, lids, and rings. These three items come together in a case of canning jars.

You cannot use just any jar in canning food. Canning jars are specially designed to withstand the high temperature of steam pressure processing and the low temperature of freezing. These jars will be labeled as canning and/or freezing jars.

Canning Jars

These jars come in a variety of sizes, most commonly found are:

Pints.
Pint jars are great for just about anything you want to add to them for smaller portions.

Quarts.
Quarts are a great family-size jar. They are ideal for canning whole fruits and vegetables like peaches and green beans, or for just for canning larger portions.


Half Pint or Jelly Jars

Half Pints. This small size is great for creating gifts or small batches of jams, jellies, or preserves. Some smaller or cut vegetables may fit in these jars if using a wide-mouth canning jar.


Canning jars also come in what’s known as “regular mouth” and “wide mouth” jar openings. The only difference is the size of the jar opening.

Lids and Rings

You can sometimes find some canning jars at thrift stores, or maybe you have a relative that no longer does canning and has a stash of jars. If you find some of these older canning jars, you may need to buy lids and rings to go with those jars.

There are reusable lids available now that are called “Tattler” lids that are made in the USA. They also come in sizes suitable for both wide mouth and regular mouth jar sizes. You can use these with pressure canners, water bath canners, and vacuum sealers.

There are also plastic lids for canning jars for use in storing the jars in the fridge after they've been unsealed.
Plastic lids that fit canning jars

Pressure Canning Quick Guide

You will need various kitchen/canning utensils to make your canning projects easier. You can buy a kit of items like the one below that has most if not all of the items you will need.

Utensil Kit

Or you can purchase items separately. You will need:
Funnel that fits jar openings

Ladels

Jar Lifter

Other supplies you may need, depending on the types of food that you intend to can, are:

Pickle Crisp (for pickling veggies and pickles)
Citric Acid, commonly used for home canning tomatoes
Canning Salt (Not regular salt)

Real Fruit Pectin for homemade Jam and Jelly recipes
5% Vinegar You will probably use large amounts of this.

Vinegar is used in the pressure canner to prevent minerals from hard water from building up on the jars or on the inside of your canner. Vinegar is also used along with water to fill jars of some foods to be processed.


There are also seasoning packets available for use in canning like salsa tomato mixes, pickle mixes, potato seasonings, etc. Mrs. Wagers' brand is very popular with canners. My favorite is the salsa packet below.

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So what are you waiting for? Learn to pressure can and water bath can and start saving money on food and getting some much-needed food security!

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Other Canning Articles:

15 Common Questions Answered About Canning

Pressure Canning Check List of Items Needed  Printable

List of Items Not Safe to Can

The Role of Vinegar in Canning

The Importance of Headspace in Canning

Signs of Spoilage in Home Canned Foods

Prep for Making Fruit Jellies and Five Steps to Waterbathing

Why Canning Jars Break

Reasons for Loss of Liquid in Canning - Siphoning

Canning Jar Sizes and Their Uses

Reasons Canning Jars and Contents Darken

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Pressure Canning Quick Guide

Canning Jar Sizes

Canning Jars Sizes and Their Common Usages

Mason jars have many uses, but the glass in them is particularly molded for use in home canning to preserve food. The mouths of Mason jars have threads on their outer perimeter so they can accept a metal ring when it is screwed down onto them.

Reasons for Loss of Liquid in Pressure Canning

Reasons for Loss of Liquid in Pressure Canning or Siphoning

First, if you've lost liquid during the pressure canning process, you're certainly not alone, but it's important to learn the reasons for liquid loss so it doesn't happen more often than you'd like.