Is canning your own food worth it?
If you are not familiar with the term ‘home canning’, in simpler terms, it is the process of preserving foods particularly fruits, vegetables, and meats by packing them into glass jars and then heating the jars to kill the organisms that would be the cause of spoilage. Yes, it is an easy process that can save you a lot of money and time.
If you are curious about how the process of canning is, we can start with the simplest method of canning: Water bath canning. In water bath canning, you basically just fill jars with acidic food such as tomatoes, berries, or cucumbers in vinegar then cover them with the lids and boil them in an open pan of water until a seal forms under the lead. This action will force out the air of the food and out of the jar which creates a vacuum in an acidic environment. This means that the bacteria will not thrive. Through water bath canning, you can make various savory foods such as jams, jellies, pickles, and whole tomatoes.
A more advanced canning method is pressure canning. Pressure canning requires a little more skill and a more specialized equipment. Pressure canning will provide you with more food and flavor options unlike in water canning. If you are looking to put up main ingredients for meals rather than just side dishes or condiments, you will need to use pressure canning instead.
With all that said, you may now ask: Is canning your own food worth it? Well, let me tell you this. Canning your own food is definitely less expensive than buying cans at the store or buying other food storage options like dehydrated or freeze-dried foods. By canning food at home, you’ll be able to save a lot of money that you would spend on the same kind of food at the store. So just with that reason alone, yes, canning your own food is definitely worth it.
Another good thing about this method is that since you will be the one doing the canning process, you will have the opportunity to put only natural and fresh ingredients in the can. Moreover, if you have a garden or a bunch of harvests that will just spoil over time, you might as well preserve it in jars and consume it when needed. And since you already have ingredients that can last you for more than a week, you will save yourself from going to the grocery store.
What are the best foods for canning?
You may think that because canning is such an easy and convenient process, you may want to preserve whatever food you have at home. However, there are particular foods that are not recommended for canning and some foods that are best preserved through canning.
So what foods are best for canning? There are several fruits and vegetables as well as poultry that can be stored for long periods of time but here are some of the most recommended foods for canning. And yes, you can do this at home:
- Beans
- Corn
- Fruits
- Leafy greens
- Red meats
- Seafood
- Tomatoes
- Carrots
- Fruits (includes canned pie fillings)
- Tomatoes and Tomato Products (includes Salsa)
- Vegetables (includes soups)
- Meat, Poultry and Seafood.
- Jams and Jellies.
- Pickles and Fermented Products.
Easy canning recipes
Interested in preserving your own food? Then home canning would be your best action to take. Here are some easy canning recipes that give you delicious results!
15. World’s Best Homemade Strawberry Jam
Make homemade delicious strawberry freezer jam with only three ingredients! This recipe for homemade strawberry jam is made without pectin, and there is an optional sugar substitution! You can choose the ingredients to make it organic. This is the yummiest homemade strawberry jam you will ever eat!
Check it here.
14. How to Can Chicken Broth or Beef Broth
Looking in my pantry at canned broth, vegetables, jams, etc makes me feel so good! I feel prepared but also linked to a time long ago that we are so far removed from today. When I look at them, I know we have healthy food ready to eat. That just makes me happy! Now I would love to show you how to can chicken broth.
Check it here.
13. How to Can Peaches with a Boiling Water Canner
Sometimes the thought of canning is overwhelming; scary even. It does take time but oh, it is time so well spent! I am so happy I learned how to can peaches with a boiling water canner.
Check it here.
12. Canned Bloody Mary Pickles
As Summer comes to an end the garden is finally producing plentiful veggies and I like to pick one thing a year to can to preserve. This year I decided to make these Canned Bloody Mary Pickles. Making use of cucumbers, jalapenos, and green beans. These pickles and vegetables have some heat to them, so what better way to enjoy them then in a Bloody Mary Cocktail??
Check it here.
11. How to Can Homemade Pizza Sauce (+ Recipe)
This Homemade Pizza Sauce Recipe is full of flavor and super easy to make! It will make your homemade pizzas taste so much better than store bought. And as a bonus, I’m sharing my tried and true instructions for how to can pizza sauce.
Check it here.
10. Quick and Easy Strawberry Jam Recipe with no pectin
Who’s ready to make an easy Strawberry Jam with all those sweet delicious strawberries that are in season right now? This simple No Pectin Strawberry Jam Recipe is made with only strawberries, sugar and a bit of lemon!
Check it here.
9. Low Carb Raspberry Jelly (Raspberry Jelly without Pectin)
Check it here.
8. Easy Homemade Refrigerator Garlic Dill Pickles Recipe
These homemade garlic dill pickles produce an epic crunch! Just pour boiling salted water over the cucumbers, garlic and dill and the pickles are ready for crunching the next day!
Check it here.
7. Make your own Delicious Mulberry Jam
Filled with Vitamin C and iron, mulberries are little powerhouses of nutrients. Harness their goodness with this simple and delicious homemade mulberry jam recipe.
Check it here.
6. Dill Pickled Carrots
Quick and easy dill pickled carrots recipe with tender-crisp carrot texture, strong garlic and dill flavours, mouth-watering vinegar and optional spice. This dilled carrots canning recipe can be made in a water bath canner!
Check it here.
5. Chai Tea Jelly
This Chai Tea Jelly is the warm spice of fall in spreadable form. It is absolutely divine on my vanilla biscotti. This recipe yields approximately 4 half pint or 250ml jars.
Check it here.
4. Homemade Peach Jam Recipe {3 Ways}
Have you ever opened your eyes in the morning and had a thought float past your consciousness that put you on an unexpected path?
Check it here.
3. Easy Refrigerator Pickles
Make these easy refrigerator pickles in no time! This recipe is delicious and makes super crisp pickles that are full of flavor (and even a little heat if you like them that way!) and after you make them and see how easy it is, you’ll never buy store bought pickles again!
Check it here.
2. Canned Tomatoes
These homemade canned tomatoes are the best way to keep your garden tomatoes fresh and ready to eat and cook with all year long!
Check it here.
1. Pickled Cherry Tomatoes
These easy quick pickled cherry tomatoes are a great way to use fresh tomatoes, keep them in the refrigerator, and serve at will.
Check it here.
Home Canning Recipes | What are the best foods for canning?
If you are not familiar with the term ‘home canning’, in simpler terms, it is the process of preserving foods particularly fruits, vegetables, and meats by packing them into glass jars and then heating the jars to kill the organisms that would be the cause of spoilage. Yes, it is an easy process that can save you a lot of money and time.
Ingredients
- Homemade Strawberry Jam
- How to Can Chicken Broth or Beef Broth
- How to Can Peaches with a Boiling Water Canner
- Canned Bloody Mary Pickles
- How to Can Homemade Pizza Sauce
Instructions
- Choose any Home Canning Recipes from the post that you like
- Click on the link below the photo to get the full recipes and instructions.
- Try the best Home Canning Recipes and share your photo under my pin on Pinterest!
I share healthy recipes, clean eating ideas, and meal plans for weight loss, as well as give you the best tips on wellness, pregnancy, and parenting advice.