Whether you’re preparing for a long winter or an emergency survival situation, canning is one skill that every survivalist needs to know. All the bounty of your summer garden will quickly disappear once cold weather arrives, but you can make it last with the help of home canning.
By using some simple canning techniques, you can quickly build up a large supply of essential foods to feed your family in any emergency situation.
What is Canning?
If you are completely new to home canning, it’s actually a really simple process. You store fresh foods in sterilized glass jars then seal them to prevent spoilage. The jars are airtight so the food can last for years in your pantry, basement, or other cool, dry place. People have been canning for years, but this isn’t just your grandmother’s hobby. Home canning is making a big comeback, and it is an essential skill for survivalists who need to stretch a food supply for months after the garden withers away.
Two Basic Canning Methods
When you decide to start canning, there are two methods you can use: a hot water bath or a pressure cooker. The hot water bath is the most inexpensive method and it is a great choice for beginners. Basically, you place your filled jars in a large pot of hot water. Then you bring the water to a boil and this kills any bacteria present to safely preserve the food inside your jars. The hot water bath method is best for highly acidic foods like tomatoes, jams, salsas, or jellies.
The second method relies on a pressure cooker, which you can purchase online or in a kitchen store. Pressure canning is best for foods with a low acidity like meats, beans, and vegetables. The pressure cooker relies on boiling water like the water bath, but it adds high pressure to the equation as the sealed cooker allows inside pressure to build as the heat rises.
The rising pressure is controlled with a dial that allows you to release pressure through a valve if it gets too high. It’s actually not as hard as it sounds and this is usually the preferred method for canning because it offers peace of mind that your canned goods are safe to eat for years to come. Pages: 1 2
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