home canning question

phillybride1206

so, santa brought me something i really wanted which is some basic canning tools.  Question.... for a water bath, anyone know if you need the special pot or if you can use a normal stock pot?

thanks!

sharrow

You can use a normal pot- though it is easier with a canning pot, which has some design features (ridges on the bottom... and a rack) to facilitate canning.

Have fun, I started canning years ago, and absolutely LOVE it.  

daisies916

I love canning!!  Congrats!!  You can use a regular stock pot for water bath canning.  Just make sure that it's tall enough to adequately cover the jars (Ball Blue Book for canning is definately a must-have!!!), and use a layer of rings at the bottom to keep the jars off the direct heat. 

Also, many people I've talked to who have been canning for far longer than me told me that they don't store their jars w/the rings on b/c there's a greater chance that it will pop the seal.  Just remove them after the jars have cooled and the seal is intact. 

And if you'll write what the product is and date the lid instead of using tape, you'll know that that lid has been used already (do NOT try to reuse lids!! It's not safe!!), plus you don't have to try to get the sticky off from the tape or stickers used to label the jars!!

Sorry to go on and on.  These are just things the books don't tell you, and I wish someone had told me from the beginning!!  HTH!!!  Have fun!!

 

 

 

smurfetteinred

Ditto what everyone else said.

I totally want to get a pressure canner - I make soup like crazy and I want to can it up baby. 

phillybride1206

thanks for all the tips!  cant wait to get started!