While this is in no way meant to be a guide to pressure canning I'll share a few pics and the basic process. That way if you find someone to teach you it won't be so mystifying.
The black pot has a strainer in it and boiling water. The silver one is the pressure canner with a few inches of water in the bottom. We snapped the beans in 2-3 inch pieces and removed the ends. Next, we rinsed them under cool water and put them in the black pot of boiling water. Once the water comes back to a boil they stay in for 5 minutes. At that point we pulled out the strainer, allowed the water to drain back in to the pot, and poured the beans in to the plastic strainer in the sink.
Then it is time to put the beans in the jars. I used the end of a wooden spoon to arrange them and filled them almost to the neck of the jar. The jars will get very HOT. Duh, but I'm a little slow.
You use the liquid from the black pot to fill the jars. Leave about 1 inch of headspace. Wipe the rim clean, then place the lids and rings on as usual.
Here's the fun part!! Put them in the pressure canner and secure the lid. We used the canner's owner's manual and the Ball canning book to figure out the specifics. For our canner we need moderate steam coming out of the little hole on top for 7-10 minutes. At that point we put the little weight on top of that hole. Stick with me here... each recipe calls for certain pounds of pressure. For our canner the piece with the black top equals 5 pounds and each silver ring is five additional pounds. So we put one ring on the black piece and set that over the steam hole. When the pressure reaches 10 pounds the steam comes out forcefully enough to rock the little weight back and forth. Once the weight starts rocking your processing time begins. I set the timer for 25 minutes.
When the time is up you just turn off the burner and wait. There is a little button thing on top of the canner that sticks up as long as it is holding pressure. When the button drops the pressure is gone. Then you can tip the weight sideways to check it. If no steam comes out it is safe to remove the lid. It took a very long time for the jars to cool, much longer than jam from what I remember. Therefore it also took a long time for them to seal.
By the way, 5# of grean beans from my garden = 4 full quarts. Not bad! :)
Do you pressure can? Isn't it fun!? What is your favorite food to pressure can?
8 comments:
Hi Jena,
I received a pressure canner for xmas last year. We haven't used it yet. You've inspired me to try beans. Thanks!
So far I've only pressure canned tomatoes. I do have a bunch of beans in the garden that need to be picked, but I tend to freeze them. Perhaps I'll try canning them this time.
I used to can a lot. I even have done sweet corn and strawberries of which I prefer frozen. I kinda miss canning!! I live in a town nowhere near fruit orchards and veggie fields of which I could purchase in bulk for real cheap or gleaned for free. Yup, can you tell that I don't live in Michigan anymore and lived in country until I got married???
Oh, I forgot... I have yet received NEW canner! I picked them up at garage sales and even one at junk day! I should have three sitting very lonesome in basement...
Awesome!! I have not pressure canned yet, and probably won't this year. But you have helped it seema bit less scary!
And I meant to tell you my greenbeans didn't make it this year. Got about 6 inches tall (bush beans) and something ate the leaves lacey. After that, they just gave up. I meant to plant a second planting, but didn't get it done. I'll try again next year.
Angie - good luck!
FD - What do you make with your tomatoes? I use a recipe out of the Ball book for sauce that doesn't require pressure canning. I intend to pressure can it this year b/c I'd like to make it up with the meat and seasonings in it. Not having to pressure can it was nice though.
Jean - it is great to find them without paying much. I've been given all of my canners from family.
Jennifer - bummer about your beans! Mine are doing really good. My potatoes aren't so lucky and have been wiped out by bugs. There are still a lot of potatoes there (at least in the test patch I dug up) but they are small and I don't think they'll grow too much now.
I've never used a pressure canner, but I hope to have one some day!!
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