Canning / preserving directions How to make Jams/Jellies Preserve, bottle anything How to freeze fruits/veg How to dry or dehydrate Pickling; not just cucumbers Tomatoes: Canning, freezing, sauces Make sauces, salsa, chutneys How to make homemade icecream How to make pies, cobblers FAQs - Answers to questions Canning tips for newbies

Fruit / veg guides and picking tips How do I need to pick?? Apples Blackberries Blueberries Cherries Figs Green Beans Peaches, Plums and Apricots Pears Raspberries Strawberries Vegetables

This month's notes: April 2026: Stored US apples are still  available.  See your state's crop availability calendar for more specific dates of upcoming crops.

Valentine's Day - February 14 - See this website for Valentines Day history, facts and top picks for fast, easy, inexpensive gifts for the man, woman or children in your life!

Easter will be April 16, 2017 - if you want to take your children to a free Easter egg hunt - see our companion website to find a local Easter Egg hunt!

And we have home canning, preserving, drying and freezing directions. You can access recipes and other resources from the drop down menus at the top of the page or the site search. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to write me! Also make your own ice cream; see How to make ice cream and ice cream making equipment and manuals. Have fun, eat healthier and better tasting, and save money by picking your own locally grown fruit and vegetables, and then using our easy  directions

Please tell the farms you found them here - and ask them to update their information! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Ordering Canning Supplies and Related Items 

Whether you are canning for your first time or in your 50th year of canning; all the supplies you need are here, and at the best prices you will find anywhere!  Scroll down this page for photos, descriptions, prices and ordering information.

Everything can be shipped by a variety of methods, including overnight, if you have a canning emergency!

Note: In response to requests for canning products and books, I've added this page, and I've found reliable suppliers for the products here, and now at even lower prices - I'll bet you can't beat them anywhere!

And I appreciate your business- buying the products here helps support the website!

Below on this page are water bath canners. See this page for pressure canners. Also see Canners for glass top stoves, if you have a glass or ceramic stove

 For other supplies:

• Books on canning, freezing, drying, preserving and jam making
• Pectin for making jams, jellies and preserves
• Strainers, pit removers, seed-skin-stem removers, jelly strainers, etc. All types, makes and prices (from $19 to $350)
• Vacuum Foodsealers for freezing, dried foods, and refrigerated foods - the FoodSaver line
• Food dehydrators - easy and fast to dry your own fruits, veggies, sun-dried tomatoes, etc.
• Canning accessories: jar tongs, jar lifters, lid lifters, funnels, racks, etc.
• Canning Lids and Rings,
• Canning jars,
• Canning mixes, pectin, etc.
• Pickling supplies, equipment, crocks and additives
• Home Canning Miscellaneous Parts and Supplies -  jar lifters, funnels, jar tongs, replacement parts for canners, canning racks, strawberry hullers, cherry pitters and more? Great prices, wide selection, fast delivery, reliable service
• And just for fun, the history of the canning jar

You can read a discussion about why foods should be processed in a canner on this page" "Why do I need a canner?"

For more information, and NO obligation to buy, just click on the links in the boxes on the left!

• Canning category
• Canning/Ingredients & Mixes sub-category
• Canning/Jars & Lids sub-category
• Canning/Tools sub-category
• Bernardin canning rack system

 

Canners and Other Equipment
McSunley 21.5 quart Water Bath Canner, Stainless Steel	Home Canning Kits #1 1. The Complete Home Canning Kit - This is the canner and complete kit - everything you need in one package.  It is also the same make and model that my family has used for 3 generations - my grandmother made everything from applesauce to jams and jellies to tomato and spaghetti sauce with it! Further description: Ball Home Canning Basics Kit - Let BallⓇ show you how simple home canning can be. The BallⓇ Home Canning Basics Kit will give you all the basic utensils you need to start preserving the bounty of your garden or supermarket. Ball Home Canning Basics Kit Includes: Boiling-Water Canner (21-quart liquid capacity) with Canning Jar Rack 6 Ball Pint Regular Mason Jars 6 Decorative Ball Collection Elite Dome Lids & Bands Ball Blue Book of Preserving Ball Lid Wand, Canning Funnel, Jar Lifter & Bubble FREER Valuable Ball Home Canning Coupons This Ball Home Canning Basics Kit makes canning so easy and is a great gift for the beginning home canner.
See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon	Home Canning Kits #2 2. The same as the kit above, but without the jars, jar lids, Ball Blue Book and coupons. There is a separate kit of supplies further down the page. 7-jar porcelain-finished steel canning pot with removable wire rack 2 loop side handles for convenient transport Handled lid for faster heat-up times and heat retention Dishwasher-safe; Can be used on gas or electric stove tops. Not recommended for glass stove tops Measures approximately 10 by 14 by 16 inches The manufacturer does not recommend this canner for glass or ceramic top stoves as it does not have a flat bottom. However, our experience is that these water-bath canners work fine on "most" flat top stoves.   Blake's rating: long lasting, well built.  I have two of these!
See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon	Home Canning Kits #3 - Larger 3. This is the same as the one above, except larger - 33 quarts.  This means it holds 9 quart jars instead of 7. Jumbo Water Bath Canning Package. Features: 33-quart capacity stockpot-style canner, can hold up to 9 quart jars Black ceramic-on-steel with stain- and odor-resistant surface High efficiency, quick boiling performance Rust-proof aluminum rack included Easy-to-clean, dishwasher-safe The manufacturer does not recommend the Jumbo Water Bath Canner Package for glass or ceramic top stoves as it does not have a flat bottom. However, our experience is that these canners work fine on "most" flat top stoves. A stove with a large burner size is recommended. Blake's rating: Same model as the #1, just wider to hold 2 more jars, long lasting, well built
See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon	Stainless steel water bath canner Made of stainless steel, so it should last a lifetime - it would also make a great pot to cook applesauce. I think this is the best of all the canners. Since it is sturdy and made of stainless steel, you can also use it as a cooking pot, and it will outlive you; your grandchildren may be using it one day. Heat resistant silicone handles protect your hands and ensure a secure grip. Dual steam vents on the lid prevent fogging so you can see inside. Corrosion resistant rack holds jars of various sizes. 21-quart size. Stainless steel. Hand wash.
Canning Accessories and Accessory Kits
See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon	Canning equipment - everything but the pot long lasting steel version, including a rack This seven-piece canning kit provides all the essential tools needed for getting started. Features Set includes 2 funnels, magnetic lid wand, jar lifter, canning rack, sterilizing rack and 2 yards of natural cheese cloth Magnetic lid wand, canning rack, jar lifter and sterilizing rack hand washing recommended. Do not put in dishwasher Magnetic lid wand has a magnetic tip at the end of a shaft which easily picks up lids from countertops or hot water Jar lifter easily and safely lift hot jars from a canner. 2 stainless funnels are dishwasher safe
See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon	More canning accessory kits - with Jar tongs, funnels, bubble freers These kits have the jar tongs and everything else you need, except for the canner and rack.
See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon  See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon   See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon	Canning Accessories by themselves Jar tongs to lift the jars in and out of the canner (without burning your hands!) Funnels to fill regular and wide mouth canning jars! Lid lifter - to pull the lids out of the hot water, again, without burning your hands!
See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon	Canning Rack See the seller's website for features, pricing and user reviews! Blake's rating: Excellent replacement rack (sooner or later your rack will fall apart from the boiling water (and no, this one is not made of silicone...)
	Miscellaneous Canning Supplies Looking for funnels, jar tongs, lid lifters and more?  See this page for a variety of canning items
	Canner for Glass and Ceramic Stoves If you have a glass or ceramic stovetop, you may have found that it is impossible to find a canner for you stove!  Look on this page!
Pressure canners! If you want to can low-acid foods such as red meats, sea food, poultry, milk, and all fresh vegetables with the exception of most tomatoes,  you will need a Pressure Canner.  These foods  fit into the low acid group since they have an acidity, or pH level, of 4.6 or greater. The temperature which must be reached and maintained (for a specified amount of time) to kill the bacteria is 240 F. Pressure canning is the only canning method recommended safe by the U.S.D.A. for low-acid foods such as vegetables, meats, and fish. Ordinary water bath canners can only reach 212 F and cannot to kill the types of bacteria that will grow in low acid foods. This temperature can be reached only by creating steam under pressure as achieved in quality pressure canners. There are several manufacturers of pressure canners.  The two leading ones are Presto and All American (Wisconsin Aluminum). They are more expensive than water bath canners, but they are extremely well built - I bought mine in 1988 and it still looks and works like new! If you're new to pressure canning, see this page for a complete description of how pressure canners work, why they're better, and step-by-step directions on how to use one! And if you lost the instruction manual  for your canner, click here for free downloads of many canner's instruction manuals!
	Presto 01781 23-Quart Pressure Cooker/Canner This is usually one of the best-priced pressure canners. They are reliable and inexpensive. I've had mine for 40 years. There is also a 16 quart version for even less.. See the seller's website for features, pricing and user reviews!
	Shown at left is the Presto 23 quart pressure canner. Features below and click here for more information or to purchase from Target. See the seller's website for features, pricing and user reviews!
All-American 941 Pressure Canner All-American 930 Pressure Canner See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon	All American Pressure Canner and Cookers - In 3 Sizes See the seller's website for features, pricing and user reviews! This is usually one of the best-priced pressure canners. There is also a 16 quart version for even less. Click on the links at left or above for more info and current pricing. Click on the box at left for more information.
See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon
5-Piece Canning Accessories Kit

Canning Jars

Canning jars delivered to your doorstep and guaranteed! Any size you need.  Click on the links below

Canning jars: quart (32 oz) jars

Canning jars: pint (16 oz) jars

Canning jars: 8 oz jars

Quilted Canning jars: 4 oz glass jars

See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon

See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon

See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon

 

 

 

 

8 oz canning jars shown below:

Quilted 4 oz jars below:

   Canning Hand Tools

Buy quality canning helpers. These provide the home canner with the essential tools needed for safe and efficient home canning.

Anything you could need is here, at discount prices

Some examples:

• Home Canning Kits
• Canning Jar Lifters
• Canning Lid Lifters
• Canning Jar Wrenches
• Kitchen Tongs
• Crinkle Cutters
• Canning Lid Sanitizers
• Canning Funnels
• Stainless Steel Wide Mouth Funnels
• Big Mouth Canning Funnel w/ Sieves
• Deluxe Stainless Steel Funnel w/ Strainers
• Ball Bubble FREER Spatulas
• Korona Stainless Steel, 6 Qt. Deep Colanders
• Stainless Steel Colanders
• 9 inch Granite Wear Colander
• Vegetable Brushes
• Cook's Tools
• Jelly Strainer Stand with Jelly Bag
• Jelly Strainer Bags
• Grip EZ Chopper/Scrapers
• Racsk for Water Bath Canners
• Strawberry Hullers
• Tomato Slicers

Books

Canning & Preserving For Dummies in Paperback

Canning books

Canning & Preserving for Dummies by Karen Ward

Get Canning and Preserving For Dummies

The Ball Blue Book of Home Canning

The All New Ball Book Of Canning And Preserving: Over 350 of the Best Canned, Jammed, Pickled, and Preserved Recipes Paperback

This is THE book on canning!  My grandmother used this book when I was a child.  It tells you in simple instructions how to can almost anything; complete with recipes for jam, jellies, pickles, sauces, canning vegetables, meats, etc.  If it can be canned, this book likely tells you how! Click on the link below for more information and / or to buy (no obligation to buy).

See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon
See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon  

Food Preparation Equipment

Make the job faster and easier with these great tools! See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon

See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon

Bean "frenchers"

It is tiring and laborious to prepare green beans for canning; there are so many of them and you do them all by hand.  But wait there's a new device that makes it easy.  Hmmm, actually, these devices have been around since our great-grandfather's day!  Here are several different types and makes, some hand fed, some cranked: choose the one that meets your need and budget!

For photos and features of the bean frenchers, click here!

 

 

More Canning Supplies

         See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon
See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon

See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon
See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon

Lids and Rings (jars are above,

click here for jars)

Need lids, rings and replacement jars?  Or pectin to make jam, spaghetti sauce or salsa mix or pickle mixes?  Get them all here, and usually at lower prices than your local store! Click on the images at left for current prices and/or ordering! 

Get them all here at the best prices on the internet!
See here for related tools, equipment, supplies on Amazon

Cleaning supplies to remove rust from rings and jars

A visitor wrote in to tell how she uses Copper Glo (order at ledt) to remove rust from rings and jars:

Comments from a visitor on September 15, 2010: "You mention not using jars that have rust on them. One way to remove rust from jars is with Copper Glo. I get Copper Glo at our local Giant Eagle. I had a jar with rust on it and was getting ready to pitch it when my mom told me about Copper Glo. I was afraid to use it at first because I was afraid it would scratch the jar, but decided it was worth a try. Amazingly, the rust came off and the jar wasn't scratched!"

 

Pectin, Pickle Mixes and Sauce/Salsa Mixes

Making Jam?  Need Pectin, but the local store is out?

Is your jam too runny? Pectin enables you to turn out perfectly set jam every time.  Made from natural apples, there are also low-sugar pectins that allow you  to reduce the sugar you add by almost half!

Get canning jars, rings, lids and pectin deliverd:

 

Pickling Mixes and Pickling Supplies

Pickles

Whether you want dills or sweet pickles; canning them or straight into the refrigerator; there is a mix for every taste and need here!Get them all here, delivered direct to your home,  at the best prices on the internet! Get everything you need to make pickles: mixes, salt, brine, etc. here!      

     

Sauce and Salsa Mixes

Get ready season mixes for tomato sauces and salsas here.  They make it simple to get it right every time!

(Shown is Ball brand - actual is Mrs. Wages brand)

 

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Picking Tips

[General picking tips and a guide to each fruit and vegetable] [How much do I need to pick? (Yields - how much raw makes how much cooked or frozen)] [Selecting the right varieties to pick] [All about apple varieties - which to pick and why!]  [Picking tips for Vegetables] [ Strawberry picking tips] [ Blueberries picking tips]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Illustrated Canning, Freezing, Jam Instructions and Recipes

[ All About Home Canning, Freezing and Making Jams, Pickles, Sauces, etc. ] [FAQs - Answers to common questions and problems] [Recommended books about home canning, jam making, drying and preserving!] [Free canning publications to download and print]