It doesn’t take piles of expensive equipment to start canning your own foods at home…you might even already own some of equipment you need to get started….
Here’s the list of MUST HAVE’S to buy, borrow or otherwise collect your home canning basic supplies:
Mason Jars
Does anyone ever have TOO MANY jars? (I’m a mason jar addict!) You can often find these glass canning jars at garage sales for cheap. Run your finger around the rim of the jar (when buying used) to make sure you don’t feel any chips or dents. Even the slightest chip will keep your jars from sealing. Most grocery stores sell jars in various sizes by the case all year long but especially during the summer and fall canning seasons. (NOTE: Don’t use recycled mayonnaise and other condiment jars for canning–use only mason jars created for the purpose of canning.)
Seal able Jar Lids
While you can buy the jars used and re-use them over and over, jar lids need to be new each time. These little metal lids have a rubbery band around them that once hot, create the seal between the lid and the jar. If you’re buying new jars by the case, these lids will be included. If you’re re-using old jars, the lids can be purchased separately and are inexpensive.
Jar Bands or Rings
These metal rings screw down on the jar to create a snug fit between the jar and the lid. They can be re-used and don’t have to be purchased new each time. If you find your running short on rings, you can take them off totally cool jars that have already been canned and sealed. You don’t have to store them with the bands screwed on. Again, if you’re buying new jars by the case, the rings will be included in the package, but you can purchase them separately as well.
Boiling Water Canner
This doesn’t have to be as intimidating as it sounds…you can use a big stock pot or other large, deep sauce pot you already own. I canned my own jams and jellies for YEARS before I invested in a water canner (that I found at a yard sale for $5!) The pot you use needs to be large enough to have the jars you’re canning completely submerged (with about 2 inches or more of water above the jar tops) and with enough room around the jars that water can move freely).
If you’re using a sauce pot from your kitchen, it needs to have a properly fitting lid to go with it. You will also need to either buy a wire rack (you can buy them separately in the same section as the jars in most stores) or create a homemade solution yourself so that your jars are not sitting on the bottom of the pot unprotected.
A great homemade solution I used was placing as many jar rings side by side on the bottom of the saucepan as would fit. The jars then sat on top of the rings, creating space between the pot and the jar bottoms.
Kitchen Utensils
Things like measuring cups, wooden spoons (long handled ones work best), ladles, funnels, spatulas, etc.
Here’s some things that are helpful but not absolutely essential:
Jar Lifter
This tongs-like simple contraption is designed especially for safe jar lifting from boiling water baths when the jars are too hot to touch. Although it’s not an essential, it’s hard to can without it (I’ve used regular kitchen tongs before, which are tricky. The wet jars tend to want to slip from your grip and dropping a glass jar full of boiling hot food is something you definitely want to avoid!)
Lid Lifter
This is a little plastic stick with a magnet on the bottom for ease of lifting your jar lids out of the warm water you’ve got them sitting in while you’re canning. Totally NOT essential, but very inexpensive and quite slick. I didn’t have one for years, but after I got it, I wondered why I didn’t spring the 2 bucks a long time ago. I love it!
Bubble Remover and Headspace Tool
If you want to be sure about the headspace you’re leaving, there’s a specially designed device to get the job done. Some people swear by them, but it’s never been something I’ve used. A butter knife works just as well in my opinion.
Pressure Canner
This is the most expensive investment of the whole canning process, but you can pick one up for less than $75.00 and it will last forever, at least! (I have one passed down from my grandma).
Although I didn’t put it in the MUST HAVE section, it is a must have if you plan on canning low-acid things like most vegetables, meats, etc. However, there are many, many recipes you to can that don’t need a pressure canner, so it’s not essential for all canning.
My suggestion is that if you’re new to canning, try your hand with the water bath method of canning first before you dive into recipes that require pressure canning.
If you’ve got supplies and are ready to move on, here’s some places to go:
Canning Recipes
Sterilizing Jars
Water Bath Canning
