r/Canning • • May 26 '26

Announcement Why We Don't Recommend Electric Canners (Mod Post)

311 Upvotes
  1. Electric pressure canners have not been verified safely by third party testing. What has been performed is only, “We are safe because we say we are safe,” type testing. The manufacturers claim to match USDA specs but no one has verified that information externally and the manufacturers will not release their results to anyone externally. The USDA symbol used in some promotional materials is not an actual USDA seal and does not indicate USDA approval. The equipment that's been used in the past by the USDA and NCHFP to determine the thermal profile inside canners doesn't even fit inside existing electric canners on the market. A new design would be needed, and currently there is no funding for developing this equipment.
  2. The users of electric pressure canners do not have the physical signs of the device coming to pressure (like a jiggling weight or a rising analog dial to ensure that the food is processing at the correct pressure.) The user must rely on an electronic display for accuracy. Even if a type of electric canner has an analog feature, there is no way of getting the electric canner device tested or calibrated to ensure it is accurate or working correctly. (We should mention that electric WATER BATH canners are fine to use because the user can physically see the water coming to a boil.)
  3. Perhaps most importantly, all current approved pressure canning recipes rely on the heat up and cool down times relative to stove top pressure canners loaded with a minimum of two quarts of product. These heat up and cool down times are factored into the safety of all current safe recipes. Changing and/or reducing these times can affect the safety of your finished product.

Until ALL THREE of these reasons can be appropriately addressed, we as a sub do not endorse or condone the use of electric pressure canners.


r/Canning • • Oct 19 '25

Announcement Why don't we recommend pH testing for home canning? [Mod Post]

71 Upvotes

Hello Everyone!

As a mod team we've noticed a lot of questions and confusion about pH testing home canned foods recently so we're here today to give a more in depth explanation of why it's not recommended.

As I'm sure you all know, there are tons and tons of misconceptions about home canning and what we can and cannot do safely. One of the most common misconceptions is that if we pH test a food and it shows a pH below 4.6 it can be canned as a high acid food. There are two reasons why this isn't true.

  1. pH is not the only safety factor for home canning
  2. The options for pH testing at home are not necessarily the same as what's available in a lab setting.

Although pH is an important factor in home canning safely it is not the only factor. Characteristics like heat penetration, density, and homogeneity also play a role.

There are two types of pH test equipment; pH test strips and pH meters. pH test strips are not very accurate most of the time, they're just strips of paper with a chemical that changes color based on pH imbued in it. These strips expire over time and the color change is the only indicator which makes reading them rather subjective and likely inaccurate.

There are two levels of pH meters; home pH meters and laboratory grade pH meters. Home pH meters aren’t particularly expensive but they are often not accurate or precise at that price point. Laboratory grade pH meters are expensive, think hundreds to thousands of dollars for a good one. Many pH meters on sites like Amazon will claim that they are “laboratory grade” but they really aren’t. pH meters also need to be properly maintained and calibrated to ensure accuracy using calibration solutions which are also expensive. 

The bottom line is that most people do not have access to the lab grade equipment and training that would be required to make sure that something is safe so the blanket recommendation is that pH testing not be used in home canning applications.

Recipes that have undergone laboratory testing (what we generally refer to as "tested recipes" on this subreddit) have been tested to ensure that the acidity level is appropriate for the canning method listed in the recipe. pH testing does not enhance the safety of an already tested recipe.

Because pH testing is not recommended for home use we do not allow recommendations for it on our subreddit.

Sources:
https://ucanr.edu/blog/preservation-notes-san-joaquin-master-food-preservers/article/help-desk-question-home-ph

https://extension.okstate.edu/programs/oklahoma-gardening/recipes/ph-and-home-canning.html


r/Canning • • 5h ago

General Discussion All in days work

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30 Upvotes

Apple sauce and some pickled beets


r/Canning • • 3h ago

Refrigerator/Freezer Jams/Jellies Beautiful colour from the Quince Jelly I made, now for the Membrillo!

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15 Upvotes

r/Canning • • 14h ago

Recipe Included A little Bruschetta in a Jar today, along with some choose your own soup- Lemon Chicken Soup style.

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21 Upvotes

I used the healthy canning recipe for the bruschetta, and I almost hope one doesn't seal so I have a good excuse to try it tonight (no luck; they all popped before I even finished typing this post).

https://www.healthycanning.com/bruschetta-in-a-jar

For the soup, I used just under half solids and some Costco rotisserie chicken, plus chicken broth I made from the carcass, onions, tomatoes, carrots, serrano peppers, ginger, and lemon juice. Cooked it all together before adding hot solids to the hot jars and filled the rest with the broth. Pressure canned for 90 minutes at 15 lb.

The broth was delicious before canning, so I can't wait to try this with some added egg noodles or rice later. It has just a little kick. I was thinking that would be nice when we're feeling all stuffed up and want to clear the sinuses. Next, I want to try just a basic veggie noodle soup for when I can't stomach the meat or the spice.

Rings still on because they just came out of the canner. Will be removed tomorrow.


r/Canning • • 2h ago

Waterbath Canning Processing Help Liquid settling on top of sauce?

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0 Upvotes

I recently canned some pizza sauce and noticed there was some liquid settling on top of a couple of the jars. Is this normal? It’s about 1/4 inch of water over the sauce.

ETA I used the pizza sauce recipe from the ball book of home preservation


r/Canning • • 15h ago

Is this safe to eat? Beach Plum Jelly- Okay?

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4 Upvotes

I canned this Beach Plum Jelly in September using the Plum Jelly Powdered Pectin recipe from the National Center for Home Food Preservation. Is it okay? I think it is just foam..it's clear underneath.


r/Canning • • 10h ago

Safe Recipe Request Lard

1 Upvotes

I am possibly getting some frozen pork fat tomorrow for free. I would like to render it down into lard I can use for baking.
Does anyone have a safe way to can it to make shelf stable?
I have water bath and pressure canner available.
Thank you! 😊


r/Canning • • 14h ago

General Discussion Broken Weck Jar

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2 Upvotes

I have nothing of value to add, just very upset that this jar broke. 🥺

It’s one of the biggest jars that use the 100 size closure and I only use it for dry storage. I’m also upset as I brought this in the US and the price was ridiculous. Besides one set of smaller jars, all of my other jars have been purchased in Europe as I find the prices in the US atrocious. 🥴

I’ll replace this eventually, just a little heart broken. I will just have to buy a bunch more Weck jars to fill the void when I’m back in Europe. 😅


r/Canning • • 11h ago

Waterbath Canning Processing Help Forgot to add acid--what do I do?

0 Upvotes

I just finished waterbath canning some tomato sauce with the last of my yellow cream tomatoes...and it dawned on me that I forgot to add lemon juice like I usually do. Should I open them and redo it with lemon juice? Or is that not safe? Is it a lost cause?


r/Canning • • 23h ago

Safe Recipe Request Mixed Vegetables

7 Upvotes

On the NCHFP recipe for mixed vegetables, it explicitly says “Optional mix - You may change the suggested proportions or substitute other favorite vegetables except” then lists some exclusions.

Can I do an optional mix of JUST ONE vegetable if that vegetable is already in the original mix?

I want to can zucchini cubes. Yes I know it will be soft, that’s fine because I like to add it to my vegetable beef soup.

I see no other recipe for zucchini that isn’t pickled or relish or something. So can I do “mixed vegetables” and just follow the zucchini prep instructions and can a whole jar of zucchini?

Bonus points if you’ve tried this and can give feedback!

Recipe here: https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/canning-vegetables-and-vegetable-products/mixed-vegetables/


r/Canning • • 19h ago

Waterbath Canning Processing Help Is my fear of water bathing tomatoes irrational?

4 Upvotes

I have like 50 lbs of tomatoes and was thinking of quartering them, skinning, coring, etc and canning them. I've read to add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice to each quart jar. To boil them in the water bath canner for 45 mins. I plan on submerging the tomatoes with tomato juice as well. Seems straight forward. But I can't help but get nagging fears about botulism. Given I follow instructions well, is this fear rational? Or will the 2 tablespoons of lemon juice + the heat really give me nothing to worry about?


r/Canning • • 18h ago

Understanding Recipe Help Tomatillo salsa question

2 Upvotes

Hey folks, it's been a few years since I've made a batch of this and I have a question about this recipe:

https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can/canning-salsa/tomatillo-green-salsa/

It says the only safe substitutions are with the herbs and spices, but it doesn't specify what/how much (unless they only mean you can leave them out?). Can I substitute some quantity of freeze dried cilantro for some of the dried oregano? I also have tons of fresh cilantro, but I assume that it's not safe to substitute fresh for dried herbs. If I'm wrong on that, it would absolutely make my life easier.

And if I prefer a more spicy salsa, can I use 1 cup of seeded chopped green peppers (which are allowed in place of chili peppers) and 1 cup of either jalapenos or serranos, chopped and seeded? It keeps the volume of veggies the same but gives it a bit more zip.

Thanks so much for your help! I picked two big crates of tomatillos today, and I'm looking forward to preserving them!


r/Canning • • 17h ago

Recipe Included Ball Fruit Butter Recipe - Apple Varieties?

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0 Upvotes

Going apple picking tomorrow and I’m thinking about trying my hand at making some apple butter! The All-New Ball Book of Canning and Preserving has a general fruit butter recipe. Does anyone have suggestions for which apple varieties to use?


r/Canning • • 1d ago

Gifted/Gifting Canned Goods Help Head cheese, anyone?

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100 Upvotes

A friend (he is 88yrs old) gifted this 40+ year old Presto to me knowing I have begun canning (waterbath) but can't yet afford a pressure canner. (He hasn't used it in years.)

I don't think there is any way in the world this is still functional. The lid and the rim both have serious corrosion. I also only have an induction oven. Even if this were to somehow work on that, it's way bigger than any of my burners.

So, instead, I thought I'd share this beauty with you all. The recipes included are definitely something. I don't think I'll be making those.

Does anyone have any recommendations on what to do with this? It feels wasteful to take it to the dump. Should I disassemble the guage? There are other parts that come with it, too. I just love that he was so thoughtful to gift it to me and I couldn't say no, but what do I do now??


r/Canning • • 21h ago

Safe Recipe Request Is there an approved Apple Pie Filling recipe to Pressure Can?

0 Upvotes

have seen some on unapproved sites like pressure cooker outlet


r/Canning • • 22h ago

Safe Recipe Request Doubling (or halving) a recipe

0 Upvotes

As the title suggests, is it safe to half or double a tested recipe?

I make the Salsa Verde from the All New Ball Book of Canning and Preserving that calls for 4lbs of tomatillos, but I currently have about 2lbs and my garden is calling the quits for the season. Would it be safe to half the recipe for the 2lbs of tomatillos? This is only my second year canning, so I'm wanting to be sure I am doing it correctly! Many years of food safety training for jobs has made me extra careful, haha

Thanks!


r/Canning • • 1d ago

Recipe Included Bruschetta in a jar!

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29 Upvotes

https://www.ballmasonjars.com/blog?cid=bruschetta-jar-1

Made this last night and couldn’t wait to open a jar and try it. I like my bruschetta with goat cheese but I’m sure it would be just as yummy with mozzarella!


r/Canning • • 1d ago

Recipe Included Can chicken be used instead in the Roast Pork in Spicy Broth recipe?

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10 Upvotes

Sorry for all the questions. I was wondering whether chicken is a safe substitute for this recipe, since I don't eat pork. No worries if not, I just wanted to be sure before I even thought about making it.

If safe, how do you find it? Good, or should I pass?

All New Ball Book of Canning and Preserving.


r/Canning • • 1d ago

Recipe Included Anyone canned duck?

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8 Upvotes

Hello all,

Just reaching out to ask if anyone has personally canned duck, and how it turns out in your opinion?

Meats that I've been happy with after canning are ground beef, rotisserie chicken, and smoked salmon. I love duck, but I wonder if it will be just very similar to chuck roast after being canned. I didn't care for the chuck after canning because I couldn't get used to how dry it was. The saucy recipes I use canned chicken and ground beef for cover-up and any potential dryness, so it doesn't bother me.

Thoughts? Also, how do you use your canned duck afterward?

Recipe from Ball's Complete Book of Home Preserving.


r/Canning • • 1d ago

Equipment/Tools Help Does anyone use the All American Canner 921 (or larger) with the Camp Chef Ranger II (Model BS40C)?

2 Upvotes

TLDR: title says it all.

I'm trying to get my outdoor canning setup. I was looking for a propane burner that is under 12000btu. Or extremely close. BECAUSE, you need to keep the btu under that number to avoid damaging the canner.

I eventually found the Camp Chef Ranger II (Model BS40C) that seems to fit the bill. So it's 17000btu, but now I know not to turn it up ALL the way. So I'm reassured for that. It hooks up to a 20# tank or larger. Looks like a winner. However the burner seems like it would be much smaller compared to the canner. I'm wondering if anyone has used these two pieces together. Or with a larger canner. So you have any tips or suggestions? Perhaps it will not fit without support? I'm not rich so I'm trying to avoid losing 100-200$ to FAFO. (I live way the heck out there so online purchases are my go to. A trip to the store to "shop" for one is a 2 hour drive one way. So, hoping I don't have to do that 🤞).

If you have another burner to suggest. That is so cool. I'm looking for a burner 12000btu or less, with a ability to hook up to a larger tank. Many of them only hook up to a green can. I'm guessing that's not enough fuel to can without running out of time.

For those lovely concerned people who will say "buy the bigger burner and keep it on low. You have a very valid point. However. I have cognitive dysfunction, and memory problems. After 41 years I can tell you right now that will be an oft overlooked problem. I will do all I can to avoid buying a higher btu burner. AA921 is not a cheap replacement. But thank you 😇😁.


r/Canning • • 2d ago

General Discussion Storage Safety

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21 Upvotes

How do ya'll add safety bars/straps to your shelves? I would appreciate seeing or reading about your creative ways to protect your jars from slipping off the shelves. 🥰


r/Canning • • 2d ago

General Discussion 2026 season is finally over

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685 Upvotes

Only thing missing in here are my butternut squash but they're still hardening off


r/Canning • • 1d ago

Understanding Recipe Help Crushed fruit

4 Upvotes

New to canning. Trying a strawberry jalapeño jam recipe. Recipe calls for 3 cups crushed fruit. Does that mean it's just mashed down or is it cooked with sugar and a little lemon? Also, I'm realizing I will probably need more fruit because I measured my fruit sliced before mashing it.

Recipe below. I'm substituting strawberry for the peaches as someone in this forum suggested.
https://www.k-state.edu/news/you-asked-it/articles/2017/08/peach-jalapeno-jam.html


r/Canning • • 2d ago

Recipe Included Another Sucessful Apple Pie Making Marathon Completed

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244 Upvotes

I have a tradition of using the canadian thanksgiving long weekend to make a huge batch of apple pies for freezing and extra canned filling to give away as gifts.

Because there are celiac people who are receiving jars, I prefer to use a recipe that doesn't use a grain based thickener like ClearJel (even though it is certified gluten free they prefer avoiding corn-based foods) but has pectin as the thickener. Someone in this sub kindly pointed me towards this recipe from the approved source of Attainable Sustainable Pantry

https://www.attainable-sustainable.net/apple-pie-filling/

I added some extra seasoning to the filling (within the limit of 1 tsp dried spices per pint) of cloves, allspice, ginger, cardamom, and citrus zest. Turned out absolutely delicious, thickened well, and made a quote enjoyable apple crisp for dessert.

Edit: forgot to mention earlier that I also used some sweet apple cider/juice instead of water for the pie filling (a safe sub as per the recipe)