Reasons for canning are varied. Everything from saving money, not wasting, being eco-conscious and green to avoiding BPA liners in canned store-bought products can get you in the kitchen to preserve the garden harvest in the summer.

For my family, canning has a little to do with each and a lot to do with all. We did greatly expand our garden this year, and we’ve been watching the tomatoes roll in on a daily basis, but there are only so many tomatoes we can eat. Still, before our garden was as large as it is today, we took advantage of season and local fruit by purchasing produce in season at the local farmers market and canning and freezing it for use through the winter.

Not only did we benefit from the freshest produce available all winter, but we saved money because we bought in season, and I knew exactly what was in each jar and frozen container as I was the one that put it there.

Here are the basics to get you started along the process of canning:

1. Sterilize your jars.

Wash your lids and jars and move to a boiling water bath for ten minutes to sterilize.

2. Prepare your produce.

Using your favorite canning recipes, cut your produce, cook your jams, pickle your cucumbers so they are ready to be processed in your jars.

3. Fill the jars.

Leave room at the top of the jar for the food to expand while they are processed, and also check for air bubbles inside the jar along the sides. Wipe down the jars and close with lids and rings.

4. Process your jars.

Place your jars in a hot water bath or pressure cooker with preheated water and process as necessary for the type of produce you’re canning. Use a pressure canner according to the manufacturer’s directions to determine the amount of water needed and length of processing time. Refer to recipe for water bath canning.

5. Remove your jars and let them cool.

Once processed, remove the jars from the bath and allow to cool on the counter. They will pop and seal as they cool. Any unsealed jars can be placed in the fridge to be eaten promptly.

Looking for more details on the canning process?

Check out my article on Simple Bites, which includes more information, including an equipment list.

Ready to get started? Here are a few basic recipes to get you going:

*Home Canned Tomatoes | Simple Bites
*Sweet Cherries | Simple Bites
*Peaches, Plums and Nectarines | Simple Bites
*Nectarine Raspberry Freezer Jam | Simple Bites
*Blood Orange and Vanilla Bean Marmalade | Dinner with Julie
*Pickled Onions | Not Without Salt
*Cranberry Mango Chutney | Family Kitchen
*Lime Curd | Family Kitchen

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