Canning thread

Did onions...worked rather well. Makes the whole place smell like onions. We picked up a 20 or 30 pound bag, and ran them through the machine, smelled like onions for a couple days here.

Whats that stuff thats fairly common, a weed, plantain I think.

Sca

 

With 2 ( one and a half ?), used to be three freezers I bought a portable generator. They are both fairly new /energy efficient and keeping them running enough isn't much of a chore. We don't have a lot of power outages here any more. Course, that can change ...
I've always wanted a wood fired stove outside on a big porch to do Fall canning outside.

 

With a genset, i bet the freezers could be energized every couple of days, rather than constantly. Even wired direct from a solar panel....as long as there is sun every 2 or three days, they'll stay cold.

Thats an awesome idea having an outdoor wood burner for canning. Kinda like having a summer kitchen.
Sca

 

I have a couple dozen of the older bail jars. I've never canned. Are the rubber rings still available? Maybe, I'll give canning a try.

 

Yes, you can still buy the rubber seals/gaskets.
The new style uses less of the rubber and the tin it is layered on is relatively cheap so the newer system is less costly and probably uses slightly less resources.
The red rubber seals dry out and crack . We used to use the vintage jars for dried beans and brown sugar and things for which the size jar was appropriate/convenient and would get new seals every now and then.
The sellers of the newer lids and rings system often tout them as "more safe" and I doubt it. They certainly are more convenient. Certainly not less safe.
We used to have larger crockery jars and the seals would go bad on those too. Look nice, usefullness has a short life.

 

I believe they are, but finding any lid is difficult right now.

 

The newer reuseable lids are fairly available.
Two brands I looked at were Tattler and Harvest Guard.
I ended up with HG, not cheap, but updated materials, and they are still being made, so getting more will not be a problem foreseeably.
I'm Keeping regular bands and domes handy for the bulk of what we do. They are still cheep and somewhat available...they'll be my fall back until I have enough of the reuseables, or they are unavailable altogether.

Sca

 

We've been checking the stores any time we're out shopping. Haven't found any lids in months. Jars w/ lids, and rings w/ lids are usually in stock, but not the packs of lids (only).

 

I haven't seen any at wallmart recently, but some mom and pop hardware stores have some.
I dont know if they are being grabbed as they are put on shelves, if Ball is just sending 1 box at a time, or they're straight up not available.
We haven't asked anyone to search and rescue lids for us, so perhaps just our location.

Sca

 

Just went on the scout and the only way I can get lids is to buy cases of jars.

 

Same as around here. There is also the option of buying bands with lids. I already have a lot of jars and bands so this is not an attractive option for me. Luckily I have enough lids for about 5 years of product, and likely more since I have had no problems reusing lids from water bath applications. Assuming lids come back as some point, I will put away another hoard…likely enough for another 5 years.

 

Same story here.
Ill keep looking though, and perhaps involve a couple others to check their locations while they're out and about at their locations.
Got relatives in other towns or states?

Sca

 

I checked Walmart while I was there yesterday. Had the battery replaced on my iphone by a guy that has a little store in there. Canning shelves were rather bare.

 

When I get some lids Im gonna do some venison in BIL pressure cooker. Need to make room in freezer.
Be first time canning with pressure cooker.

 

How did it turn out? As you run the pressure cooker for any length of time i.e. canning fish, you have to keep turning down the heat to keep the pressure even.

 

Frog legs n squirrel get et fresh.
Deer and groundhog are good canned. Makes great gravy.