Canning season is here, so if you haven’t started canning food for survival preparation already then it’s time to get started!
Home canning is one of the safest and most economical ways to preserve some of your favorite foods for long periods of time IF it’s done correctly.
And if you’re a prepper or homesteader then knowing how to safely preserve your garden harvests with canning is mandatory.
Survival Food Canning
A lot of preppers stockpile store-bought canned goods, but canned food is not limited to the kind done commercially with metal containers.
As long as you get the process right, you can also preserve many foods for long periods of time just as effectively at home using special glass jars and lids.
That means you can easily make your own long-term storable survival foods right in your own kitchen!
How to Can your Own Survival Food Using Jars and Lids
Canning Methods
There are two main methods for home canning: water bath canning and pressure canning.
Both methods involve sterilizing jars of food by submerging them in boiling water for a certain amount of time, but the pressure canning method requires the use of a pressure cooker to reach higher temperatures.
The types of foods you will be preserving will usually dictate which method to use.
If you are preserving low-acid foods the recipe will usually call for the pressure canning method to minimize the risk of botulism.
Foods that are acidic can usually be preserved using the water bath canning method which is faster and simpler since no pressure cooker is required.
Processing Times
It is really important to know the correct processing time for each and every food that you’re going to be canning.
It’s going to be different for every food, so going into detail here is beyond the scope of this post.
Just be sure to do your research to know how long the processing time is for whatever it is you’re canning.
This food you’re preserving will be consumed by you and your family, so don’t take any chances.
ALWAYS use tried and true canning recipes, and follow the instructions exactly.
Supplies for Canning Your Survival Food
Canners
For water bath canning you will need a water bath canner with a lid & rack.
The rack is necessary to keep the jars from touching the bottom of the canning pot, and the lid is necessary to ensure that the jars are evenly heated.
For pressure canning you will need a large pressure cooker, preferably one designed specifically for canning.
Canning Jars & Lids
You can’t just use any type of jars and lids for canning.
You need to use special jars and lids that are made specifically for canning.
These jars can withstand heat and pressure of the canning process, and the lids should be the self-sealing kind.
There are a variety of sizes and styles that the jars come in for different canning applications.
Pint, half-pint, and quart jars are the most common sizes you’ll see.
Many sizes also come in “regular mouth” and “wide mouth” versions, so keep that in mind when you’re buying additional lids and bands for your jars.
Basic Canning Process Steps
The first thing you need to do is sterilize your jars and lids.
You an do this by simply boiling the jars in your water canner for about 8 to 10 minutes.
Next you add the food you’re preserving into the jars, and cover with your lids and bands.
During the canning process the gasket on the lids will soften.
It will continue to allow air to escape from the jar during the canning process, but when it cools it will form an airtight seal around the top of the jar.
Remember to always allow the jars to process for the right amount of time, and then allow the jars to completely cool at room temperature before storing.
Never try to speed up the cooling the process, and avoid moving the jars at all until completely cool.
Start Canning Food for Survival Preparation Now
As you can see, canning your own survival food isn’t difficult once you have the equipment and understand the process.
You can also save a lot of money!
Not to mention, canning your own food at home will always be healthier than buying commercially canned food.
So, go learn this useful skill and start canning your own survival food at home.
USEFUL RESOURCES:
Canning and Preserving Cookbook for Preppers
Ball’s Complete Book of Home Preserving
USDA’s Complete Guide to Home Canning
