Part 1

Home CANNING of Fruits and Vegetables

HOME AND GARDEN BULLETIN No. 8 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

CONTENTS

Page Right canner for each food 3 Getting your equipment ready 3 General canning procedure 5 How to can fruits, tomatoes, pickled vegetables 9 Directions for fruits, tomatoes, pickled vegetables 11 How to can vegetables 16 Directions for vegetables 18 Questions and answers 29 Index 31

Prepared by HUMAN NUTRITION RESEARCH DIVISION Agricultural Research Service

Acknowledgment is made to the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station and the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station for cooperation in the development of some of the home-canning processes included in this publication, and to the National Canners Association for consultation and advice on processing.

Washington, D.C. Revised February 1965 Slightly revised May 1965

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 15 cents

Home CANNING of Fruits and Vegetables

Organisms that cause food spoilage—molds, yeasts, and bacteria—are always present in the air, water, and soil. Enzymes that may cause undesirable changes in flavor, color, and texture are present in raw fruits and vegetables.

When you can fruits and vegetables you heat them hot enough and long enough to destroy spoilage organisms. This heating (or processing) also stops the action of enzymes. Processing is done in either a boiling-water-bath canner or a steam-pressure canner. The kind of canner that should be used depends on the kind of food being canned.

Right Canner for Each Food

_For fruits, tomatoes, and pickled vegetables_, use a boiling-water-bath canner. You can process these acid foods safely in boiling water.

_For all common vegetables except tomatoes_, use a steam-pressure canner. To process these low-acid foods safely in a reasonable length of time takes a temperature higher than that of boiling water.

A pressure saucepan equipped with an accurate indicator or gage for controlling pressure at 10 pounds (240° F.) may be used as a steam-pressure canner for vegetables in pint jars or No. 2 tin cans. If you use a pressure saucepan, add 20 minutes to the processing times given in this publication for each vegetable.

Getting Your Equipment Ready

Steam-Pressure Canner

_For safe operation_ of your canner, clean petcock and safety-valve openings by drawing a string or narrow strip of cloth through them. Do this at beginning of canning season and often during the season.

_Check pressure gage._—An accurate pressure gage is necessary to get the processing temperatures needed to make food keep.

_A weighted gage_ needs to be thoroughly clean.

_A dial gage_, old or new, should be checked before the canning season, and also during the season if you use the canner often. Ask your county home demonstration agent, dealer, or manufacturer about checking it.

If your gage is off 5 pounds or more, you’d better get a new one. But if the gage is not more than 4 pounds off, you can correct for it as shown below. As a reminder, tie on the canner a tag stating the reading to use to get the correct pressure.

The food is to be processed at 10 pounds steam pressure; so—

If the gage reads high— 1 pound high—process at 11 pounds. 2 pounds high—process at 12 pounds. 3 pounds high—process at 13 pounds. 4 pounds high—process at 14 pounds.

If the gage reads low— 1 pound low—process at 9 pounds. 2 pounds low—process at 8 pounds. 3 pounds low—process at 7 pounds. 4 pounds low—process at 6 pounds.

_Have canner thoroughly clean._—Wash canner kettle well if you have not used it for some time. Don’t put cover in water—wipe it with a soapy cloth, then with a damp, clean cloth. Dry well.

Water-Bath Canner

Water-bath canners are available on the market. Any big metal container may be used as a boiling-water-bath canner if it is deep enough so that the water is well over tops of jars and has space to boil freely. Allow 2 to 4 inches above jar tops for brisk boiling (see sketch). The canner must have a tight-fitting cover and a wire or wooden rack. If the rack has dividers, jars will not touch each other or fall against the sides of the canner during processing.

If a steam-pressure canner is deep enough, you can use it for a water bath. Cover, but do not fasten. Leave petcock wide open, so that steam escapes and pressure does not build up inside the canner.

Space for brisk boiling—1″ or 2″ Space for brisk boiling—1″ or 2″ Space for 1″ to 2″ of water above jar Space for 1″ to 2″ of water above jar height of jar height of jar rack space rack space

Glass Jars

Be sure all jars and closures are perfect. Discard any with cracks, chips, dents, or rust; defects prevent airtight seals.

Select the size of closure—widemouth or regular—that fits your jars.

Wash glass jars in hot, soapy water and rinse well. Wash and rinse all lids and bands. Metal lids with sealing compound may need boiling or holding in boiling water for a few minutes—follow the manufacturer’s directions.

If you use rubber rings, have clean, new rings of the right size for the jars. Don’t test by stretching. Wash rings in hot, soapy water. Rinse well.

Tin Cans

_Select desired type and size._—Three types of tin cans are used in home canning—plain tin, C-enamel (corn enamel), and R-enamel (sanitary or standard enamel). For most products plain tin cans are satisfactory. Enameled cans are recommended for certain fruits and vegetables to prevent discoloration of food, but they are not necessary for a wholesome product.

The types of cans and the foods for which they are recommended are:

Type Recommended for—

C-enamel Corn, hominy. R-enamel Beets, red berries, red or black cherries, plums, pumpkin, rhubarb, winter squash. Plain All other fruits and vegetables for which canning directions are given in this bulletin.

In this bulletin, directions are given for canning most fruits and vegetables in No. 2 and No. 2½ tin cans. A No. 2 can holds about 2½ cups, and a No. 2½ can about 3½ cups.

_Use only cans in good condition._—See that cans, lids, and gaskets are perfect. Discard badly bent, dented, or rusted cans, and lids with damaged gaskets. Keep lids in paper packing until ready to use. The paper protects the lids from dirt and moisture.

_Wash cans._—Just before use, wash cans in clean water; drain upside down. Do not wash lids; washing may damage the gaskets. If lids are dusty or dirty, rinse with clean water or wipe with a damp cloth just before you put them on the cans.

_Check the sealer._—Make sure the sealer you use is properly adjusted. To test, put a little water into a can, seal it, then submerge can in boiling water for a few seconds. If air bubbles rise from around the can, the seam is not tight. Adjust sealer, following manufacturer’s directions.

General Canning Procedure

Selecting Fruits and Vegetables for Canning

Choose fresh, firm fruits and young, tender vegetables. Can them before they lose their freshness. If you must hold them, keep them in a cool, airy place. If you buy fruits and vegetables to can, try to get them from a nearby garden or orchard.

For best quality in the canned product, use only perfect fruits and vegetables. Sort them for size and ripeness; they cook more evenly that way.

Washing

Wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly, whether or not they are to be pared. Dirt contains some of the bacteria hardest to kill. Wash small lots at a time, under running water or through several changes of water. Lift the food out of the water each time so dirt that has been washed off won’t go back on the food. Rinse pan thoroughly between washings. Don’t let fruits or vegetables soak; they may lose flavor and food value. Handle them gently to avoid bruising.

Filling Containers

_Raw pack or hot pack._—Fruits and vegetables may be packed raw into glass jars or tin cans or preheated and packed hot. In this publication directions for both raw and hot packs are given for most of the foods.

Most raw fruits and vegetables should be packed tightly into the container because they shrink during processing; a few—like corn, lima beans, and peas—should be packed loosely because they expand.

Hot food should be packed fairly loosely. It should be at or near boiling temperature when it is packed.

There should be enough sirup, water, or juice to fill in around the solid food in the container and to cover the food. Food at the top of the container tends to darken if not covered with liquid. It takes from ½ to 1½ cups of liquid for a quart glass jar or a No. 2½ tin can.

_Head space._—With only a few exceptions, some space should be left between the packed food and the closure. The amount of space to allow at the top of the jar or can is given in the detailed directions for canning each food.

Closing Glass Jars

Closures for glass jars are of two main types:

_Metal screwband and flat metal lid_ with sealing compound. To use this type, wipe jar rim clean after produce is packed. Put lid on, with sealing compound next to glass. Screw metal band down tight by hand. When band is tight, this lid has enough give to let air escape during processing. Do not tighten screw band further after taking jar from canner.

Screw bands that are in good condition may be reused. You may remove bands as soon as jars are cool. Metal lids with sealing compound may be used only once.

_Porcelain-lined zinc cap_ with shoulder rubber ring. Fit wet rubber ring down on jar shoulder, but don’t stretch unnecessarily. Fill jar; wipe rubber ring and jar rim clean. Then screw cap down firmly and turn it back ¼ inch. As soon as you take jar from canner, screw cap down tight, to complete seal.

Porcelain-lined zinc caps may be reused as long as they are in good condition. Rubber rings should not be reused.

Metal screw band Metal lid with sealing compound Seals here

Porcelain lined screw cap Rubber Seals here

Exhausting and Sealing Tin Cans

Tin cans are sealed before processing. The temperature of the food in the cans must be 170° F. or higher when the cans are sealed. Food is heated to this temperature to drive out air so that there will be a good vacuum in the can after processing and cooling. Removal of air also helps prevent discoloring of canned food and change in flavor.

Food packed raw must be heated in the cans (exhausted) before the cans are sealed. Food packed hot may be sealed without further heating if you are sure the temperature of the food has not dropped below 170° F. To make sure, test with a thermometer, placing the bulb at the center of the can. If the thermometer registers lower than 170°, or if you do not make this test, exhaust the cans.

_To exhaust_, place open, filled cans on a rack in a kettle in which there is enough boiling water to come to about 2 inches below the tops of the cans. Cover the kettle. Bring water back to boiling. Boil until a thermometer inserted at the center of the can registers 170° F.—or for the length of time given in the directions for the fruit or vegetable you are canning.

Remove cans from the water one at a time, and add boiling packing liquid or water if necessary to bring head space back to the level specified for each product. Place clean lid on filled can. Seal at once.

Processing

Process fruits, tomatoes, and pickled vegetables in a boiling-water-bath canner according to the directions on page 10. Process vegetables in a steam-pressure canner according to the directions on page 16.

Cooling Canned Food

_Glass jars._—As you take jars from the canner, complete seals at once if necessary. If liquid boiled out in processing, do not open jar to add more. Seal the jar just as it is.

Cool jars top side up. Give each jar enough room to let air get at all sides. Never set a hot jar on a cold surface; instead set the jars on a rack or on a folded cloth. Keep hot jars away from drafts, but don’t slow cooling by covering them.

_Tin cans._—Put tin cans in cold, clean water to cool them; change water as needed to cool cans quickly. Take cans out of the water while they are still warm so they will dry in the air. If you stack cans, stagger them so that air can get around them.

Day-After-Canning Jobs

Test the seal on glass jars with porcelain-lined caps by turning each jar partly over in your hands. To test a jar that has a flat metal lid, press center of lid; if lid is down and will not move, jar is sealed. Or tap the center of the lid with a spoon. A clear, ringing sound means a good seal. A dull note does not always mean a poor seal; if there’s no leakage, store the jar and check it for spoilage before use.

If you find a leaky jar, use unspoiled food right away. Or can it again; empty the jar, and pack and process food as if it were fresh. Before using jar or lid again check for defects.

When jars are thoroughly cool, take off the screw bands carefully. If a band sticks, covering for a moment with a hot, damp cloth may help loosen it.

Before storing canned food, wipe containers clean. Label to show contents, date, and lot number—if you canned more than one lot in a day.

Wash bands; store them in a dry place.

Storing Canned Food

Canned food should be kept dry and cool, but it should not be subjected to freezing.

_Dampness_ may corrode tin cans and metal lids of glass jars and eventually cause leakage.

_Warmth_ may cause canned food to lose quality. Hot pipes behind a wall sometimes make a shelf or closet too warm for storing food.

_Freezing_ may crack a jar or break a seal and let in bacteria that will cause spoilage. If it does not damage jar or seal, freezing will not make food unsafe to eat. To give food in an unheated place some protection from freezing, cover containers with a blanket or wrap them in paper.

On Guard Against Spoilage

Don’t use canned food that shows any sign of spoilage. Look closely at each container before opening it. Bulging can ends, jar lids, or rings, or a leak—these may mean food has spoiled. When you open a container look for other signs—spurting liquid, an off odor, or mold.

It’s possible for canned vegetables to contain the poison causing botulism—a serious food poisoning—without showing signs of spoilage. There is no danger of botulism if pressure canner is in perfect order and every canning step is done correctly. But unless you’re absolutely sure of your gage and canning methods, boil home-canned vegetables before tasting. Heating usually makes any odor of spoilage more evident.

Bring vegetables to a rolling boil; then cover and boil for at least 10 minutes. Boil spinach and corn 20 minutes. If the food looks spoiled, foams, or has an off odor during heating, destroy it.

Burn spoiled vegetables, or dispose of the food so that it will not be eaten by humans or animals.

How To Can Fruits, Tomatoes, Pickled Vegetables

Fruits, tomatoes, and pickled vegetables are canned according to the general directions on pages 5 to 8, the detailed directions for each food on pages 11 to 16, and the special directions given below that apply only to acid foods.

Points on Packing

_Raw pack._—Put cold, raw fruits into container and cover with boiling-hot sirup, juice, or water. Press tomatoes down in the containers so they are covered with their own juice; add no liquid.

_Hot pack._—Heat fruits in sirup, in water or steam, or in extracted juice before packing. Juicy fruits and tomatoes may be preheated without added liquid and packed in the juice that cooks out.

Sweetening Fruit

Sugar helps canned fruit hold its shape, color, and flavor. Directions for canning most fruits call for sweetening to be added in the form of sugar sirup. For very juicy fruit packed hot, use sugar without added liquid.

_To make sugar sirup._—Mix sugar with water or with juice extracted from some of the fruit. Use a thin, medium, or heavy sirup to suit the sweetness of the fruit and your taste. To make sirup, combine—

4 cups of water 2 cups sugar For 5 cups THIN sirup. or juice 3 cups sugar For 5½ cups MEDIUM sirup. 4¾ cups sugar For 6½ cups HEAVY sirup.

Boil sugar and water or juice together 5 minutes. Skim if necessary.

_To extract juice._—Crush thoroughly ripe, sound juicy fruit. Heat to simmering (185° to 210° F.) over low heat. Strain through jelly bag or other cloth.

_To add sugar direct to fruit._—For juicy fruit to be packed hot, add about ½ cup sugar to each quart of raw, prepared fruit. Heat to simmering (185° to 210° F.) over low heat. Pack fruit in the juice that cooks out.

_To add sweetening other than sugar._—You can use light corn sirup or mild-flavored honey to replace as much as half the sugar called for in canning fruit. Do not use brown sugar, or molasses, sorghum, or other strong-flavored sirups; their flavor overpowers the fruit flavor and they may darken the fruit.

Canning Unsweetened Fruit

You may can fruit without sweetening—in its own juice, in extracted juice, or in water. Sugar is not needed to prevent spoilage; processing is the same for unsweetened fruit as for sweetened.

Processing in Boiling-Water Bath

_Directions._—Put filled glass jars or tin cans into canner containing hot or boiling water. For raw pack in glass jars have water in canner hot but not boiling; for all other packs have water boiling.

Add boiling water if needed to bring water an inch or two over tops of containers; don’t pour boiling water directly on glass jars. Put cover on canner.

When water in canner comes to a rolling boil, start to count processing time. Boil gently and steadily for time recommended for the food you are canning. Add boiling water during processing if needed to keep containers covered.

Remove containers from the canner immediately when processing time is up.

_Processing times._—Follow times carefully. The times given apply only when a specific food is prepared according to detailed directions.

If you live at an altitude of 1,000 feet or more, you have to add to these processing times in canning directions, as follows:

Altitude Increase in processing time if the time called for is—

20 minutes or less More than 20 minutes 1,000 feet 1 minute 2 minutes. 2,000 feet 2 minutes 4 minutes. 3,000 feet 3 minutes 6 minutes. 4,000 feet 4 minutes 8 minutes. 5,000 feet 5 minutes 10 minutes. 6,000 feet 6 minutes 12 minutes. 7,000 feet 7 minutes 14 minutes. 8,000 feet 8 minutes 16 minutes. 9,000 feet 9 minutes 18 minutes. 10,000 feet 10 minutes 20 minutes.

To Figure Yield of Canned Fruit From Fresh

The number of quarts of canned food you can get from a given quantity of fresh fruit depends upon the quality, variety, maturity, and size of the fruit, whether it is whole, in halves, or in slices, and whether it is packed raw or hot.

Generally, the following amounts of fresh fruit or tomatoes (as purchased or picked) make 1 quart of canned food:

_Pounds_

Apples 2½ to 3 Berries, except strawberries 1½ to 3 (1 to 2 quart boxes) Cherries (canned unpitted) 2 to 2½ Peaches 2 to 3 Pears 2 to 3 Plums 1½ to 2½ Tomatoes 2½ to 3½

In 1 pound there are about 4 medium apples, peaches, or tomatoes; 3 medium pears; 12 medium plums.

Directions for Fruits, Tomatoes, Pickled Vegetables

Apples

Pare and core apples; cut in pieces. To keep fruit from darkening, drop pieces into water containing 2 tablespoons each of salt and vinegar per gallon. Drain, then boil 5 minutes in thin sirup or water.

_In glass jars._—Pack hot fruit to ½ inch of top. Cover with hot sirup or water, leaving ½-inch space at top of jar. Adjust jar lids. Process in boiling-water bath (212° F.)—

Pint jars 15 minutes Quart jars 20 minutes

As soon as you remove jars from canner, complete seals if necessary.

_In tin cans._—Pack hot fruit to ¼ inch of top. Fill to top with hot sirup or water. Exhaust to 170° F. (about 10 minutes) and seal cans. Process in boiling-water bath (212° F.)—

No. 2 cans 10 minutes No. 2½ cans 10 minutes

Applesauce

Make applesauce, sweetened or unsweetened. Heat to simmering (185°-210° F.); stir to keep it from sticking.

_In glass jars._—Pack hot applesauce to ¼ inch of top. Adjust lids. Process in boiling-water bath (212° F.)—

Pint jars 10 minutes Quart jars 10 minutes

As soon as you remove jars from canner, complete seals if necessary.

_In tin cans._—Pack hot applesauce to top. Exhaust to 170° F. (about 10 minutes) and seal cans. Process in boiling-water bath (212° F.)—

No. 2 cans 10 minutes No. 2½ cans 10 minutes

Apricots

Follow method for peaches. Peeling may be omitted.

Beets, Pickled

Cut off beet tops, leaving 1 inch of stem. Also leave root. Wash beets, cover with boiling water, and cook until tender. Remove skins and slice beets. For pickling sirup, use 2 cups vinegar (or 1½ cups vinegar and ½ cup water) to 2 cups sugar. Heat to boiling.

Pack beets in glass jars to ½ inch of top. Add ½ teaspoon salt to pints, 1 teaspoon to quarts. Cover with boiling sirup, leaving ½-inch space at top of jar. Adjust jar lids. Process in boiling-water bath (212° F.)—

Pint jars 30 minutes Quart jars 30 minutes

As soon as you remove jars from canner, complete seals if necessary.

Berries, Except Strawberries

•Raw Pack.—Wash berries; drain.

_In glass jars._—Fill jars to ½ inch of top. For a full pack, shake berries down while filling jars. Cover with boiling sirup, leaving ½-inch space at top. Adjust lids. Process in boiling-water bath (212° F.)—

Pint jars 10 minutes Quart jars 15 minutes

As soon as you remove jars from canner, complete seals if necessary.

_In tin cans._—Fill cans to ¼ inch of top. For a full pack, shake berries down while filling cans. Fill to top with boiling sirup. Exhaust to 170° F. (10 minutes); seal cans. Process in boiling-water bath (212° F.)—

No. 2 cans 15 minutes No. 2½ cans 20 minutes