Do you need a "real" canner?

FlipTX · June 12, 2007

I don't have a pressure canner or even a water canner or rack. I do have a big pot and some Ball jars with new lids, and I was hoping to make a small batch of bread and butter pickles with the cukes from my little garden.

So my question is, can I do it with just a big pot of boiling water? Or will the jars bob around in the water without a rack, tip food into the lid area, and ruin the seal?

My other alternative is to make refrigerator pickles, but I wanted "longterm" pickles to give to a friend.

bcday · June 12, 2007

The rack is only needed to keep the glass jars off the hot bottom of the pot. You can wire some extra jar rings together to form a rack or use a round cake cooling rack from the dollar store. Some folks use a clean folded kitchen towel instead.

You can use your large pot if it's deep enough to accomodate the rack or towel on the bottom, the jars with the lids and rings that you plan to use, and still have enough room to cover the top of the lids with an inch or two of boiling water. If the lids won't be completely submerged by at least an inch of water, with another inch or so allowance to keep the water from bubbling out of the pot, the pot isn't deep enough.

Do get a jar lifter. After the processing time is up, it is very difficult to get the hot jars out of the hot water without one.

If you don't have the most recent edition of the Ball Blue Book, you won't regret spending the $8 or so on it, it's worth every penny.

FlipTX · June 13, 2007

Thanks, bcday! I've been looking for a jar lifter everywhere this past week. I think I'd have better luck finding the winning lottery ticket! But I'll check for a circular cake rack. That's a great idea. Thanks!

babylark · July 18, 2007

I just did some pickled Beans and I put a silcone pot holder in the bottom of my pot. It worked GREAT! Plus, when I'm done, it can still be used as a pot holder and it is easy to store. A Non-unitasker as Alton would say.

Granny · July 18, 2007

FlipTX - as long as you can cover the jars with a full inch of water and still have some vertical room so that water doesn't go all over the stove, it makes no difference what pot you use. Oh, it needs a lid too.

If you don't have a silicone pot holder like baby lark mentions, then just use a folded tea towel.

remy · July 18, 2007

Fliptx,
I hope you found the jar lifter by now. This is a good link anyway for anyone looking for a particular canning supply.
There is a search for retailers, online and local, with each item.
http://www.homecanning.com/usa/ALProducts.asp
Remy

June 12, 2007	#1
FlipTX Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 271	Do you need a "real" canner? I don't have a pressure canner or even a water canner or rack. I do have a big pot and some Ball jars with new lids, and I was hoping to make a small batch of bread and butter pickles with the cukes from my little garden. So my question is, can I do it with just a big pot of boiling water? Or will the jars bob around in the water without a rack, tip food into the lid area, and ruin the seal? My other alternative is to make refrigerator pickles, but I wanted "longterm" pickles to give to a friend.

July 18, 2007	#6
remy Buffalo-Niagara Tomato TasteFest™ Coordinator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Z6 WNY Posts: 2,354	Fliptx, I hope you found the jar lifter by now. This is a good link anyway for anyone looking for a particular canning supply. There is a search for retailers, online and local, with each item. http://www.homecanning.com/usa/ALProducts.asp Remy __________________ "I wake to sleep and take my waking slow" -Theodore Roethke Yes, we have a great party for WNY/Ontario tomato growers every year on Grand Island! Owner of The Sample Seed Shop

June 12, 2007	#2
bcday Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY z5 Posts: 1,205	The rack is only needed to keep the glass jars off the hot bottom of the pot. You can wire some extra jar rings together to form a rack or use a round cake cooling rack from the dollar store. Some folks use a clean folded kitchen towel instead. You can use your large pot if it's deep enough to accomodate the rack or towel on the bottom, the jars with the lids and rings that you plan to use, and still have enough room to cover the top of the lids with an inch or two of boiling water. If the lids won't be completely submerged by at least an inch of water, with another inch or so allowance to keep the water from bubbling out of the pot, the pot isn't deep enough. Do get a jar lifter. After the processing time is up, it is very difficult to get the hot jars out of the hot water without one. If you don't have the most recent edition of the Ball Blue Book, you won't regret spending the $8 or so on it, it's worth every penny.

June 13, 2007	#3
FlipTX Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 271	Thanks, bcday! I've been looking for a jar lifter everywhere this past week. I think I'd have better luck finding the winning lottery ticket! But I'll check for a circular cake rack. That's a great idea. Thanks!

July 18, 2007	#4
babylark Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Lebanon, PA • Zone 6a Posts: 145	I just did some pickled Beans and I put a silcone pot holder in the bottom of my pot. It worked GREAT! Plus, when I'm done, it can still be used as a pot holder and it is easy to store. A Non-unitasker as Alton would say.

July 18, 2007	#5
Granny Tomatovillian™ Honoree Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 507	FlipTX - as long as you can cover the jars with a full inch of water and still have some vertical room so that water doesn't go all over the stove, it makes no difference what pot you use. Oh, it needs a lid too. If you don't have a silicone pot holder like baby lark mentions, then just use a folded tea towel.