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.

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.