Well, canning season has already started with aparagus...16 pints on the shelf and more to come. Thought I would share a quick tip for heating jars. Since I preheat the pressure canner as I cut up veggies or whatever, I now put all the canning jars I will be using right in the pressure canner; put the needed amount of water in the canner; and then half-fill each jar in the canner with hot water. I put the top on the canner, turn the burner up and while I finish preparing the produce, the jars are heating. Saves me time and lots of pans of hot water. I just take a jar out of the canner, empty the water out of it and fill it with produce. Then I cap the jar, put it back into the canner and do the next jar. Both the waiting jars and the filled jars stay hot and it takes no time at all for the canner to get up to pressure once all the jars are in place.
I have another tip when it comes to heating jars. I have one of those Nesco-type roasters I bought at Walmart. I put in enough hot water to cover a jar that is laying on its side. I turn it up to 400 degrees to keep the water hot and fill with jars. Then as I pull a jar out to fill, I put another one in. I set this up in the laundry room close to the kitchen. It helps keep my kitchen a little cooler. Hope this helps someone.
Double duty pressure canner
Posted - May 14 2009 : 2:30:14 PM
