time to get serious...canning. Costs, OUCH.

NickieL · #1 07/09/10, 10:19 AM

So I decided it was time to get serious canning. So I went to wally world (the only place around here really that has canning supplies (everything except cheese cloth...can't find cheese cloth around here for some reason!!!) And I bought a few things, spices I needed vinegar, etc.......then I decided I really should have the 100 year special addition ball blue book (I don;t have a canning book yet), some new measuring spoons as they have been slowly lost or stolen and chewed up by naughty dogs, etc...by the time I walked out I had spent over 70 bucks....

alll just to pickle my beets this weekend.....

I am beggining to wonder if it would be less costly jsut to compost my extra beets!!!

NickieL · #2 07/09/10, 10:22 AM

And I STILL need to get a pressure canner, cheese cloth, and one of those tomato mill thingies.

GoatsRus · #3 07/09/10, 10:23 AM

Wally world has cheese cloth in the arts and crafts section. I just bought some recently.

mamita · #4 07/09/10, 10:32 AM

on the bright side, you now have the book and canner forever. money well spent, even if it does pinch a little at first. oddly, I am missing measuring spoons, too! I figure mine must have gone where lost socks go...some other dimension!

Kazahleenah · #5 07/09/10, 10:33 AM

Oh by the time I get my vinager, sugar, spices, lids, rings, etc... it definatly puts a dent in the ol wallet. BUT.... all year I save my nickles in a jar, cash them in just before canning season and use that to buy my supplies. Still spending the same amount of money, but at least I can tell myself I only spent a bunch of change. hehe

Aintlifegrand · #6 07/09/10, 10:36 AM

Lol... I felt like that last year when I was buying all my equipment for the first time.. But I spent less this year..Hopefully I will spend even less next year since I should have all my jars bought and will be growing more of my own produce... my goal is that by the time I need to do this to survive..I will have become an expert..and have the supplies I need...so that is my trade off..I do not want to learn this or be looking for supplies when my survival depends on it.

Kazahleenah · #7 07/09/10, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aintlifegrand

Lol... I felt like that last year when I was buying all my equipment for the first time.. But I spent less this year..Hopefully I will spend even less next year since I should have all my jars bought and will be growing more of my own produce... my goal is that by the time I need to do this to survive..I will have become an expert..and have the supplies I need...so that is my trade off..I do not want to learn this or be looking for supplies when my survival depends on it.

Try looking up your local "Freecycle" group. Post that you are looking for canning jars and equiptment. I have gotten HUNDREDS of free canning jars, several hot water bath thingies (big kettles) and even 2 pressure canners that way. (If you do get a pressure canner, I advise that you have it calibrated and replace the seals before using). When the stores have canning jars, I try to buy at least one box (dozen) a month.

NickieL · #8 07/09/10, 10:42 AM

I bought a bunch of blue canning jars that are very pretty off of a garage sale the other day too, but they are so grungy from being in someones basement for years that soap and water just aren't really getting htem clean looking. i want to use them but If they can't be totally cleaned I guess I'll use them for something else.

Kazahleenah · #9 07/09/10, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NickieL

I bought a bunch of blue canning jars that are very pretty off of a garage sale the other day too, but they are so grungy from being in someones basement for years that soap and water just aren't really getting htem clean looking. i want to use them but If they can't be totally cleaned I guess I'll use them for something else.

Those blue ones are worth some money... I don't use mine for canning, but they do make great jars in the kitchen for yeast, salt, cocoa etc... and they look nice as well.

ETA: Try using "Goo Gone" on those jars to get the 'grunge' off.

dragonchick · #10 07/09/10, 11:23 AM

I would say you got off pretty cheap. Every time I walk in there I come out with spending at least that amount. I got most of my canning supplies at second hand shops and yard sales. I bought a brand new pressure canner complete with book and rack for $25 because the woman didn't have time to use it due to illness. She put a low price on it so it would get used. My jars of which I have all sizes that I got for $2 a dozen. The rings and lids I did have to buy at wally world. Spices I usually get at the bulk spices store as they are much less costly and fresher. I have about 5 sets of measuring spoons and measuring cups as I buy all I find. This way when I go to look for one I can find at least one of the sets or sizes.

I won't be canning anything until fall as its just too hot right now.

**Terri** · #11 07/09/10, 11:56 AM

When buying used jars, run your finger around the rim. If it is pefect then buy it. As for new jars, if you pay a dollar and use it once your beets cost you a dollar. If you use the jar 10 times your beets cost you 10 cents.

I relectantly decided against the tomato squeezo because of the cost. Instead I will peel them and just eat the seeds. When I was growing up my family just chopped up the tomatos, skins, seeds, and all before they canned them, but, my husband objects to the appearance of the skins. So I peel them.

Jan Doling · #12 07/09/10, 12:23 PM

Terri,

Tell your husband I said if he objects, he should be the one to do the peeling!

beaglebiz · #13 07/09/10, 12:37 PM

Nickie, I wonder if you have a supplier for folks that make home made wine or beer near you?? You can buy a jelly bag for a few dollars that will last you years (cheesecloth looks like gauze is impossible to clean) I have lots (we make wine and juice and jelly), and I run them through the washing machine and hang dry. They also sell a cleaner for the big glass carbide 4 and 5 gallon bottles that would probably take the marks off your jars. Its cheap too. A baby bottle brush can be indispensable for jar cleaning too.
Just some thoughts. Im sure you already put the word out about looking for canning jars. I got 75 more this past weekend from a friend's MIL who was cleaning out the basement.

Ann-NWIowa · #14 07/09/10, 12:38 PM

Start saving today for a Squeezo as they are worth every penny. I replaced my original Squeezo off of e-bay. It was brand new from someone who'd never used it and about half (or less) the cost of new. My canners both came from auctions $5 & $10, both like new. My waterbath canner is at least 40 years old. Even tho its been chipped for years it hasn't rusted thru yet. When I have only 4 or 5 pints to waterbath I do them in my big stock pot and use the rack from my pressure pan in the bottom. Improvise!

Jars that won't come clean might have hard water minerals attached to the glass. They are clean even tho they don't look like it. It won't hurt anything even tho it doesn't look nice.

JuliaAnn · #15 07/09/10, 12:43 PM

It's tough. The local Dollar General or Big Lots used to carry the flats for .99/doz. I haven't seen them at either retailer, at any of their locations, for at least 3 years now. There is a Family Dollar, and they don't carry them either. So it's down to Wally World, the local grocery store, or the local Ace Hardware, all priced about the same. Flats usually $1.79 to $1.99, and the lids/rings together almost or a bit over $4.00. I haven't priced jars but the other day I did buy a case of 6 half-gallon Ball jars new at the Ace, and they were $10.99.

I've had a lot of my canning supplies for going on 30 years now (eek, I"m getting old) and when you've had stuff that long, the cost becomes negligible, thank goodness.

Also keep my eyes peeled for goodies at yard sales and junk shops.

For those who shop TSC, if you will keep checking, at the end of canning season, which should be sometime mid-summer, they will mark their cases of jars way down. I bought several cases, all sizes were $2.99/case last summer. You might luck out.

jen74145 · #16 07/09/10, 12:45 PM

I bought a pressure canner couple years ago. It developed a pit in the bottom, I set it in the lower cabinet intending to call the company and get a replacement.

DH threw it away. Eighty dollar canner. In. The. Trash. WHY, I ask him. "Err... I dunno..."

SirDude · #17 07/09/10, 01:06 PM

If you're looking for cheese-cloth, have you looked in the automotive section at Wally World or at your local Autozone / auto parts store? I use it for waxing cars. I'm still using the bag / roll that I bought about 10 years ago. LOL Can't remember what I paid for it, couldn't be too much, or I wouldn't have bought it.

As for the measuring spoons? They must be like the wrenches and sockets guys lose all the time. We buy a set, and end up with only that odd size that doesn't fit anything! LOL

To answer Mamita's sock comment, the socks hitch a ride in your sleeves or pant legs until they are out the door, that's where they try to meet up with all those shoe people through over the power-lines or some how "lose" on the side of the road! LOL

MullersLaneFarm · #18 07/09/10, 01:17 PM

FreeCycle is great for getting used canning jars. I have a bunch sitting in the back of the truck as we speak. I really don't need any more, but I said that a few years ago and had to go buy some after that. Now, I get them used while I can find them.

I'll usually pick up a pack each of regular and wide mouth flats each month. To keep the bands in good shape, I wash them after I remove them from my cooled jars and put them in the dehydrator for a little while to make sure all the moisture is gone. Keeps them from rusting a lot longer.

mamita · #19 07/09/10, 01:31 PM

I scored a bazillion..yes, bazillion jars from hub's grannie's attic. that said..I love those blue ones! I do use them for other uses...mostly decorative. way cool! (I call them vases..lol)

and Sir Dude...I don't know where those socks go. they vanish. I wish the solution were that simple! I think it's a story for Outer Limits.

showing my stupid.....what is a squeezo? is that something that replaces my endless squeezing by hand?

Mutti · #20 07/09/10, 01:43 PM

I agree a Squeezo is a very handy tool...mine is sooo old it's metal. But,besides tomatoes you can make your applesauce for one thing. I put all the ingridients for V-8 juice on to soften, then put them thru the Squeezo and can. Berry seeds don't go thru so you can do stuff like raspberries if you like jelly best. Maybe not as important as getting a good canner but a real help at canning time. And kids love to turn the crank!!!!

Another hint is hitting the dollar store for measuring cups and spoons....I have a measure in everything I use. Cups in the flour and sugar, 1/3 cup in the instant dry milk as that is what's needed for a cup and so on. Having them prevents that annoying having to wash and dry another cup. DEE