What canning books to buy? (and a link to a free one)

[unregistered353870]

I just came across this free kindle book and thought some here might want it: JeBouffe Home Canning Step by Step Guide

I am looking for recommendations for a good book or two that cover all I need to know to start canning. I kind of know the basics, but my wife did all the canning so I never learned all the ins and outs. She's been gone several years now, so I guess it's time for me to learn how to do it. There are tons of books out there on canning. Which ones are worth buying? Thanks in advance for your help!

[knight88]

Try Balls Blue Book of Canning... Its an old standard

[7thswan]

Stocking Up.

[JoePa]

I'm in the same boat you are in - wife use to can a lot of food - one year she did near 900 jars - I get most of my information over the internet - and I freeze a lot of food anymore - if you can do that it is a lot easier - but yes you need to make sure that your freezer is always working - canning does have it advantages -

[Vosey]

I just started canning a year ago and bought too many books and free e-books when I started! The basic Blue Ball Book is a must. But my "go-to's" are consistently Jackie Clay's "Growing and Canning Your Own Food" and the "Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving".

Jackie Clay's book covers everything from standard fruits and veggies to canning your own goats. It also has a chapter on her meals in a jar. The Ball book is more fruit and pickle based, but has great well tested recipes. I just discovered I can make our own sweet Thai chili sauce, lots of little gems like that.

I'm wary of a number of the e-books and some of the other canning books I bought. Many of them have what I consider to be unsafe techniques or processing times. If you're a new canner you wouldn't know that they are deviating from USDA practices. Jackie Clay does do some things that are not approved (like canning cheese), but tells you so you can make that choice.

2 e-books for kindle that I thought were great for beginner canners were the "I Can Can Beef" and "I Can Can Chicken" series. Her instructions are USDA standard for canning, but she writes it in a way that makes it easy to follow, covers little details the basic instructions don't cover and takes a lot of the stress away! She's also a good writer and it's an interesting read. Most importantly 1/2 the books are recipes! I canned many pints of beef and chicken but it was just sitting in my emergency stock. Now I'm making it into meals.

[Shrek]

I bought only one canning book and it is all that I have ever needed. It covers canning , dehydrating and freezing. It is the was $10 now $15 Department of Agriculture published Home Canning and Food Preservation marketed by our state county extension service agent's office.

[PurpleToad]

I've been using Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving and Blue Ribbon Preserves: Secrets to Award-Winning Jams, Jellies, Marmalades and More.

Both of these have some great knowledge and tips included. The Blue Ribbon book has much more than just jams and jellies in it.

[Dixie Bee Acres]

The ball blue book is on sale at Big R, if you have one near by. I got the latest one today for $5.

[dndweeks]

I just purchased the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving. It was an impulse buy and I'm so glad I bought it.

[kkbinco]

Originally Posted by Shrek

I bought only one canning book and it is all that I have ever needed. It covers canning , dehydrating and freezing. It is the was $10 now $15 Department of Agriculture published Home Canning and Food Preservation marketed by our state county extension service agent's office.

I think this might be the same thing (updated?) online, and available for purchase, http://nchfp.uga.edu/publications/pu...ions_usda.html

[Chixarecute]

UGA is the go-to reference, Ball Complete. I've been meaning to get the Ball Blue Complete spiral/comb bound at a printer's.