DO THIS Before You Preserve Your Food by Canning!

Whether you're a first time canner or have been canning for decades, it's always important to make sure your canner is in tip top shape!

Checking our canner gauge is something that Joe and I haven't been great at every year, and I think a lot of fellow canners can agree that it's easy to overlook this part. But it is easy to do and SO very important. Read on to learn why!

When should a canner dial gauge be checked?

It is recommended that your canner gauge be checked yearly, before using it to preserve food each year. We use this Presto canner.

Why should you check your canner gauge?

If your gauge is not outputting the correct amount of pressure, you run a risk of the food being under-processed, or over-processed. A variance of 1 pound, either up or down, increases the risk of illness from the food you're preserving.

Too high of a reading will result in food being under-processed, and will be unsafe to eat as it can cause a deadly illness, or botulism. Too low of a reading will result in food being over-processed, and your food will be very soft and mushy. Nobody likes mushy green beans!

So how do you make sure you have the right amount of pressure?

Take your canner to your local County Extension Office (or if your county doesn't provide this service, find one closest to you) and they will test your canner for you. Most are free of charge!

It's a good idea to make sure the lid also fits securely on your canner before you begin preserving as well. Have a plan in place for how and where you'll do your processing. We use our propane powered turkey fryer outdoors so we don't have a congested kitchen, and it keeps the heat out of the house! Once you're all set and you have an abundance of food to be preserved, GO for it!