Ready to Start Checklist
- Review Successful Home Preserving
- Decide what foods you want to process;
- If canning, check recommendations pertaining to various food groups
- Decide whether you want to can, pickle, dehydrate, freeze it or make jam or jellies
- Review guidelines for the desired method and equipment needed for that particular type of food and process
- Select recipes - small batches are usually more successful
- Check your stock of ingredients and seasonings required
- Ensure adequate supply of appropriately-sized jars, lids or containers
- Schedule your preserving time
- Need help for this task? Find a partner.
- Clear off enough counter workspace for the various processes - preparing or peeling foods, washing and drying jars and lids, filling jars, removing from canner, cooling etc
- Allow for sit-down workspace for long tasks
- Assemble everything you'll need
- Clean and dry equipment and tools
- Ready linen and hot pads or mitts if appropriate
- Clean and prepare foods
- Process as per preserving method
- Adhere to proper processing times
- When process is complete, check finished product for evidence of proper sealing or preserving
- Let cool if appropriate
- Always label with content and date
- Store preserves properly
- Wash and properly store your preserving equipment
