Facing The Fear

[Carol Dee]

Everything is producing well. I may have to get up my nerve and break out the canner that is still in it's box 2 years.

 

[journey11]

Everything is producing well. I may have to get up my nerve and break out the canner that is still in it's box 2 years.

Oh, you won't be sorry once you do get into it. It really takes canning to a whole other level of creativity and maybe a touch of pride too when you can add all those low acid foods to your inventory. So many recipes and yummy things you can make. You can't live on pickles and jam, but boy is it nice to come home after a busy day and open jars with things like green beans, potatoes, stewed meats, chili, broths, pinto beans...... Mine sat in the basement for a year or two after it was given to me too. Now I can't figure out what on earth I was so afraid of. Just don't wander off and forget about it and you'll not have any problems. Even if you did and it did overheat and blow, the safety valves they have on them would just pop out and all your steam would blow upward and out. It really takes a lot to overheat it. Once I get mine up to pressure, I can leave my burner on 1 or so and it will hold steady.

@canesisters , have you gotten to use yours yet? Can't wait to hear how your first batch turns out.

 

[canesisters]

@journey11 - YES I HAVE!!! I've got 12 pints of green beans and 8 pints of squash on the counter right now. I used it to cook a PILE of frozen chicken breasts for chicken salad and to cook a bunch of frozen pork chops when I forgot to thaw them for dinner.
Love this thing!!! Can't believe I was so scared of it.

 

[journey11]

That's awesome, @canesisters ! Now you'll be looking for things to can.

 

[happy acres]

Definitely have to get me one! I've got the pressure cookers, but I can't do canning in them.

 

[canesisters]

Oh yeah - you gotta get one!! I got mine from Walmart - shipped to the house (cause I HATE to go in the store if I can help it) $69.97 w/ free shipping.

 

[happy acres]

Not a bad price. May pick one up today on the way home from work

 

[happy acres]

Wal-mart in muscle shoals didn't have one, they're sold out. A friend at work said she may have one that she'll give me. Otherwise I'll have to look elsewhere.

 

[journey11]

Maybe try Amazon.

I'm in the market for a new canner too. I'd love to have one that will do 14 quarts at a time. I have an older model "tank" of a canner made in the 1950's. I love it because it is indestructible, but because of the shape of the lid I can only fit 5 wide-mouth quarts in at a time (I use wide-mouth jars mostly.) It will hold 7 of the regular quart jars though.

 

[baymule]

Wal-mart in muscle shoals didn't have one, they're sold out. A friend at work said she may have one that she'll give me. Otherwise I'll have to look elsewhere.

My DH is from Killen, outside of Florence. North Alabama is beautiful country and the people are very friendly. We used to go several times a year to see his mother until she passed away several years ago. If I wasn't a true-blue-TEXAN, I'd choose Alabama!