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 Food Preservation
The Cost of Canning Food at Home
(2 minutes: 20 seconds)
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Audio/Video Script:
Dr. Denise Brochetti
Extension Nutrition Specialist
[Dr. Brochetti] You may be thinking about canning food at home to help cut
down on your food bill. But, canning may or may not save you money. It all
depends on your particular situation, so before you jump into canning, here are
some things you need to think about.
[Picture of canning jars} First, do you have the time to can food, because
canning takes time? [Picture of tomatoes] And what about the food you will can?
Where will you get it, and how much will it cost? Will you buy it from grocery
stores, farmer’s markets, or farms, or will you grow it in your garden?
[Pictures of canning supplies – spoons, measuring bowl, food mill, jar
lifter, funnel, jars and jar rings] Next, think about the supplies you will
need. If you want to can a variety of foods, you will need different types of
supplies. [Picture of a pressure canner and a water bath canner] You will need a
pressure canner to can meats and low-acid vegetables, like corn and green beans,
and you will need a water bath canner to can fruits, pickles, jellies, and jams.
[Video showing someone sorting through tomatoes and crushing them using a
food mill] You also will need to think about how you will can the food? [Picture
of home canned tomato juice in jars] You must use recipes that will destroy
microorganisms during the canning process. Microorganisms are found naturally on
fresh foods. Many cause foods to spoil, but some cause foodborne illness too.
Botulism, a deadly foodborne illness, happens when low-acid foods are not canned
properly, [Video showing someone removing home canned jars from a pressure
cooker using a jar lifter] so you will need to use recipes that have been
scientifically tested. [Slide showing signs you may have botulism – difficulty
swallowing or speaking, droopy eyelids, double or blurred vision, trouble
breathing] You can get these recipes from reliable sources, such as from the
National Center for Home Food Preservation website or from the USDA Complete
Guide to Home Canning. [Screenshots of websites of of the National Center for
Home Food Preservation and the USDA Home Canning website.]
[Pictures showing several jars of home canned products] Finally, you will
need to be able to store the food that you have canned. So, do you have enough
storage space, and do you have the right kind of space? Home-canned food needs
to be stored in a cool, dry place for it to keep its quality, and you will need
to use it within a year because it will spoil over time.
[Dr. Brochetti] So, if you are thinking about canning, plan ahead to save
yourself time and money. If you are a beginner, you can contact your local
Cooperative Extension office to help get you started.
[Narrator] To learn more, contact your county extension agent and follow
the links in this section.
Related Links
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