Hot Water Bath Canning

A woman asked me today about "hot bath canning". I googled and found canning using hot water bath. But the info is only for high acidic foods.

Her FIL wants to can produce from his garden in this way. I don't know anything about using this method. Do any of you use the hot water bath to can? Do you know of a book that may help him with what he wants to know.

The info that I found didn't tell which foods were suitable for canning in this manner. I would love to help him find the info that he needs but so far have not been able to find it on the internet.

Thanks for any help you all can give me to give to Mr. Walter.

Mississippi Momma

The Ball Blue Book is a great one. Water bath canning is only for high acid foods. Anything with low acid or meats needs to be pressure canned. You really don't need anything special to water bath can. I just use a large stainless steel pot with a lid. I have tongs to get the jars in and out and they are handy.

I water bath all my tomatoes and also applesauce. I have to pressure can my beans.

The book above tells everything they would need to do.

Thank you. I think I have a Ball Blue Book some where that I could lend him. I so admire this man. He grows a big garden every year and shares with his son and DIL. He freezes veggies but now he has retired and wants to learn to can.

I think I would nominate him as a budding homesteader even if he doesn't know it. LOL

MM

Pressure canning creates a higher temp than water bath canning. That's why low acid foods need to be pressure canned.

http://www.canning-food-recipes.com/canning.htm

I use a water bath but it takes a lot longer. I do my green beans this way. Most state ag offices have canning books with tons of infor for free. Check their site or the local office. I have several canning books and will look for you.

Thank you all for the info. I was thinking that I had a Ball Blue Book but if I did I've let someone else have it or it's packed in a box in the storage building.

I will pass the info that you all have given me on to Mr. Walter. Thanks again.

MM

Please tell him not to water bath low acid foods. Every book I've read on canning advise against it because it doesn't get hot enough. Some people may have been lucky in canning stuff that way, but it's a game of russian roulette doing that.

Sonshine, I will tell Mr. Walter what you told me about low acid foods. I talked to his DIL this afternoon and gave her the information that you all have given me.

I told her about the low acid foods but I will tell him too. It's going to be at least two to three weeks before he has anything to can. I will keep looking for info that I can print off for him and I will call the county extension office to see what they have too.

Thanks again for all your help.

MM