With the months getting warmer and the vegetables and fruits starting to grow, it’s now time to think about preparing for the upcoming canning season!

Canning is a great and traditional way to store your many foods for later months in the year to cook. Canning involves processing jars filled with appropriate food items that have been par-cooked to create a vacuum seal between the jars and lids. This vacuum seal and processing is done in order to prevent fatal bacteria and spoilage microorganisms that can make your foods last longer.

There are two methods to canning:

• Water Bath Canning for acidic foods like fruits
• Pressure canning for low-acid foods like vegetables.

To prepare yourself, it’s always a great idea to make a checklist of all the materials you need and to make sure they are in great condition for canning. A few things to keep in mind is making sure you use brand new lids, lid rings that are in good condition and free from rust, jars that are also in good condition and free of cracks, and other canning materials that are clean and free of any damage. If you are using a pressure canner with a dial pressure gauge, it is important to have it checked for accuracy of measurement before usage. Having the correct pressure reading is an important part of each canning process with low-acid foods to prevent bacteria such as Clostridium Botulinum. Our Cooperative Extension office provides FREE pressure gauge testing year-round! To make an appointment, please contact our office at (704) 283-3801. Always be prepared and have a happy canning season.