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As received, your digital canner will be fully assembled. Disassemble and clean the canner parts (Fig. A) as directed below. Read all instructions carefully. If you are new to canning or need some refresher training, refer to the "Canning Basics" section.
Perform "WATER TEST" before first use.
To help yourself understand the operation of the pressure canner, practice first with jars of water instead of jars of food. Lids and bands are not needed on the jars. Follow the step-by-step instructions for Pressure Canning and for Boiling Water Canning, beginning with step 3. Pour 3 quarts of water into the pot, up to the fill line.
It is recommended that the canner parts be thoroughly washed before first use to remove any manufacturing residue.
The Presto Precise® Digital Pressure Canner is a pressure canner and boiling water canner in one. Use the control knob to set the desired canning method. The LED display icons will then guide you through each step of the process.
Each time you use the canner, complete the preparation steps. Then follow the instructions for Pressure Canning and for Boiling Water Canning.
There is no altitude adjustment necessary when pressure canning; however, when using the boiling water canning method, you must increase the processing time. Refer to the altitude chart for recommended times.
Maximum Mason Jar Capacity | ||||
PRESSURE CANNING | BOILING WATER CANNING | |||
JAR TYPE | Regular mouth mouth | Wide | Regular mouth mouth | Wide |
Half-pints | 10 | 13* | 10 | 7 |
Pints | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
Quarts | 5 | 4 | n/a | n/a |
* It will be necessary to double-deck half-pint jars to achieve maximum jar capacity. Stagger the jars by placing one jar on top of two (Fig. I). Jars may touch.
Only pints and half-pints can be processed using the boiling water method. The Presto Precise® Digital Canner is not tall enough to accommodate quart jars covered with the recommended 1-inch layer of water
NOTE: No minimum number of jars are required.
The key to successful canning is to understand the acidity and spoilage factor of the food you wish to can, as well as the acceptable canning methods to process those foods. There are invisible microorganisms present all around us. Fruits, vegetables, and meat contain these microorganisms naturally and yet they are not a problem unless food is left to sit for extended periods of time, causing food spoilage. This is nature's way of telling us when food is no longer fit to eat.
There are four basic agents of food spoilage—enzymes, mold, yeast, and bacteria. Canning interrupts the natural spoilage cycle so food can be preserved safely. Molds, yeast, and enzymes are destroyed at temperatures below 212°F, the temperature at which water boils (except in mountainous regions). Therefore, boiling water processing is sufficient to destroy those agents.
Foods naturally high in acid and acidified foods having a pH of 4.6 or less may be safely processed using the boiling water method. Step-by-step instructions for Boiling Water Canning begin.
Bacteria, however, are not as easily destroyed. The bacteria Clostridium botulinum produces a spore that makes a poisonous toxin which causes botulism. This spore is not destroyed at 212°F. In addition, the bacteria thrive on low-acid foods in the absence of air. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), pressure canning is the only safe method of processing low-acid foods (vegetables, meats, poultry, fish, and seafood).
In pressure canning, some of the water in the canner is converted to steam, which creates pressure within the canner. This pressure is what allows the canner to reach temperatures above boiling. At 240°F, this pressurized heat destroys the potentially harmful bacterial spores. Step-by-step instructions for Pressure Canning begin.
As jars cool after processing (by either the boiling water or pressure canning method), a vacuum is formed, sealing food within and preventing any new microorganisms from entering and spoiling the foods.
To produce home canned food that is safe for storage at room temperature, it is necessary to use a tested canning recipe. Recipes that have been handed down through the years or those found on the web are oftentimes unreliable and usually do not include scientifically tested processing procedures that are vital to a successful and safe canning project. Canning information published prior to 1994 may be incorrect and could pose a serious health risk. A tested canning recipe has been evaluated to determine the accurate processing method (boiling water canning or pressure canning) as well as the processing time. Do NOT can leftovers; it is not safe.
Always choose recipes from a reliable resource, such as the National Center for Home Food Preservation (nchfp.uga.edu), your local Cooperative Extension Service, or this instruction book.
Glass home canning jars, sometimes referred to as Mason jars, are made of heat-tempered glass for durability and reuse. These are the only jars recommended for safe home canning. They are available in standard sizes (half-pint, pint, and quart jars) and will withstand the heat of a pressure canner. The diameter of Mason jars may vary from one manufacturer to another.
Before filling Mason jars, test load your canner. When pressure canning, it will be necessary to double-deck half-pint wide mouth jars to reach the maximum capacity, as indicated in the chart. To double-deck, stagger the jars by placing one jar on top of two (Fig. I). Jars may touch. Do not double-deck jars for the boiling water method.
The canning rack which accompanied your canner must be placed on the bottom of the canner to prevent jar breakage. Although it is not necessary to use a rack between layers of jars, if you wish to do so, a rack can be ordered from the Presto Consumer Service Department.
The two-piece vacuum cap (lid and band) is the recommended closure for home canning. It consists of a flat metal lid with a sealing compound on the outer edge and a separate metal screw band that secures the lid during processing. The flat lid is for one use only while the bands can be used repeatedly if they remain in good condition. Do not use dented or rusty bands. Use only jars, lids, and screw bands in perfect condition so an airtight seal may be obtained. Bands should be removed prior to storage.
Headspace is the air space between the top of the food or its liquid and the lid. Leaving too much headspace can result in underprocessing because it may take too long to release the air from the jar. Leaving too little headspace will trap food between the jar and the lid and may result in an inadequate seal. As a general rule, allow ¼-inch headspace for jams and jellies; ½-inch headspace for fruits and tomatoes; 1-inch for vegetables, meats, and seafood; and 1¼-inch for poultry. All recipes will indicate the amount of headspace necessary for the food being canned.
After food has been packed in jars, any air bubbles must be removed. Trapped air bubbles may rise to the top during processing, causing too much headspace. Work quickly to remove air bubbles that have become trapped between the pieces of food by moving a clean, nonmetal spatula around the jar between the food and side of the jar.
Immediately after filling, wipe jar rims with a clean, damp cloth to remove any residue. Any food particles, such as seeds, grease, or syrup, on the rim of the jar may prevent the jar from sealing. Center a flat lid on the jar rim, making sure the sealing compound is touching the glass. Position a band over the lid and, using your fingertips, screw it onto the jar evenly and firmly (fingertip tight). Do not overtighten as air must release from the jars during processing and cooling.
After processing, remove jars to a dry towel on countertop away from drafts. Leave 1 to 2 inches of space between jars to allow for even cooling. Do not retighten bands. Do not invert jars or cover with a cloth. Allow jars to cool naturally. Check seals no earlier than 12 hours, but no later than 24 hours.
Bubbles often appear in the jar after removal from the canner because food is still boiling in the jar. Ordinarily bubbles do not appear once the product has been allowed to thoroughly cool.
After jars have cooled a minimum of 12 hours, but no more than 24 hours, test the jar lids to be sure a vacuum seal has formed. Press down on the center of the flat lid to determine if it is concave (stays down when pressed). Remove the screw band and gently try to lift the lid with your fingertips. If the center does not flex up and down and you cannot lift the lid off, the lid has a good seal. Wipe off any food residue from jars and lids. Date and label jars. Store in a cool, dark, and dry place.
If a jar does not seal, the food can be refrigerated and should be used within 3 days. Other options include freezing the food or reprocessing for the full amount of time per the canning recipe. If choosing to reprocess, remove the lids and reheat the food and/or liquid. Pack food into clean, heated jars. Remove air bubbles and clean jar rims. Position new lids on jars and secure with bands. If more than 24 hours have elapsed since the canner registered DONE, and the seal is faulty, the food is no longer safe. Discard at once.
If up-to-date instructions and processing times are followed carefully, spoilage is uncommon. However, it is still recommended to check for signs of spoilage before tasting any canned food. Check for a broken seal, gassiness when opening, mold, sliminess, cloudiness, or unpleasant odors. If any of these signs are present, discard the food. As a safeguard against using canned low-acid and tomato products which may be affected with spoilage that is not readily detected, boil food 10 minutes for altitudes up to 1,000 feet above sea level. Extend the boiling time by 1 minute for each 1,000 foot increase in altitude. Many times odors that cannot be detected in the cold product will become evident by this method. If, after boiling, food does not smell or look right, discard it without tasting.
In order for the unit to function properly, always follow these instructions before each use:
Perform "WATER TEST" before first use.
To help yourself understand the operation of the pressure canner, practice first with jars of water instead of jars of food. Lids and bands are not needed on the jars.
Follow the step-by-step instructions for pressure canning, beginning with step 3 below. Pour 3 quarts of water into the pot, up to the fill line.
Tomatoes and tomato products may be safely processed using the boiling water method or pressure canning method. However, for some tomato products, the pressure canning method may result in a more nutritious canned product. (For boiling water canning instructions).
Acidifying Tomatoes and Tomato Products
Tomatoes have a pH close to 4.6, which means it is necessary to take precautions to can them safely. First, carefully choose the tomatoes for canning. Use only tomatoes that are disease-free, preferably vine-ripened, and firm.
Second, an acid must be added to tomatoes whether they are processed using the boiling water method or pressure canning method. To ensure the safety of whole, crushed, or juiced tomatoes, add 1 tablespoon bottled lemon juice (not natural juice) or ¼ teaspoon citric acid per pint jar; for quarts, add 2 tablespoons bottled lemon juice or ½ teaspoon citric acid.
Salt
Tomatoes and tomato products may be canned with or without salt. Salt is used only for flavor, as it is not used in a large enough quantity to prevent spoilage. If salt is desired, use only canning or pickling salt. Table salt contains anti-caking agents that may cause cloudiness in the liquid inside the jars.
The recommended amount of salt is ½ teaspoon for each pint jar, 1 teaspoon for each quart jar.
Tip: Dry spices can safely be added to a tested canning recipe.
TOMATOES — WHOLE OR HALVED
(packed in water)
Wash smooth, firm, ripe tomatoes. Loosen skins by dipping tomatoes 1 minute in boiling water, then in cold water. Peel and remove core. Leave whole or halve, or if using large tomatoes, quarter.
Hot Pack: Place prepared tomatoes in a large pot and add just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and boil gently for 5 minutes. Add bottled lemon juice or citric acid to hot jars (see above). Add salt, if desired (see above). Pack hot tomatoes in hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Fill jars with hot cooking liquid, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Raw Pack: Add bottled lemon juice or citric acid to hot jars (see above). Add salt, if desired (see above). Pack prepared tomatoes in hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Fill hot jars with boiling water, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints and quarts 10 minutes.
TOMATOES — WHOLE OR HALVED
(packed raw without added liquid)
Wash smooth, firm, ripe tomatoes. Loosen skins by dipping tomatoes 1 minute in boiling water, then in cold water. Peel and remove core. Leave whole or halve. Add bottled lemon juice or citric acid to hot jars (see above). Add salt, if desired (see above). Fill jars with raw tomatoes, pressing until spaces between them fill with juice. Leave ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints and quarts 25 minutes.
TOMATO JUICE
Wash ripe, juicy tomatoes. Remove stem ends. To prevent juice from separating, quickly cut about 1 pound of tomatoes into quarters and put directly into a large pot. Heat immediately to boiling while crushing. Continue to slowly add and crush freshly cut tomato quarters to the boiling mixture. Make sure the mixture boils constantly and vigorously while adding more tomatoes. Continue until the pot is three-quarters full. Simmer 5 minutes. If juice separation is not a concern, simply slice or quarter tomatoes into a large pot. Crush, heat, and simmer for 5 minutes before juicing.
Press heated juice through a sieve or food mill to remove skins and seeds. Heat juice again to boiling.
Add bottled lemon juice or citric acid to hot jars (see above). Add salt, if desired (see above). Fill hot jars with hot tomato juice, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints and quarts 15 minutes.
TOMATO SAUCE
Prepare and press as for making tomato juice. Heat in a large pot until sauce reaches desired consistency. Simmer until volume is reduced by about one-third for thin sauce or by one-half for thick sauce. Add bottled lemon juice or citric acid to hot jars. Add salt, if desired. Pour hot sauce into hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints and quarts 15 minutes.
SALSA
Process salsa using the boiling water method. Tested canning recipe see below.
SPAGHETTI SAUCE WITHOUT MEAT
30 pounds tomatoes
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery or green pepper
1 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced (optional)
5 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup vegetable oil
¼ cup packed brown sugar
4 tablespoons dried parsley
2 tablespoons dried oregano
4½ teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
NOTE: Do not increase the proportion of onion, pepper, or mushrooms.
Wash tomatoes and dip in boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds or until skins split. Dip in cold water and slip off skins. Remove cores and quarter tomatoes. Boil 20 minutes, uncovered, in a large pot. Put through food mill or sieve. Sauté onion, celery or pepper, mushrooms (if desired), and garlic in vegetable oil until tender. Combine vegetables, tomatoes, sugar, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Simmer, uncovered, stirring frequently until thick enough for serving. At this time the initial volume will have been reduced by nearly one-half. Fill hot jars with hot sauce, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Yield: About 9 pints
Pressure canning: Process pints 20 minutes and quarts 25 minutes.
SPAGHETTI SAUCE WITH MEAT
30 pounds tomatoes
2½ pounds ground beef or sausage
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery or green pepper
1 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced (optional)
5 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup packed brown sugar
4 tablespoons dried parsley
2 tablespoons dried oregano
4½ teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
NOTE: Do not increase the proportion of onion, pepper, or mushrooms.
Wash tomatoes and dip in boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds or until skins split. Dip in cold water and slip off skins. Remove cores and quarter tomatoes. Boil 20 minutes, uncovered, in a large pot. Put through food mill or sieve. Brown beef or sausage. Add onion, celery or green pepper, mushrooms (if desired), and garlic. Cook until vegetables are tender. Combine with tomatoes in large pot. Add sugar, parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Simmer, uncovered, stirring frequently until thick enough for serving. At this time the initial volume will have been reduced by nearly one-half. Fill hot jars with hot sauce, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Yield: About 9 pints
Pressure canning: Process pints 60 minutes and quarts 70 minutes.
Pressure canning is the only safe method for canning vegetables.
Young, tender, fresh, and slightly immature vegetables are better for canning than those which are overripe. As a rule, vegetables are best when canned immediately after picking, since flavor decreases upon standing and often unpleasant color changes take place. Avoid bruised vegetables because spoilage organisms grow more rapidly on bruised vegetables than on those that are unblemished.
Wash and prepare garden fresh vegetables as you would for cooking. When packing vegetables, always leave 1-inch headspace (or more if directed in recipe) in hot Mason jars.
To hot pack vegetables, precook in boiling water until heated through. Pack precooked vegetables into hot jars and cover with boiling water. Whenever possible, the precooking water should be used as liquid to cover the vegetables after packing into jars. However, there are a few vegetables, such as greens and asparagus, which make the cooking water bitter and undesirable to use.
To raw pack vegetables, simply place the prepared vegetables into hot jars and cover with boiling water.
Salt
Vegetables may be processed with or without salt. Salt is used only for flavor, as it is not used in a large enough quantity to prevent spoilage. If salt is desired, use only canning or pickling salt. Table salt contains anti-caking agents that may cause cloudiness in the liquid inside the jars.
The recommended amount of salt is ½ teaspoon for each pint jar, 1 teaspoon for each quart jar.
Tip: Dry spices can safely be added to a tested canning recipe.
ASPARAGUS
Wash and drain asparagus. Remove tough ends and scales. Rinse. Leave asparagus whole or cut into pieces.
Hot Pack: Cover asparagus with boiling water and boil 2 to 3 minutes. Pack hot asparagus loosely in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace.
Raw Pack: Pack raw asparagus tightly in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace.
Add salt, if desired (see above). Cover with boiling water, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints 30 minutes and quarts 40 minutes.
BEANS OR PEAS—DRY
Sort out and discard any discolored beans. Rehydrate beans or peas using one of the following methods:
Hot Pack: Cover beans soaked by either method with fresh water and boil 30 minutes. Add salt to hot jars, if desired (see above). Fill jars with beans or peas and cooking water, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints 75 minutes and quarts 90 minutes.
BEANS — FRESH LIMA, BUTTER, PINTO, OR SOY
Shell and wash young, tender beans thoroughly.
Hot Pack: Cover beans with boiling water and bring to a boil. Boil 3 minutes. Pack hot beans loosely in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace.
Raw Pack: Pack raw beans loosely in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace in pint jars. For quarts, leave 1½-inch headspace if beans are small and 1¼-inch headspace if beans are large.
Add salt, if desired (see above). Cover with boiling water, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints 40 minutes and quarts 50 minutes.
BEANS—GREEN, WAX, ITALIAN
Wash young, tender beans thoroughly. Remove stem and blossom ends or any strings. Leave whole or cut into 1-inch pieces.
Hot Pack: Cover beans with boiling water and boil 5 minutes. Pack hot beans loosely in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace.
Raw Pack: Pack raw beans tightly in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace.
Add salt, if desired (see above). Cover with boiling water, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints 20 minutes and quarts 25 minutes.
BEETS
Trim tops of young, tender beets, leaving 1 to 2 inches of stem and root to reduce bleeding of color. Wash thoroughly.
Hot Pack: Cover beets with boiling water and boil 15 to 25 minutes or until skins slip off easily. Remove skins, stems, and roots. Small beets may be left whole. Cut medium or large beets into ½-inch cubes or slices; halve or quarter very large slices. Pack hot beets in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace.
Add salt, if desired. Cover with boiling water, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints 30 minutes and quarts 35 minutes.
CARROTS
Wash thoroughly and scrape young, tender carrots. Carrots may be left whole, sliced, or diced.
Hot Pack: Cover carrots with boiling water, bring to a boil, and simmer 5 minutes. Pack hot carrots in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace.
Raw Pack: Pack raw carrots tightly in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace.
Add salt, if desired (page 11). Cover with boiling water, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints 25 minutes and quarts 30 minutes.
CORN—WHOLE KERNEL
Husk and remove silk from young, tender, freshly picked corn; wash ears. Blanch 3 minutes in boiling water. Cut corn from cob at about three-fourths the depth of the kernel. Do not scrape cob.
Hot Pack: For each quart of corn, add 1 cup boiling water. Bring to a boil and simmer 5 minutes. Pack hot corn loosely in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace.
Raw Pack: Pack raw corn loosely in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace.
Add salt, if desired. Cover with boiling water, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints 55 minutes and quarts 85 minutes.
GREENS
Sort young, tender, freshly picked greens; discard wilted or tough leaves, stems, and roots. Wash greens thoroughly.
Hot Pack: Blanch 1 pound of greens at a time, until well wilted (about 3 to 5 minutes). Pack hot greens loosely in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace.
Add salt, if desired. Cover with fresh boiling water, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints 70 minutes and quarts 90 minutes.
MUSHROOMS
Trim stems and discolored parts of mushrooms. Soak mushrooms in cold water for 10 minutes to remove soil. Wash in clean water. Leave small mushrooms whole; cut larger ones in halves or quarters.
Hot Pack: Cover mushrooms with water and boil 5 minutes. Pack hot mushrooms in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace. For better color, add ⅛ teaspoon of ascorbic acid per pint.
Add salt, if desired. Cover with boiling water, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process half-pints and pints 45 minutes.
OKRA
Wash and trim young, tender okra pods. Remove stem, without cutting into pods if okra is to be canned whole. If desired, slice okra into 1-inch pieces.
Hot Pack: Cover okra with hot water and boil 2 minutes. Pack hot okra in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace.
Add salt, if desired. Cover with boiling water, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints 25 minutes and quarts 40 minutes.
PEAS— GREEN
Wash and shell young, tender freshly picked green peas. Rinse.
Hot Pack: Cover peas with boiling water and bring to a boil. Boil 2 minutes. Pack hot peas loosely in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace. Do not shake or press down.
Raw Pack: Pack peas loosely in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace. Do not shake or press down.
Add salt, if desired. Cover with boiling water, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints and quarts 40 minutes.
PEPPERS — HOT OR SWEET
(including bell, chile, jalapeño, and pimiento)
Preparation of chile peppers: Cut two or four slits in each pepper and blister using one of the following methods:
Allow peppers to cool. Place in a pan and cover with a damp cloth. After several minutes, peel peppers. Remove stems and seeds.
Preparation of other peppers: Remove stems and seeds; blanch 3 minutes.
Hot Pack: Small peppers may be left whole. Large peppers may be quartered. Pack peppers loosely in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace.
Add salt, if desired. Cover with boiling water, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints 35 minutes.
POTATOES — SWEET
Wash small to medium size sweet potatoes.
Hot Pack: Boil or steam sweet potatoes just until partially soft (15 to 20 minutes). Remove skins and cut into pieces of uniform size.
In accordance with USDA guidelines, do not mash or puree potatoes as processing time may not be adequate for mashed or pureed product. Pack hot sweet potatoes in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace.
Add salt, if desired. Cover with boiling water, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints 65 minutes and quarts 90 minutes.
POTATOES — WHITE
Wash, peel, and rinse new potatoes 1 to 2 inches in diameter. If desired, cut into ½-inch cubes. Place in ascorbic acid solution (1 teaspoon ascorbic acid to 1 gallon water) to prevent darkening. Drain.
Hot Pack: Cover potatoes with hot water and bring to a boil. Boil whole potatoes for 10 minutes, cubes for 2 minutes. Pack hot potatoes in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace.
Add salt, if desired. Cover with boiling water, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints 35 minutes and quarts 40 minutes.
PUMPKIN AND WINTER SQUASH*
Wash and remove seeds from small size pumpkins or squash. Cut into 1-inch slices and peel. Cut flesh into 1-inch cubes.
Hot Pack: Boil cubes in water for 2 minutes.
In accordance with USDA guidelines, do not mash or puree as processing time may not be adequate for pureed product. Pack hot pumpkin or squash cubes loosely in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace.
Add salt, if desired. Cover with boiling water, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints 55 minutes and quarts 90 minutes.
*Types of winter squash that can safely be canned are acorn, buttercup, butternut, and hubbard.
Pressure canning is the only safe method for canning meat, game, and poultry.
Meat, game, and poultry should be handled carefully to avoid contamination. Keep it as cool as possible during preparation for canning, handle rapidly, and process as soon as it is packed.
Use good quality product that has been trimmed of gristle, fat, and bruised spots. The hot pack is recommended for the best liquid cover and quality during storage.
To make broth, place bony pieces in a large pot and cover with cold water. Simmer until meat is tender. Discard fat. Add boiling broth to hot jars packed with precooked meat or poultry.
Salt
Meat, game, and poultry may be canned with or without salt. Salt is used only for flavor, as it is not used in a large enough quantity to prevent spoilage. If salt is desired, use only canning or pickling salt. Table salt contains anti-caking agents that may cause cloudiness in the liquid inside the jars.
The recommended amount of salt is ½ teaspoon for each pint jar, 1 teaspoon for each quart jar.
Tip: Dry spices can safely be added to a tested canning recipe.
CUT-UP MEAT (strips, cubes, or chunks)
Bear, Beef, Pork, Lamb, Veal, and Venison
Remove excess fat. Soak strong-flavored wild meats for 1 hour in brine water containing 1 tablespoon of salt per quart of water. Rinse. Remove large bones and cut into desired pieces.
Hot Pack: Precook meat until rare by roasting, stewing, or browning in a small amount of oil. Do not use flour. Pack hot meat loosely in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace. Add salt, if desired (see above). Cover meat with boiling broth, water, or tomato juice (especially with wild game), leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Raw Pack: Add salt, if desired (see above) to hot jars. Pack raw meat loosely in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace. DO NOT ADD LIQUID. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints 75 minutes and quarts 90 minutes.
GROUND MEAT
Bear, Beef, Pork, Lamb, Veal, and Venison
Grind fresh meat in a food processor or meat grinder. For venison, add one part high quality pork fat to three or four parts venison before grinding. For sausage, use freshly made sausage seasoned with salt and cayenne pepper (do not use sage as it may cause a bitter flavor).
Hot Pack: Shape ground meat or sausage into patties or balls. Cook until lightly browned. Ground meat may also be cooked without shaping. Drain to remove excess fat. Pack hot meat loosely in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace. Add salt, if desired (see above). Cover meat with boiling water, broth, or tomato juice, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints 75 minutes and quarts 90 minutes.
CHICKEN, DUCK, GOOSE, TURKEY
Cut poultry into serving size pieces. If desired, remove bone.
Hot Pack: Precook poultry until almost done by baking, boiling, or steaming. Pack hot poultry loosely in hot jars, leaving 1¼-inch headspace. Add salt, if desired. Cover poultry with hot broth, leaving 1¼-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Raw Pack: Add salt, if desired to hot jars. Pack raw poultry loosely in hot jars, leaving 1¼-inch headspace. DO NOT ADD LIQUID. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning:
With Bone | Without Bone | |
Process pints | 65 minutes | 75 minutes |
Process quarts | 75 minutes | 90 minutes |
RABBIT
Soak dressed rabbits 1 hour in brine water containing 1 tablespoon of salt per quart of water. Rinse. Use preparation procedures and processing times for poultry, omitting salt.
Pressure canning is the only safe method for canning fish and seafood.
Only fresh fish should be canned and these should be bled and thoroughly cleaned of all viscera and membranes when caught, or as soon as possible. To prevent spoilage, keep fish and shellfish refrigerated or on ice to maintain a temperature of 40°F or below.
CLAMS — WHOLE OR MINCED
Keep clams on ice until ready to can. Scrub shells thoroughly and rinse.
Hot Pack: Steam 5 minutes and open. Remove clam meat. Collect and save clam juice. Wash clam meat in salted water using 1½ to 3 tablespoons of salt per gallon of water. Rinse.
Cover clam meat with boiling water containing 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or ½ teaspoon of citric acid per gallon. Boil 2 minutes and drain. Heat reserved clam juice to boiling.
Pack clams loosely in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace. Add hot clam juice and, if needed, boiling water, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process half-pints 60 minutes and pints 70 minutes.
FISH
Salmon, Trout, Steelhead, and other fish except Tuna
Remove head, tail, and fins. Wash fish in cold water.
Raw Pack: Split fish lengthwise and then cut into lengths that fit the jar size being used. Bones can be left in and skin left on, if desired. For halibut, remove the bones and skin. Pack fish tightly in hot jars, leaving 1-inch headspace. Add ½ teaspoon canning salt to each half-pint jar, 1 teaspoon to each pint jar, if desired. DO NOT ADD LIQUID. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process half-pints and pints 100 minutes.
TUNA
Remove viscera and clean fish thoroughly. Tuna may be canned either raw or precooked. Precooking removes most of the strongflavored, natural oils.
Hot Pack: Place tuna belly-side down on a rack in the bottom of a large baking pan. Bake at 350°F for 1 hour. Refrigerate cooked fish overnight to firm the meat.
Remove skin. Cut meat away from bones; cut out and discard bone, fin bases, and dark flesh. Quarter the pieces; cut quarters crosswise into lengths suitable for the jar size being used.
Add ½ teaspoon canning salt to each half-pint jar, 1 teaspoon to each pint jar, if desired. Pack fish into hot jars, pressing down gently to make a solid pack, leaving 1-inch headspace. Add water or oil to jars, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Raw Pack: Remove skin. Separate the meat into quarters by cutting the meat away from bones. Cut out and discard bone, fin bases, and dark flesh. Cut quarters crosswise into lengths suitable for the jar size being used.
Add ½ teaspoon canning salt to each half-pint jar, 1 teaspoon to each pint jar, if desired. Pack fish into hot jars, pressing down gently to make a solid pack, leaving 1-inch headspace. DO NOT ADD LIQUID. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process half-pints and pints 100 minutes.
Pressure canning is the only safe method for canning soups and stocks.
Soups or soup stock are quickly and easily canned. Generally, vegetable soups are more satisfactory if the stock and vegetables are canned separately and combined at the time of serving. Dry spices can safely be added to a tested canning recipe.
BEEF STOCK
Saw or crack fresh trimmed beef bones to enhance extraction of flavor. Rinse bones.
Hot Pack: Place bones in a large pot and cover with water. Cover pot and simmer 3 to 4 hours. Remove bones. Cool broth; skim off and discard fat. Remove bits of meat from bones and add to broth, if desired. Reheat broth to boiling. Fill hot jars with hot broth, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints 20 minutes and quarts 25 minutes.
CHICKEN STOCK
Hot Pack: Place large carcass bones in a large pot; add enough water to cover bones. Cover pot and simmer 30 to 45 minutes or until meat can be easily removed from bones. Remove bones. Cool broth; skim off and discard fat. Remove bits of meat from bones and add to broth, if desired. Reheat broth to boiling. Fill hot jars with hot broth, leaving 1-inch headspace.
Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints 20 minutes and quarts 25 minutes.
SOUPS
Vegetable, Dried Bean or Pea, Meat, Poultry, or Seafood
Choose your favorite vegetables, dried beans or peas, meat, poultry, or seafood ingredients for soup as long as those ingredients have their own individual canning recommendations. Do not use ingredients for which there are no canning recommendations.
In accordance with USDA guidelines, do not add noodles or other pasta, rice, cured or brined meat, flour, cream, milk, or other thickening agents to home canned soups as processing time may not be adequate.
Hot Pack: Prepare vegetables, meat, poultry, and seafood as described in the hot pack directions for the individual ingredients.If dried beans or peas are used, they must be fully rehydrated before adding to other ingredients. Combine solid ingredients with meat broth, tomatoes, or water to cover. Boil 5 minutes. Salt to taste, if desired. Fill jars halfway with solid ingredients and then add soup liquid, leaving 1-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Pressure canning: Process pints 60 minutes and quarts 75 minutes. If soup contains seafood, process pints and quarts 100 minutes.
Your canner is designed for use as a boiling water canner to process half-pint and pint jars only. Do not use it for quart jars.
Your canner is designed for use as a boiling water canner to process half-pint and pint jars only. Do not use it for quart jars.
When using the canner for boiling water canning at altitudes of 1,000 feet or below, process according to the specific recipe. When canning at higher altitudes, process according to the following chart.
ALTITUDE CHART BOILING WATER CANNING | |
Altitude | Increase Processing time |
1,001–3,000 ft. | 5 minutes |
3,001–6,000 ft. | 10 minutes |
6,001–8,000 ft. | 15 minutes |
Select firm, fully-ripened but not soft fruit. Do not can overripe foods.
Maintaining Color
Some fruits (apples, apricots, nectarines, peaches, and pears) tend to darken while they are being prepared. To prevent darkening, place fruit in a solution of 3 grams (3,000 milligrams) ascorbic acid to 1 gallon of cold water. Ascorbic acid is available in different forms:
Pure Powdered Form: Use 1 teaspoon of pure powder, which weighs about 3 grams, per gallon of water.
Vitamin C Tablets: Buy 500 milligram tablets. Crush and dissolve 6 tablets per gallon of water.
Commercially Prepared Mixes of Ascorbic and Citric Acid: Available under different brand names. Use according to manufacturer's directions found on the package.
Canning Liquids
Although fruit has better color, shape, and flavor when it is canned with syrup, it may be canned in juices (such as apple, white grape, or pineapple) or water.
White sugar is preferable to brown sugar for canning. Light corn syrup or honey may be used to replace up to one-half the sugar. If you wish to use sugar substitutes, follow package instructions.
The amount of sugar desirable to use in preparing syrups will depend upon the tartness of the fruit and on family preference. It should be remembered that fruit, when heated, releases some of its juices which will dilute the syrup in proportion to the juiciness of the fruit.
Use the syrup chart as a guideline for preparing syrup needed for your canning recipe. Syrup recipe may be doubled or tripled depending on the packing method and amount of fruit being canned at one time.
SYRUPS FOR CANNING FRUITS | |||
Combine sugar and water in a large pot. Bring to a boil and keep syrup hot while preparing fruit. Use as directed in recipe. | |||
Syrup | Sugar | Water | Yield |
Very Light | ½ cup | 4 cups | 4½ cups |
Light | 1 cup | 4 cups | 4¾ cups |
Medium | 1¾ cups | 4 cups | 5 cups |
Heavy | 2¾ cups | 4 cups | 5⅓ cups |
APPLES
Wash, peel, and core apples. Cut into ½-inch slices. Place apples in an ascorbic acid solution to prevent darkening during preparation. Drain well.
Hot Pack: Add apples and syrup, juice, or water to a large pot and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Pack hot apples in hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Cover apples with hot syrup, juice, or water, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process pints 20 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
APPLESAUCE
Wash, peel, core, and slice apples. If desired, place apple slices into ascorbic acid solution to prevent darkening. Drain well. Place slices in a large pot. Add ½ cup water. Heat quickly until apples are tender, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching. Press through food mill or sieve. (If chunk style sauce is preferred, omit this step.) If desired, sweeten to taste. Reheat sauce to boiling. Pack into hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process pints 15 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
APRICOTS
Wash well-ripened, firm apricots. If peeled apricots are desired, dip 1 minute in boiling water, then in cold water and peel. Cut apricots in halves and remove pits. Place apricots in an ascorbic acid solution to prevent darkening during preparation. Drain well.
Hot Pack: Add apricots and syrup, juice, or water to a large pot and bring to a boil. Pack hot apricots, cut side down, in hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Cover with hot syrup, juice, or water, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process pints 20 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
Raw Pack: Pack raw apricots, cut side down, in hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Cover with hot syrup, juice, or water, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process pints 25 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
BERRIES
Except strawberries and elderberries
Choose ripe, sweet berries with uniform color. Wash 1 or 2 quarts of berries at a time. Drain, cap, and stem if necessary.
Hot Pack: Use this method for firmer berries such as blueberries, currants, gooseberries, and huckleberries. Heat berries in a large pot with boiling water for 30 seconds and drain. Add ½ cup hot syrup, juice, or water to hot jars. Pack hot berries into jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Cover with hot syrup, juice, or water, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process pints 15 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
Raw Pack: Use this method for softer berries such as raspberries and blackberries. Add ½ cup hot syrup, juice, or water to hot jars. Pack raw berries into jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Gently shake jars while filling to pack firmly without crushing berries. Cover with hot syrup, juice, or water, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process pints 15 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
CHERRIES
Stem and wash cherries. Remove pits, if desired. If pitted, place cherries in an ascorbic acid solution to prevent darkening of the stem end. If canning whole cherries, prick each cherry with a clean needle to prevent splitting.
Hot Pack: Heat cherries in a large pot with ½ cup hot syrup, juice, or water per quart of cherries. Cover pot and bring to a boil. Pack hot cherries and cooking liquid in hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process pints 15 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
NECTARINES AND PEACHES–YELLOW
Wash fully-ripened but not soft yellow nectarines or peaches. Do not process white flesh nectarines or peaches.
Skin can be left on nectarines. For peaches, loosen skin by dipping them 1 minute in boiling water, then in cold water. Peel. Cut fruit in halves and remove pits. Slice if desired. Place fruit in an ascorbic acid solution to prevent darkening during preparation. Drain well.
Hot Pack: Add fruit and syrup, juice, or water to a large pot and bring to a boil. Pack hot fruit, cut side down, in hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Cover with hot syrup, juice, or water, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process pints 20 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
Raw Pack: Pack raw fruit, cut side down, in hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Cover with hot syrup, juice, or water, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process pints 25 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
PEARS
Wash pears. Peel, cut in halves lengthwise, and core. Place pears in an ascorbic acid solution to prevent darkening during preparation. Drain well.
Hot Pack: Add pears and syrup, juice, or water to a large pot and bring to a boil. Boil 5 minutes. Pack hot pears in hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Cover with hot syrup, juice, or water, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process pints 20 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
PLUMS
Stem and wash firm, ripe plums. If plums are to be canned whole, prick each side with a fork. Freestone varieties may be cut in halves and pitted.
Hot Pack: Add plums and syrup, juice, or water to a large pot and bring to a boil. Boil 2 minutes. Cover pot and let stand 20 to 30 minutes. Pack hot plums in hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Cover with hot syrup, juice, or water, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Raw Pack: Pack raw plums firmly in hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Cover with hot syrup, juice, or water, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process pints 20 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
RHUBARB
Trim off leaves. Wash stalks and cut into ½-inch to 1-inch pieces.
Hot Pack: Add rhubarb and ½ cup sugar per quart of rhubarb to a large pot. Let stand until juice appears. Heat rhubarb slowly to boiling. Pack hot rhubarb in hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process pints 15 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
Your canner is designed for use as a boiling water canner to process half-pint and pint jars only. Do not use it for quart jars.
Tomatoes and tomato products may be safely processed using the boiling water method or pressure canning method. However, for some tomato products, the pressure canning method may result in a more nutritious canned product. (For pressure canning instructions).
Acidifying Tomatoes and Tomato Products
Tomatoes have a pH close to 4.6, which means it is necessary to take precautions to can them safely. First, carefully choose the tomatoes for canning. Use only tomatoes that are disease-free, preferably vine-ripened, and firm.
Second, an acid must be added to tomatoes whether they are processed using the boiling water method or pressure canning method. To ensure the safety of whole, crushed, or juiced tomatoes, add 1 tablespoon bottled lemon juice (not natural juice) or ¼ teaspoon citric acid per pint jar.
Salt
Tomatoes and tomato products may be canned with or without salt. Salt is used only for flavor, as it is not used in a large enough quantity to prevent spoilage. If salt is desired, use only canning or pickling salt. Table salt contains anti-caking agents that may cause cloudiness in the liquid inside the jars.
The recommended amount of salt is ½ teaspoon for each pint jar.
Tip: Dry spices can safely be added to a tested canning recipe.
TOMATOES — WHOLE OR HALVED
(packed in water)
Wash smooth, firm, ripe tomatoes. Loosen skins by dipping tomatoes 1 minute in boiling water, then in cold water. Peel and remove core. Leave whole or halve, or if using large tomatoes, quarter.
Hot Pack: Place prepared tomatoes in a large pot and add just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil and boil gently for 5 minutes. Add bottled lemon juice or citric acid to hot jars. Add salt, if desired (see above). Pack hot tomatoes in hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Fill jars with hot cooking liquid, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Raw Pack: Add bottled lemon juice or citric acid to hot jars. Add salt, if desired (see above). Pack prepared tomatoes in hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Fill hot jars with boiling water, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process pints 40 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
TOMATOES — WHOLE OR HALVED
(packed raw without added liquid)
Wash smooth, firm, ripe tomatoes. Loosen skins by dipping tomatoes 1 minute in boiling water, then in cold water. Peel and remove core. Leave whole or halve. Add bottled lemon juice or citric acid to hot jars. Add salt, if desired (see above). Fill jars with raw tomatoes, pressing until spaces between them fill with juice. Leave ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process pints 85 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
TOMATO JUICE
Wash ripe, juicy tomatoes. Remove stem ends. To prevent juice from separating, quickly cut about 1 pound of tomatoes into quarters and put directly into a large pot. Heat immediately to boiling while crushing. Continue to slowly add and crush freshly cut tomato quarters to the boiling mixture. Make sure the mixture boils constantly and vigorously while adding more tomatoes. Continue until the pot is three-quarters full. Simmer 5 minutes.
If juice separation is not a concern, simply slice or quarter tomatoes into a large pot. Crush, heat, and simmer for 5 minutes before juicing.
Press heated juice through a sieve or food mill to remove skins and seeds. Heat juice again to boiling.
Add bottled lemon juice or citric acid to hot jars. Add salt, if desired (see above). Fill hot jars with hot tomato juice, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process pints 35 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
TOMATO SAUCE
Prepare and press as for making tomato juice (see recipe above). Heat in a large pot until sauce reaches desired consistency. Simmer until volume is reduced by about one-third for thin sauce or by one-half for thick sauce. Add bottled lemon juice or citric acid to hot jars. Add salt, if desired (see above). Pour hot sauce into hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process pints 35 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
The recipes on pages 23 and 24 are safely canned by the boiling water method. Do not pressure can these recipes because the food quality would be unacceptable.
Jars used for the three preserve recipes (marked with a ❖) will need to be sterilized because the processing time is less than 10 minutes. To sterilize the jars, boil them for 10 minutes. If you live at an altitude of 1,000 feet or more, boil an additional minute for each 1,000-foot increase in altitude. If preferred, instead of sterilizing the jars, you can increase the processing time to 10 minutes. The additional processing time is not harmful to most gels.
TOMATO SALSA
7 quarts peeled, cored, chopped paste or plum tomatoes*
5 cups chopped onion
4 cups seeded, chopped long green chiles
½ cup seeded, finely chopped jalapeño peppers
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 cups bottled lemon or lime juice
2 tablespoons salt
1 tablespoon black pepper
Optional ingredients:
3 tablespoons dried oregano
2 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro
*This recipe works best with paste tomatoes, such as Roma. Slicing tomatoes, such as Plum or Beefsteak, require a much longer initial cooking time to achieve a desirable consistency.
Wear plastic or rubber gloves and do not touch your face while handling or cutting hot peppers. If you do not wear gloves, wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching your face or eyes.
The jalapeño peppers do not need to be peeled. The skin of the long green chiles may be tough. If you choose to peel chiles, wash and dry them and then slit each pepper along the side to allow steam to escape. Blister skins by placing peppers in a hot oven (400°F) or under a broiler for 6 to 8 minutes until skins blister.
After blistering skins, place peppers in a pan and cover with a damp cloth. Cool several minutes; peel off skins. Discard seeds and chop.
Wash tomatoes and dip in boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds or until skins split. Dip in cold water, slip off skins, and remove cores. Combine all ingredients except oregano, cumin, and cilantro in a large pot and bring to a boil, stirring frequently, then reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes. Add oregano, cumin, and cilantro, if desired, and simmer for another 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Ladle hot salsa into hot jars, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process pints 15 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, see page 19 for recommended time. Yield: About 16 to 18 pints
APPLE BUTTER ❖
Recommended apples include Jonathan, Winesap, Stayman, Golden Delicious, and McIntosh.
8 pounds apples
2 cups apple cider
2 cups vinegar
2¼ cups sugar
2½ cups packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground cloves
Wash apples. Remove stems, quarter, and core fruit. Cook apples slowly in apple cider and vinegar until soft. Press fruit through a colander, food mill, or strainer. Cook fruit pulp with sugar and spices, stirring frequently. To test for doneness, remove a spoonful and hold it away from steam for 2 minutes. It is done if the butter remains mounded on the spoon. Another way to determine when the butter is cooked adequately is to spoon a small quantity onto a plate. When a rim of liquid does not separate around the edge of the butter, it is ready for canning. Ladle hot butter into hot jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process half-pints and pints 5 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
Yield: 8 to 9 pints
Apple Butter recipe adapted from the "Complete Guide to Home Canning," Agriculture Information Bulletin No. 539, USDA, revised 2009. National Center for Home Food Preservation.
GRAPE JELLY ❖
5 cups grape juice (about 3½ pounds grapes and about 1 cup water)
1 package powdered pectin
7 cups sugar
To prepare juice: Sort, wash, and remove stems from fully ripe grapes. In a large pot, crush about 3½ pounds of grapes and add just enough water to cover grapes, about 1 cup. Cover and bring to boil on high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Pour contents of pot into a damp jelly bag and suspend the bag to drain the juice into a large bowl. Allow juice to drain undisturbed overnight in a cool place. Strain through two thicknesses of damp cheesecloth to remove any crystals that have formed.
To make jelly: In a large pot combine juice and pectin; stir well. Place on high heat and, stirring constantly, bring quickly to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Add sugar, continue stirring, and heat again to a full rolling boil. Boil hard for 1 minute. Remove from heat; skim off foam quickly. Immediately ladle hot jelly into hot jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process half-pints and pints 5 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
Yield: About 8 half-pints
Rhubarb Strawberry Jam and Grape Jelly adapted from "How to Make Jellies, Jams, and Preserves at Home," Home and Garden Bulletin No. 56. Extension Service, USDA. National Center for Home Food Preservation, June 2005.
RHUBARB STRAWBERRY JAM ❖
1 cup cooked red-stalked rhubarb (about 1 pound rhubarb and ¼ cup water)
2½ cups crushed strawberries (about 1½ quarts)
6½ cups sugar
1 pouch liquid pectin
To prepare fruit: Wash rhubarb and slice thin or chop; do not peel. Add water, cover, and simmer until rhubarb is tender, about 1 minute. Sort and wash fully ripe strawberries; remove stems and caps. Crush berries.
To make jam: Measure prepared rhubarb and strawberries into a large pot. Add sugar and stir well. Place on high heat and, stirring constantly, bring quickly to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred down. Boil hard for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in pectin. Skim foam, if necessary. Immediately ladle hot jam into hot jars, leaving ¼-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process half-pints and pints 5 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, see page 19 for recommended time.
Yield: About 7 or 8 half-pints
QUICK FRESH-PACK DILL PICKLES
8 pounds 3- to 5-inch pickling cucumbers
2 gallons water
1¼ cups canning or pickling salt (divided)
1½ quarts vinegar (5% acidity)
¼ cup sugar
2 quarts water
2 tablespoons whole mixed pickling spice
3 tablespoons whole mustard seed (1 teaspoon per pint jar)
14 heads of fresh dill (1½ heads per pint jar) OR
4½ tablespoons dill seed (1½ teaspoons per pint jar)
Wash cucumbers. Cut ¹⁄16-inch slice off blossom end and discard, but leave ¼-inch of stem attached. Dissolve ¾ cup salt in 2 gallons water. Pour over cucumbers and let stand 12 hours. Drain. In a large pot combine vinegar, ½ cup salt, sugar, and 2 quarts water. Add mixed pickling spices tied in a clean, white cloth. Heat to boiling. Fill hot jars with cucumbers. Add 1 teaspoon mustard seed and 1½ heads fresh dill per pint. Cover with boiling pickling liquid, leaving ½-inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Clean jar rims. Position lids and secure with bands.
Boiling water canning: Process pints 10 minutes. For processing above 1,000 feet altitude, for recommended time see the section "Fruits".
Yield: About 7 to 9 pints
NOTE: Many more tested canning recipes for jams and jellies, pickles and relishes, and salsa are available from the National Center for Home Food Preservation (nchfp.uga.edu) or in these reliable sources:
"So Easy to Preserve", Cooperative Extension The University of Georgia, bulletin 989; "Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving"; "Bernardin Complete Book of Home Preserving"
The pressure canner is programmed to display error codes in the event of a product malfunction or error in the processing procedure. See the following chart for explanation and remedies.
Code | Cause | Remedy |
E1, E2, E4, E5 | Canner has become damaged, been tampered with, or is defective. | Unplug canner and call Consumer Service Department. |
E3 Can appear in any phase of Pressure and Boiling Water Canning | Canner is overheated as a result of insufficient or no liquid. |
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E10 Can appear only in JAR WARMING phase of Pressure and Boiling Water Canning | Canner has developed pressure during the JAR WARMING phase because the regulator was put on with its lever in the CAN position. |
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E20 Only in Pressure Canning | Canner has developed pressure during the VENTING phase because the regulator was put on with its lever in the CAN position. |
|
E21 Only in Pressure Canning | The regulator was not installed after the completion of the VENTING phase. |
|
E30 Only in Boiling Water Canning | Canner has developed pressure because the regulator was put on with its lever in the CAN position. |
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Only in Pressure Canning | Canner has sensed a release of pressure during CANNING phase as a result of:
|
NOTE: If release of pressure was due to sealing ring, replacement is necessary before using canner again. |
Only in Pressure Canning | Canner has sensed a premature release of pressure during COOLING phase as a result of:
|
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*Press again to display the WARM icon. At this point the regulator should NOT be on the cover.
Press and hold the button for approximately 5 seconds until the display shows the HEAT icon. This indicates the unit has bypassed the jar warming phase and is heating to reach the next phase.
If discovered during the CANNING phase of the Pressure Canning function as indicated by the icon :
To reduce the risk of personal injury or property damage when using electrical appliances, basic safety precautions should always be followed, including the following:
THIS APPLIANCE IS FOR HOUSEHOLD USE ONLY.
To reduce the risk of electric shock, this appliance has a 3-prong grounded plug. If the plug on this appliance does not fit into your outlet, contact a qualified electrician. Do not attempt to modify the plug in any way.
A short detachable power supply cord is provided to reduce the risk of becoming entangled in or tripping over a longer cord. An extension cord may be used if care is properly exercised in its use.
If an extension cord is used, it should be a 3-wire grounded type cord, marked with a minimum electrical rating of 13 amps, and be no longer than 10 feet. The extension cord should be arranged so that it will not drape over the countertop or tabletop where it can be pulled on by children or tripped over unintentionally.
Connect the power supply cord to a 120VAC electrical outlet only.
NOTICE: This product is intended only for pressure canning and boiling water canning. Do not use it for cooking or preparing foods.
If you have any questions regarding the operation of your Presto® appliance or need parts for your appliance, contact us by any of these methods:
Inquiries will be answered promptly by email, telephone, or letter. When emailing or writing, please include a phone number and a time when you can be reached during weekdays if possible.
When contacting the Consumer Service Department or when ordering replacement parts, please indicate the model and series numbers for the pressure canner. The model number can be found on the back of the canner body. The series number is above and to the right of the cord receptacle. It is stamped along the back side of the black panel.
National Presto is equipped to service this Presto® Digital Canner and supply genuine Presto® parts. Genuine Presto® replacement parts are manufactured to the same exacting quality standards as Presto® appliances and are engineered specifically to function properly with its appliances. Presto can only guarantee the quality and performance of genuine Presto® parts. "Look-alikes" might not be of the same quality or function in the same manner. To ensure that you are buying genuine Presto® replacement parts, look for the Presto® trademark.
National Presto Industries, Inc., Consumer Service Department
3925 North Hastings Way, Eau Claire, WI 54703-3703
Please go online and register this product within ten days of purchase. Proper registration will serve as proof of purchase in the event your original receipt becomes misplaced or lost. Registration will not affect warranty coverage, but it may expedite the processing of warranty claims. The additional information requested will help us develop new products that best meet your needs and desires. To register the product, visit GoPresto.com/registration or simply scan this QR code. If you do not have computer access, contact the Consumer Service Department at 1-800-877-0441 for assistance with registration.
Created by Presto, the Official Presto Precise® Digital Canner Facebook Group offers a social networking environment to share your canning experiences, as well as the opportunity to learn accurate information about your digital canner and canning in general, straight from the company.
To join this group, visit: www.facebook.com/groups/prestodigitalcanner
For more canning information and recipes, visit: www.GoPresto.com/content/canning
Visit www.PrestoPrecise.com
Here you can download full pdf version of manual, it may contain additional safety instructions, warranty information, FCC rules, etc.
Download Presto Presto Precise 02144 - Pressure Canner Manual
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