DIY: The Easiest Way to Can Your Own Foods and Make Your Own Sauces

When you grow your fruits and vegetables, it’s hard not to eat them all at once. When this happens, it’s an ideal time to preserve those delicious fruits or veggies with a canning process. If you don’t have the resources to purchase pre-made canned foods or jars filled with preserves, you can learn how to can your own foods at home. Whether you’re interested in home food preservation as a hobby or something more long-term, there are several methods for preserving the taste of seasonal produce year-round. 

One of the easiest ways is through canning. Not only is it affordable and accessible equipment-wise, but it’s also incredibly simple to learn how to do with these DIY tips on how to can your own foods and make your own sauces. But first, what is canning?

What is canning?

Canning is a food preservation technique that involves placing food into airtight jars or cans, then heating the jars or cans to kill microorganisms or shorten the lifespan of said microorganisms, which halts the decaying process and allows for food to stay fresh for longer. When canning, you must ensure the food is well-cooked and packed into a clean jar or can with high acid content. The acid reacts with the metal and makes an airtight seal. For example, jams, jellies, and pickled vegetables are high-acid foods, while tomatoes, fruits, and vegetables with low-acid content require additional processing to create an airtight seal.

Why should you can your own food at home?

Consuming a diet rich in vegetables and fruits is good for your health, but what happens when you eat too many vegetables at once and can’t finish them all? You can’t just let them go to waste. Instead, you can keep those fresh, in-season ingredients at home for later use. Canning your own food is a wonderful method to preserve the flavor of fresh vegetables so that you may enjoy it any time of the year. And you can store the jars of food in your basement or garage. Then, at the end of each winter, you can pull out your canned foods and enjoy a taste.

Benefits of home food preservation

Another reason to can your own foods is that it allows you to save money. Fresh produce can be expensive, but it’s much cheaper if you buy it in season. When you can your own vegetables and fruits, you can preserve the peak freshness of those fruits and vegetables so that you can enjoy them any time of year. You can also freeze your own vegetables and fruits, but many prefer the taste of canned produce. Home food preservation is also a great way to pass down traditions. You can teach your children how to can vegetables and fruits with these DIY tips on how to can your vegetables and fruits.

Which foods are best for home canning?

When canning your own vegetables, it’s important to choose the right ones. Some vegetables, like cabbage, carrots, and green beans, are good candidates for canning. However, other vegetables, like tomatoes, are not good for canning because they’re low in acid and require additional processing to create an airtight seal. For fruits, it’s best to choose soft fruits with high sugar and low water content, such as peaches, apricots, and pears. Also, only can fruits that are high in pectins, like apples, or citrus fruits, such as oranges and grapefruits, since it will make the jar challenging to open.

How to can your own tomato sauce and other sauces?

If you’re canning tomato sauce, one of the easiest ways is to use the boiling water canning method. 

• To begin, cut the tomatoes into cubes or slices and then bring them to a boil.
• Next, you can add spices, herbs, and other ingredients like onions and garlic.
• Take the mixture off the heat as soon as it begins to boil, and immediately pour it into jars that have been sterilized. Do this as soon as the mixture begins to boil.
• The jars need to be sterilized before you can them.
• Put them in a kettle of boiling water, remove them after five minutes, then let them sit where they are until you can handle them because they have cooled down.
• Carefully pour the water out of the jars and wipe them out.
• Put the jars on a rack in a boiling water canning pot and fill them with water, so the jars are covered.
• Let them sit there for 10 minutes, then take them out, remove the lids, and pour the sauce into the jars.

How to can your own vegetables?

Canned vegetables are easy to make but require more sterilization than canned tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables. 

• When canning vegetables, fill a pot with water, add salt and a tablespoon of vinegar, and bring the water to a boil.
• Make sure the jars are sterilized, then put the lids in a pot of water and let them sit there until you’re ready to seal the jars.
• First, prepare the vegetables. If you’re canning green beans, you can either blanch them or put them in a pressure cooker.
• Put the vegetables in the jars, leaving a little space at the top, and pour the hot water from the canning pot into the jars.

How to can your own fruits?

If you want to can your own fruits, you can use the boiling water canning method, but there’s one important thing you need to keep in mind. All fruits high in pectin need to be canned in a pressure canner. 

• When canning fruits, slice or dice them and put them in jars.
• Add spices like vanilla, cinnamon, or a little lemon juice for flavor.
• Next, pour the hot water from the canning pot into the jars, ensuring there is still space at the top.
• When canning fruits, it’s important to ensure that the liquid covers the entire fruit. It’s also important to use a kitchen thermometer to ensure that the liquid’s temperature is hot enough to kill any dangerous microorganisms.

Conclusion

The flavor of fresh vegetables may be enjoyed at any time of the year if you can your own food at home. And you can store the jars of food in your basement or garage. Then, at the end of each winter, you can pull out your canned foods and enjoy a taste of summer in the middle of winter. But, if you’re interested in home food preservation, you can continue with these DIY tips on how to can your own foods and make your own sauces. In addition, there are several other ways to preserve your food.