Home Canning: An Integral Aspect of Provident Living
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Home canning is an integral part of provident living. If you have not done so, we invite you to try your hand at home canning. Grow your own garden and process those fruits and vegetables that are more than what you need for table food. What more, your home canned goods would make very good gifts for many special occasions! Home Canning Fruits with Sweetener Although adding syrup does not prevent spoilage, it will help retain your fruit flavor, shape, and color. Other Sweeteners You may want to replace half the sugar called for in the recipe. You can use light corn syrup, or a mixture of unsweetened fruit juices from apples, pineapple, and white grapes. You can also use honey as long as it has a mild flavor. It is a good idea to veer from strong-flavored sweeteners such as molasses, as they can overpower the flavor of the fruit. They may also darken your fruit. If you elect to use artificial sweeteners, do not process them with the fruit. Can the fruit in plain water and add the artificial sweetener just prior to serving. Making Syrups for Your Home Canning The syrup you use is classified according to sugar content. The mixture below is sufficient for four filled quart jars or up to nine filled pint jars. Usually, the more tart the fruit, the heavier the syrup. Use the consistency that your family likes. If you are a calorie counter, remember that the more sugar you use, the more calories you pack into the canning jars. Very light – equates to about 10% sugar content. Combine together six-and-one-half (6-1/2) cups of water to three-quarters (3/4) cup of sugar. Light – equates to about 20% sugar content. Combine together five-and-three-quarters (5-3/4) cups of water to one-and-one-half (1-1/2) cups of sugar.
Medium – equates to about 30% sugar content. Combine together five-and-one-quarter (5-1/4) cups of water to two-and-one-quarter (2-1/4) cups of sugar. Heavy – equates to about 40% sugar content. Combine together five (5) cups of water to three-and-one-quarter (3-1/4) cups of sugar. Very heavy – equates to about 50% sugar content. Combine four-and-one-fourth cups of water to four-and-one-fourth (4-1/4) cups of sugar. Raw Pack Have the mixed water and sweetener ready. Home canning jars should be clean and hot, as well as free from nicks or cracks. Since most raw fruits shrink during processing, you should pack them tightly but carefully into the canning jars. Cover the fruit with the boiling syrup or, if you prefer, with plain boiling water. Add the headspace recommended in the home canning recipe for proper seal. Headspace means that room between the top of the jar and the top of the fruit. Hot Pack Mix the water and sweetener and heat to boiling. Add the fruit, reheat to boiling and pack into clean, hot, canning jars right away. If you are packing juicy fruits, they can be preheated without adding any liquid. You can pack them in the juice extracted during preheating. Unlike raw packing, you need to pack the boiling hot fruits loosely. Hot packing is the recommended method for home canning fruits in a boiling water bath. Add the headspace recommended in the recipe for proper seal. Home canning fruits is an important element of provident living! More on Home Canning!
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