Thank you for purchasing my latest cookbook, The Modern Pioneer Pantry. I hope this book and the videos on my Mary’s Nest YouTube channel will help you create a well-stocked pantry full of a wide variety of nutritious and delicious preserved food.
In this chapter’s QR code page, I’ll provide you with an overview of canning.
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Table of Contents
What is Canning?
Canning is a method of preserving perishable food without the need for refrigeration. There are basically two ways of processing foods—commonly referred to as “canning”—that have been approved as safe by the National Center for Home Food Preservation (HFP).
Water Bath Canning
One method of canning is known as “water bath canning,” which is for high-acid foods. These foods contain enough acid to have a pH of 4.6 or lower. They include fruits, pickles, sauerkraut, jams, jellies, marmalades, and fruit butters. These high acid foods can be processed safely in a boiling water canner. Usually no additional acid, such as lemon juice or citric acid, needs to be added.
Pressure Canning
The other method is known as “pressure canning,” which is for processing low-acid foods, including red meats, fish, poultry, and all vegetables, except most tomatoes.
Stock a Variety of Canning Jars
Next, when it comes to your canning equipment and supplies, you’ll want to make sure that you have a variety of canning jars on hand before you begin. Manufacturers Ball or Kerr make these canning jars that are specifically for water bath canning or pressure canning. They come in assorted sizes, generally from 4 to 64 ounces. Plus, some are regular-mouth sized jars, while others are wide-mouth jars. These jars each come with a special lid that is held on during processing by a screw-on ring.
Don’t worry if this seems a bit overwhelming. Whatever recipe you pick from your canning books will tell you exactly what ounce-size jar you need, whether it should have a regular mouth or a wide mouth, and exactly how many jars you will need.
Home Canning Recipes
How to Use the Presto Precise Digital Pressure Canner
Learn how to use this incredible digital pressure canner as we cold pack and can carrots
Pressure Canning Essentials: Tools and Supplies Every Home Cook Needs
Learn the essential tools and tips every home cook needs for smooth, successful pressure canning—perfect for beginners!
Choosing the Right Pressure Canner: What Every Home Cook Should Know
Discover the pros, cons, and tips for choosing the best pressure canner for your kitchen.
Filling Your Four Corners Pantry with Traditional Foods
If you’re looking for a printed book full of my traditional foods recipes that shows you how to create a traditional foods kitchen, be sure to order your copy of my bestselling book, The Modern Pioneer Cookbook.
Order YOUR COPY Now!
The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
Seasonal ingredients, traditional techniques, and nourishing recipes. Over 85 traditional, from-scratch recipes! Discover for yourself how you can use simple ingredients and traditional techniques to cook the modern pioneer way.
And if you are teaching children in grades K through 12 how to make traditional foods, be sure to download my FREE Modern Pioneer Cookbook Curriculum to use in conjunction with my cookbook.
FREE CHECKLISTS You Need Now!
As you learn how to Prep Like a Pro when stocking your Four Corners Pantry, be sure to download all the checklists that I have prepared for you. You can keep them on your computer or phone, but I highly recommend printing them out and putting them in your Kitchen Journal so that you always have a hard copy!
How to Make Meal Prep Fast with the Meal-in-a-Bag System
Make meal prep fast and easy with these seven free recipes you can download and print out to create your own Meals in Bags.
The FREE Modern Pioneer Cookbook Curriculum – Teach Traditional Cooking Skills to Grades K-12
This cookbook curriculum gives students a love of traditional foods and kitchen skills that will last them a lifetime.
27 Best Survival Foods to Stock NOW in Your Prepper Pantry
Download the free Survival Pantry Checklist and make sure your Prepper Pantry is well-stocked for the long term.
Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List
For an extensive list of the traditional foods you can make and purchase to stock your pantry, be sure to download my free 36-page Traditional Foods Pantry List. This comprehensive eBook is full of links to recipe videos, helpful articles, and more!
Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy
Are you looking for more traditional foods videos? If so, I invite you to join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy. Members of this optional paid YouTube community get access to exclusive videos and other members-only perks. Plus, your YouTube comments include a special members-only badge.
Kitchen Academy Videos
How to Make Oatmeal Higher in Protein (The Old-Fashioned Way)
Turn simple oats into a hearty, protein-rich porridge.
The Only Traditional Recipes You’ll Ever Need!
Focus on traditional recipes with real food. Don’t chase trends.
Let’s Talk Akkermansia: A Tiny Helper for Big Gut Health
Discover how Akkermansia muciniphila supports gut and immune health—and how traditional foods help this mighty microbe thrive.
Stay in Touch with Mary’s Nest
- Subscribe to My YouTube Channel for Traditional Foods Videos (Free) - When you subscribe, be sure to click on the notification bell that will let you know each time I upload a new video.
- Subscribe to Mary’s Traditional Foods Newsletter (Free) - Get a free 36-page eBook for signing up: How to Stock Your Essential Traditional Foods Four-Corners Pantry.
- Join the Traditional Foods Kitchen Academy - For more detailed videos and exclusive members-only perks, join my YouTube membership community.
- Order The Modern Pioneer Cookbook - Get a hardcover book of Mary's nourishing recipes from a Traditional Foods Kitchen. This bestselling cookbook is published by Penguin Random House with their DK imprint.
- Order The Modern Pioneer Pantry - Get Mary's latest hardcover cookbook about preserving food and making delicious meals from your Four Corners Pantry. Mary's second cookbook is also published by Penguin Random House.
I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!
Disclaimer:I am not a medical doctor, a medical professional, a dietician, or a nutritionist. All content found on the MarysNest.com website, including text, images, videos, eBooks or eGuides, social media, or other formats, were created solely for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or proper nutritional advice. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have watched in a video or read on this website. Use caution when following the recipe in this video. The creator and publisher of this video and website will not be held responsible for any adverse effects that may arise from the use of this recipe and method or any other recipe and method on this website or corresponding video channel.