Whether you’re brand new to pressure canning or just need a little refresher, having the right tools and supplies on hand can make all the difference and help you enjoy a smooth and successful canning day! In today’s video, Part 2 of my Pressure Canning 101 Series, I walk you through exactly what you’ll need to get started. Watch the video below, then keep reading for helpful tips and extra info you won’t want to miss!
🎥 If you haven’t watched Part 1 yet, be sure to catch it here: Choosing the Right Pressure Canner – What Every Home Cook Should Know. It’s the perfect place to begin your pressure canning journey!
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Table of Contents
- A Quick Glance: Pressure Canning Tools and Supplies
- Essential Tools for Pressure Canning Success
- Bonus Tools to Make Life Easier
- Pantry Staples for Pressure Canning
- Pressure Canning 101 Series
- Water Bath Canning Recipes
- A Quick Word About My New Cookbook! 📖
- The Modern Pioneer Pantry
- Download Your Free 36-Page Pantry List
- The Modern Pioneer Cookbook
- Shop for My Favorite Items
A Quick Glance: Pressure Canning Tools and Supplies
- Tools
- Canning jars, lids, and bands
- Funnel
- Ladle
- “Debubbler” or food-safe plastic knife
- Headspace measuring tool (or clean food-safe ruler)
- Clean cloth (and white vinegar)
- Jar lifter (I recommend the spring-loaded kind!)
- Sharpie for labeling
- Bonus Tools
- Lid holder for air drying lids
- Magnetic lid lifter (or clean hands!)
- Pretty labels if you’re feeling fancy 🎀
- Supplies
- Canning and pickling salt
- Lemon juice or citric acid
- Ascorbic acid or vitamin C tablets
Link to product recommendations.
📖 And don’t forget—my new cookbook, The Modern Pioneer Pantry, includes QR codes throughout that link to blog posts and videos, including some on pressure canning!
Essential Tools for Pressure Canning Success
Canning Jars, Lids, and Bands 🫙
You’ll want to start with clean, undamaged canning jars—either brand new or gently used jars that have no cracks or chips. Be sure to use brand-new lids each time (to ensure a proper seal), but bands can be reused if they’re rust-free and still fit well.
Funnel, Ladle, and Debubbler 🥄
A wide-mouth funnel helps keep your jar rims clean and your canning experience neat. A ladle makes filling jars easy, and a debubbler (or a clean, food-safe plastic knife) removes air pockets to ensure safe, even canning.
Tip: Some funnels and debubblers also double as headspace measurers—very handy!
Measuring Headspace 📏
Whether your headspace measure is part of your funnel or debubbler, or you’re using a clean food-safe ruler, accuracy matters when it comes to measuring the proper headspace to ensure safe canning.
Clean Cloth 🧽
A clean cloth to wipe the rim of the jar before placing on the canning lid is important to ensure a good seal. You can dampen the cloth with warm water, or even better, white vinegar. Wipe the rim clean and you’ll be ready to seal the jar.
Jar Lifter 🤲
A good jar lifter is a game changer. I love the spring-loaded models—they’re easier to use one-handed and give you better control when moving hot jars.
Sharpie or Similar Type Marker 🖊️
And don’t forget a Sharpie or similar marker to jot down the date and contents on your lids once they’re sealed.
Bonus Tools to Make Life Easier
Lid Drying Rack 🌬️
Let washed canning lids air dry on a lid holder. No boiling—boiling can damage the rubber seal.
Tip: You’ll only wash canning lids the first time before you use them. You’ll never want to reuse a canning lid that you’ve used previously during the pressure or water bath canning process.
Magnetic Lid Lifter 🧲
This tool makes it easy to grab lids without touching them. Clean hands also work in a pinch!
Fancy Labels 🎀
Add decorative labels to your jars once they’ve sealed and cooled. They make lovely gifts too!
Pantry Staples for Pressure Canning
Canning and Pickling Salt 🧂
Make sure you pick a salt without additives or anti-caking agents. You just want pure salt that won’t cloud your jars.
Lemon Juice or Citric Acid 🍋
Helps ensure a safe pH level for low-acid foods, especially tomatoes.
Ascorbic Acid or Vitamin C Tablets 🍊
Preserves color and freshness in light-colored produce. Powder or crushed tablets work great.
Pressure Canning 101 Series
I created my Pressure Canning 101 Series to help home cooks begin their journey pressure canning or to help experienced cooks get a refresher on the best products, equipment, and processes to use.
Here are the videos and blog posts I’ve already published in my Pressure Canning 101 Series:
- Part 1: Choosing the Right Pressure Canner: What Every Home Cook Should Know (Previously published.)
- Part 2: Pressure Canning Essentials: Tools and Supplies Every Home Cook Needs (Today’s video and post.)
Coming Up in Part 3
Update: Added link to Part 3 in my Pressure Canning 101 Series: How to Use the Presto Precise Digital Pressure Canner.
👉 Coming up next in Part 3: Let’s Pressure Can Together—A Step-by-Step Demo Using an Electric Pressure Canner. (Based on the feedback from my YouTube community poll, pressure canning with this product was your most requested, sweet friends!)
After you watch Parts 1 and 2, you’ll be able to make an informed decision on the pressure canner and equipment you’d like to use. And in my future Part 3 of this series, I’ll show you step-by-step how to pressure can a low-acid food.
Getting ready to pressure can might seem like a lot at first, but once you’ve got your supplies set up, it all becomes second nature. I hope this post and video encourage you to take the next step with confidence!
Water Bath Canning Recipes
With Pressure Canning, you can preserve low-acid foods. If you’re interested in home canning high-acid foods, I’ll show you how to easily and safely water bath can pickles, jams, and more. You’ll have a well-stocked pantry in no time!
How to Make No Sugar Strawberry Jam with Water Bath Canning Tutorial
Enjoy this sugar-free treat and also learn how to make it shelf-stable for long-term pantry storage.
How to Can Pears – NO SUGAR Recipe
Learn how to home can fruit for long-term storage in your pantry.
Water Bath Canning Ingredients – Salts, Spices, and Pectin
Learn about the key ingredients for the water bath canning of pickles, jams, jellies, marmalades, and tomatoes.
A Quick Word About My New Cookbook! 📖
If you’ve picked up The Modern Pioneer Pantry, you know I packed it full of helpful info to make traditional foods doable and delightful! Each chapter includes a special QR code linking to blog posts with videos—so when you get to the pressure canning section, you’ll find even more help from me waiting for you online.
Order YOUR COPY Now!
The Modern Pioneer Pantry
Simple ingredients, timeless techniques, and a well-stocked pantry. Discover over 100 nourishing recipes to preserve food and turn pantry staples into homemade meals. Build a wholesome, traditional pantry—just like a modern pioneer!
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!
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.
Stay in Touch with Mary’s Nest
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I look forward to having you join me in my Texas Hill Country Kitchen!
Shop for My Favorite Items
Favorite Canning Supplies
- Canning supplies kit
- Canning jars
- Canning lids and bands
- Funnel
- Ladle
- Debubbler
- Jar lifter
- Canning lid holder
- Magnetic canning lid lifter
- Canning jar labels
- Canning and pickling salt
- Citric acid
- Ascorbic acid
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Get up to 15% off for stocking your Traditional Foods Pantry and equipping your Modern Pioneer Kitchen, including discounts from US Wellness Meats, Farmhouse Teas, Lehman’s, Masontops, Cultures for Health, Survival Garden Seeds, Redmond Real Salt, Plan to Eat, and More!
