Six Books On Canning And Preserving Food

Canning and preserving foods are rewarding, filling your pantry with jars of delicious foods to enjoy in the future.  It’s essential to follow the proper techniques to ensure food is as fresh and safe when opened as when it went through the preservation process.  Books on canning and preserving food, backed by research, contain directions from experts in the field that can make this much easier. First-time canners will enjoy step-by-step instructions, while seasoned canners will find new recipes to expand their canning selection.

Some of the best books on canning and preserving food are the Ball Complete Book Of Home Preserving, The Complete Guide to Pressure Canning: Everything You Need to Know to Can Meats, Vegetables, Meals in a Jar, and More, The Complete Book of Small-Batch Preserving: Over 300 Recipes to Use Year-Round, The Prepper’s Canning & Preserving Bible:  The #1 Guide to Preserving, Water Bath & Pressure Canning, Pickling, Fermenting, Dehydrating, & Freeze Drying.  Prepare Your Pantry Now for any Situation!, The Amish Canning Cookbook:  Plain and Simple Living at Its Homemade Best, and A Guide to Canning, Freezing, Curing & Smoking Meat, Fish & Game.

Six Books On Canning And Preserving Food

There are many books on canning and preserving food. Some books stand above the rest, though. The following books provide tips and assistance for beginners and pros alike. Let’s start with the Ball Book Of Home Preserving.

Ball Complete Book Of Home Preserving

Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving

By Judi Kingry

Long considered the bible of home preservation, it’s always a great idea to have the latest iteration of Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving on your shelf.  Backed by Ball’s own research and the latest recommendations on food safety and preservation, this book is generally what all other books are based upon.

There are over 400 pages packed with information on canning and preserving methods.  400 recipes for salsas, sauces, jams, jellies, pickles, chutneys, and relishes are included.  In addition, there are guidelines for preserving fruits, vegetables, meats, beans, and more. 

This guide covers purchasing produce, preparing it for pressure or water-bath canning, adjusting for altitude, and solving common canning problems. 

The Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving is an excellent reference guide for the home canner.

The Complete Guide To Pressure Canning: Everything You Need To Know To Can Meats, Vegetables, Meals In A Jar, And More

The Complete Guide To Pressure Canning: Everything You Need To Know to Can Meats, Vegetables, Meals In A Jar, And More

By Diane Devereaux – The Canning Diva

The Complete Guide to Pressure Canning is an excellent canning book for beginners.  It starts with a step-by-step guide to canning, including all the supplies you need to gather and how pressure canning works.  Then the author guides you through two basic recipes – canning green beans and chicken breasts.  

After that, dive into more than 80 recipes to stock your pantry.  There are staples such as tomatoes, vegetables, meats, and legumes.  Then expand into canning entire meals in a jar – think soups and stews.

The guide is well put together with all the necessary information to can safely, with beautiful illustrations throughout.

The Complete Book of Small-Batch Preserving: Over 300 Recipes To Use Year-Round

The Complete Book Of Small-Batch Preserving: Over 300 Recipes To Use Year-Round

By Ellie Topp and Margaret Howard

While we marvel at dedicated canners with massive pantries full of produce that can be used to create meals all year long, not all of us have the time, energy, or space to make that happen.

This book is for you if you want to take advantage of sales on produce or surplus at the farmer’s market or in your garden.  Designed for beginners and pros, you’ll find detailed instructions and up-to-date processing methods, including a section on freezer preserving.

Try your hand at:

  • Jams and jellies
  • Salsas, mustards, and marinades
  • Pickles and relishes
  • Flavored oils
  • Dessert sauces

Add this book to your collection for new recipes that won’t keep you trapped in the kitchen all day.

The Prepper’s Canning & Preserving Bible:  The #1 Guide To Preserving, Water Bath & Pressure Canning, Pickling, Fermenting, Dehydrating, & Freeze Drying.  Prepare Your Pantry Now For Any Situation!

The Prepper’s Canning & Preserving Bible:  The #1 Guide to Preserving, Water Bath & Pressure Canning, Pickling, Fermenting, Dehydrating, & Freeze Drying.  Prepare Your Pantry Now For Any Situation!

By Gordon Flay

With the world’s uncertainty, many have turned to “prepping” to build a food stash and prepare for hard times or natural disasters.

If this sounds like you, this comprehensive handbook will guide you from planning to preserving.

This book has step-by-step instructions for:

  • Water bath & pressure canning
  • Pickling
  • Fermenting
  • Dehydrating
  • Freeze Drying

If you’ve been thinking about preserving your own foods, this book has you covered.

The Amish Canning Cookbook:  Plain And Simple Living At Its Homemade Best

The Amish Canning Cookbook:  Plain And Simple Living At Its Homemade Best

By Georgia Varozza

The Amish community comes to mind when I think of preserving the harvest.  Their very nature conjures up home cooking using canned produce and meats.  Get back to basics with a collection of recipes to fill your pantry with fruits, vegetables, soups, and sauces. 

Written by a certified Master Food Preserver, this book shows beginner and skilled canners how to can homestyle cooking with a frugal mindset.

A Guide To Canning, Freezing, Curing & Smoking Meat, Fish & Game

A Guide To Canning, Freezing, Curing & Smoking Meat, Fish & Game

By Wilbur F. Eastman

This book is a little older but bears a mention on our list for the subject matter alone.  Most canning and preserving books focus on fruits and vegetables and on preserving meats. 

This book covers pressure canning meat and all major meat preservation techniques, including smoking, curing, freezing, drying, and pickling.  Did you ever wonder how they corn beef or pickle tripe?  It’s in here. 

Plus, the author avoids harsh chemicals.  If you are looking for additional ways to preserve meat, add this book to your library.

Books On Canning And Preserving Food

Canning and preserving food is a great way to use save extra produce, prepare for winter months, or survive a natural disaster. Use proper techniques to ensure your food is save months or years in the future. Use cookbooks to learn how and expand your canning selection.

This list of books on canning and preserving food are a great start to your library. Let us know how they help in the comments below!

Happy canning!

Author

  • Kimberly

    Kim Burton is an avid canner, freelance writer, and certified Nutrition Coach living in the mountains of Colorado. She believes in providing her family with fresh organic foods. A perfect way of preserving quality foods in through canning. Kim’s goal is to make canning accessible to everyone and help you save money and time and reduce food waste using tried and true preservation methods.

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