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Ahhh. A canner! So tell me, do you think it’s worth the time? Would you get a pressure cooker setup or just stick with the hot water bath? Who has the best deal on jars? I’m thinking about taking it up.

Thanks in advance. RD

If you garden it’s most definitely worth the time. If you purchase fresh from a farmers market for health reasons (non-gmo, organic, etc.) it’s still cheaper than buying those items canned or frozen at the store. Start with water bath and high acid foods until you establish a canning routine, then move onto pressure canning and low acid foods. Check with your county extension to see if there are any pressure canning classes. Youtube probably has some great vids as well. As for jars, Walmart price rules around here.

Ahhh. A canner! So tell me, do you think it’s worth the time? Would you get a pressure cooker setup or just stick with the hot water bath? Who has the best deal on jars? I’m thinking about taking it up.

I've found that I just love canning. I started with a bit of reluctance, but after the first batch of successfully canned chicken that I could just set on a shelf - I found it to be very rewarding.

I'd go ahead and spend the extra on a pressure canner. You can use that to do water bath canning too, but since it does both, you won't have more appliances to store. Or buy.

I buy meat on sale and then can it as an easy way to store it (or when my freezer is full). Many people can things from their garden, but since I have a brown thumb other than the basil that is taking over, I haven't done that yet. Would love to someday! I jsut called some bacon (although not an FDA-approved thing to do).

I get jars at Winco when they have them. They are much cheaper in the fall and winter (off-season times for canning), about $8.50/12 quart jars. I've seen them as high as $10.50 though in the summer. Our Walmart's prices are a bit higher and they seldom have more than one case, if even that. Your area will vary, of course.

I've found it's a hobby I've gotten addicted to. I love the symmetrical lines of jars in my hall closet. Someday, when I get a root cellar/basement and can grow a garden, the lines of beautifully-colored jars will make me very happy.