A Basic Guide: Throw a Canning Party

This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy for more details.
by Litsa @How to Have it All on August 23, 2014

canning party

It’s the end of the third week of August but I’m still making frequent stops at our local Farmer’s Market! Are you!?! If so maybe we could all have a canning party!?! Well—-a virtual canning party for bloggers and readers!?!

I came across this basic guide to throwing a canning party in my Cooking Light magazine this month! What a grand idea! Canning is a process—and although I’ve held three canning sessions in my home this month, I much prefer company that wants to can! Canning requires several steps. Thus, many hands preparing to can—and ultimately finishing the canning task are needed.

A Basic Guide to Throwing a Canning Party:

  1. Read. Study recipes so you know what’s required. Find answers to your own ‘questions’ prior to getting started.
  2. Sterilize. The party host should wash jars, bands, and lids in hot, soapy water; dry; and then heat jars and lids (not bands) in a large pot of simmering water until ready to use. Do not boil lids, as doing so may prevent them from sealing properly.
  3. Prep. When guests arrive cut food as specified, and cook mixtures as necessary.
  4. Seal and Process. Fill hot jars with hot food. Use a rubber spatula to release air bubbles from jars, and wipe rims clean. Immediately affix lids, and screw on bands just until closed (so remaining bubbles can escape). Place jars on canning rack in boiling water in canner, making sure water covers jars by 1 to 2 inches. Return water to a rolling boil, and start timing; boil for the time specified in recipe.
  5. Cool. Remove jars from canner, placing on a towel. Let jars stand at room temperature 12 to 24 hours. (Guests can take warm jars home and follow steps 6 & 7 on their own unless you want to factor in time lounging with your canning party!).
  6. Check. Press center of each lid; lids should not flex or ‘pop.’ Removed bands; gently troy to lift lid with gentle pressure. If lid stays on, you have a good seal (this is my personal favorite test)!
  7. Store. Label properly sealed jars; store in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year. For any jars that did not seal, immediately reprocess in boiling water, or store in refrigerator for 2 to 4 weeks.

You may also want to make sure you have the proper equipment on hand. For a canning party, it’s ideal to have two complete setups; two canners or deep stockpots, two canning racks, two jar lifters, and plenty of canning jars with new lids. These recipes are written for pint-sized glass jars with metal lids and bands (such as Ball jars), which will provide plenty of goodies for guests to take home and the host to keep.

For added fun, prepare snacks or a simple meal for guests to munch on throughout your canning party. A cocktail or fresh juice never hurt either!

Canning Recipes:

Tips For Making Strawberry Jam
Apple Pie Filling Canning Recipe
Apple Peel Jelly Recipe
Canning Green Beans
Peach Pepper Jelly

A canning party!?! Send an INVITE, please!?!

Photo Credit: Bing

Canning Party Guide Credit: Cooking Light Magazine August 2014

The following two tabs change content below.

Litsa @How to Have it All

Litsa is a stay at home mom to a beautiful little girl. She is a native of Greece and now resides in Tennessee. As a former teacher, Litsa wears many hats that it takes to make a home a functioning home!

Latest posts by Litsa @How to Have it All (see all)