Home Canning Tools You Absolutely Need (and What You Can Skip)

Ready to dive into the wonderful world of home canning? That’s fantastic! Before you get started, it’s important to have the right tools on hand for safety and success. Don’t worry, you don’t need a anything fancy!

These are the essential home canning tools you’ll absolutely need, why they’re crucial, and some tips and tricks to help you get equipped without breaking the bank…. I’ll also touch on a few items that are nice to have but not strictly necessary for beginners.

The Absolute Essentials: Your Canning Starter Kit

These are the non-negotiables for safe and effective home canning. These include:

Water Bath Canner with Rack

This is the cornerstone for processing high-acid foods like most fruits, peach jam, jellies, pickled beets, and acidified tomatoes. The large pot allows you to completely submerge filled jars in boiling water for the required processing time, ensuring harmful microorganisms are destroyed.

Look for a canner that is tall enough to hold your jars with at least 1-2 inches of water covering the tops. The rack is crucial for keeping the jars from directly touching the bottom of the pot, which could cause them to break due to direct heat. Some racks have handles for easy lifting of all the jars at once.

If you don’t want to invest in a dedicated water bath canner right away, a large stockpot with a tight-fitting lid can work if it’s tall enough and you can find a sturdy rack that fits inside and keeps the jars off the bottom!

Pressure Canner (for Low-Acid Foods)

This is non-negotiable for safely processing low-acid foods like carrots (except acidified tomatoes), beef, poultry, and fish. These foods require higher temperatures than boiling water can achieve to eliminate the risk of botulism, a potentially fatal form of food poisoning. A pressure canner creates a pressurized environment that allows water to boil at a higher temperature (240°F/116°C).

Pressure canners come in both weighted gauge and dial gauge styles. Weighted gauge canners regulate pressure with weighted disks and are generally considered more reliable (and easier to use if you ask me.). Dial gauge canners have a pressure gauge that needs to be regularly tested for accuracy. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your specific canner.

Pressure canners can be a bit of an investment, but they are essential for safely preserving a wider range of foods. Try borrowing one from a friend or family member if you’re just starting out and plan to can low-acid foods!

Canning Jars (with Lids and Rings)

Specially designed tempered glass jars are necessary to withstand the temperature changes of the canning process without breaking. They come in various sizes (pint, quart, half-pint, etc.) to suit different needs. New lids with sealing compound are crucial for achieving an airtight seal. Rings (screw bands) hold the lid in place during processing and are removed after the jars have cooled and sealed.

Always use canning jars specifically designed for home canning (brands like Ball, Kerr, Mason). Regular food jars (like mayonnaise jars) are not tempered to withstand the heat and pressure. You can reuse canning jars as long as they are not chipped or cracked, but you must use new lids for each batch to ensure a proper seal. Rings can be reused.

Stock up on a variety of jar sizes to give you flexibility with different recipes and quantities!

Lid Lifter (Magnetic Wand or Tongs)

This tool allows you to safely and hygienically lift sterilized lids from hot water without touching the sealing compound. This helps prevent contamination that could lead to spoilage.

Magnetic lid lifters are popular and easy to use… Lid tongs have a different grip but serve the same purpose.

Jar Lifter

This specialized tool has rubber-coated tongs that securely grip hot, filled jars, allowing you to safely transfer them into and out of the canner without the risk of dropping them and causing burns or breakage.

Make sure your jar lifter is sturdy and in good condition. Practice using it with empty jars to get a feel for its grip before working with hot, filled ones. These help you to lift jars straight up and down to avoid tilting and potentially breaking the seal.

A Funnel

A wide-mouth funnel designed for canning fits snugly into the jar opening, making it much easier to fill jars with food without making a mess. It also helps you fill jars to the correct headspace (the empty space between the top of the food and the rim of the jar), which is crucial for proper sealing.

Look for a funnel made of stainless steel or sturdy plastic that is easy to clean!

Tools That Make Canning Easier, But Aren’t Necessary

These tools aren’t strictly essential for your very first batch, but they’ll make the canning process smoother and more efficient!

• Headspace Tool/Ruler: This tool helps you accurately measure the headspace in your jars, for proper sealing. Some of them have a magnetic end for lifting lids as well, making them pretty useful!
• Bubble Remover/Deburring Tool: A thin, non-metallic tool (often part of a headspace tool or sold separately) used to release trapped air bubbles from the filled jars before sealing. Trapped air can interfere with sealing and proper processing.
• Kitchen Scale: Useful for recipes that call for specific weights of ingredients, especially for jams and jellies where precise ratios are important for setting.
• Timer: While your kitchen likely has a timer, having a dedicated one for canning helps you keep track of precise processing times. i use the timer on my phone!
• Large Ladle: Makes it easier and cleaner to transfer hot food into the canning jars.

Nice-to-Haves (Not Essential for Beginners)

Food Mill or Strainer: Useful for processing fruits and vegetables into purees or removing seeds and skins for certain recipes. i picked one up at a thrift store and it works perfectly!

Electric Kettle: These speed up the process of heating water for filling the canner or sterilizing lids! This is on my want list!

Dishwasher: While you still need to wash jars thoroughly, a dishwasher can make the cleaning process easier. 😉

Dedicated Canning Apron: Aprons protect your clothes from spills and splatters.

How to Get Equipped Without Breaking the Bank

The cost of equipment can add up if you try to get everything all at once. But there are several ways to save money and still get everything you need:

• Start with the Essentials: Focus on acquiring the must-have items first.
• Check Local Resources: Look for used canning equipment at thrift stores, garage sales, or on Facebook marketplace. Just make sure everything is in good working order before buying them, especially pressure canners (check the seal and gauge).
• Borrow from Friends or Family: If you know someone who already cans, see if they’re willing to lend you some equipment to get started.
• Canning Kits: Some retailers offer starter kits that include the essential tools at a bundled price.
• Invest Wisely: While it’s tempting to buy the cheapest options, prioritize quality and safety, especially with your canners and jar lifter.

Getting properly equipped for home canning is an investment in your safety and the quality of your home canned foods… Now you’re well on your way to confidently and successfully canning delicious food at home! In our next post, we’ll delve into the crucial topic of water bath versus pressure canning to help you understand which method is right for your preserving projects.