I agree with what everyone else said! You can find that same set either at Walmart or Target for cheaper (I bought that same kit for Lackboys23 (aka Donna) last year here in Florida at Target).

BUT, I agree that you will only use the tongs, the rack, and the jar lifter out of the kit. It would be cheaper to buy a big pot, buy either a 9" or 10" round cake cooling rack that will fit inside the pot, and the jar lifter. I'm pretty sure you could get all of those at Walmart. Target is hit or miss with canning stuff.

This is what I did and I had about 5 pairs of tongs at home anyway. I use the tongs to fish out the heated jars from the water in the pot prior to filling with jam/jelly, and my heated lids and bands.

Alrightie then. I'm going shopping today to find what I need. I've always been interested in canning; just never had the equipment needed to do it. This should be interesting; appreciate all the help here.

Annie or others can correct me if I'm wrong but I thought one of the issues with glass top stoves had to do with the corrugated bottom of this pot? That air gets trapped in the ridges and so the temperature is not consistent.

Regardless, I had a glass top (no more) and used a pot like that for a few years without a noticeable problem. However, I then purchased a pressure canner (Presto, smaller one, 16 qt). To be honest, I have only used it as a pressure canner, but I love the pot itself for use as a BWB. It has a smooth bottom, and also it is not as wide so it fits on a smaller burner. I felt much more comfortable using it with the glass top stove. Plus, then if you ever decide to go into pressure canning, you're all ready. There's a link so you can see what I mean.

I put my jars on a towel on a wooden cutting board to cool.

I do use the lid lifter but after reading all this I'm wondering why! I never use that lid holder rack - it doesn't fit comfortably in any small pot and I hate to use a big pot just to get my lids warm.

Ann

Here is a link that might be useful: Presto canner

I don't have a lid lifter but they look handy. I bought all the other components one by one. Jessy sent me some snazzy red jar lifters. I did my first two canning batches without them and it was very scary!

I don't have the Ball canning book, though. I should track one down. I hear half.com calling my name.

If you can recruit chopping help for large batches of stuff like salsa which require hand chopping you will be a happier canner!

shaun - I'm on the sidelines waiting to hear how you make out.

Yesterday's storm put me behind a day, and I already had too much needing to be done before the weekend to embark on the canning project. But I hope to not be too far behind you!

Last year tried - pie crust and yeast breads
This year - Canning!

Some of the cheapest prices I've found for canning supplies besides the hardware stores are the farm stores. Agway and such. You can sure do without most tools, but I agree, the jar lifter is about the most important piece. It is scary to take jars out with tongs. On the other hand, that little lid lifter might not be necessary but it comes in handy for fishing screws out of places they drop into when you're trying to put the rascals in. That magnet on a stick has lots of uses. Smiles.

Also waiting to hear how Shaun made out. Ya'll have made me want to get out the big American pressure canner. Haven't used it in a long time, but my freezer is getting kind of full and I would like to see some stock and soup in jars prettying up the pantry. I think like alot of things it's a matter of getting it out and keeping it in a place where it's easily available. Hmm... probably need a new seal?

I do a little bit of canning - BWB only, and I find that you need some of the stuff shown. I find the special jar lifting tongs are a "must have". I also use the funnel all the time, year round, as I tend to use canning cars (subbing the Ball white plastic lid) as food storage containers. I use a large chopstick for the air bubble poker. I got a magnet on a telescoping wand - about the size of a instant read thermometer, at True Value, in the auto department - you might ask your Hubs if he already has one - if so, snag it. I got the kettle and rack together, and the kettle does double duty as a lobster pot. I wish my rack was stainless steel or chrome, as mine looks crummy, but it works. One year, I couldnt find the rack - I swear my ex hid it - so I made do with a large veggie steamer which held the jars off the bottom of the kettle. The rack is safer and keeps the jars in place better. You will be dealing with a large quantity of boiling water and can be burned badly by both the water and the steam. Not in the kit, but also really handy is a good ladle - I like the stainless steel foodservice ones that are marked with their capacity - a 3 or 4 oz. size is useful. The Ball Blue Book is a great starter and reference guide. I find canning fun, and kind of addictive - Its a nice feeling of accomplishment when you look at all the pretty, filled jars cooling on the counter. PLUS - once you have Annie's Salsa or home canned applesauce - you wont want to go back to store bought.

I use a plastic measuring scoop with a handle for my ladle.

I found the best prices on canning jars at my local Winco. They are about half the price of any other source I've found.

Well well well.... I'd say I've had the most unproductive day today in my search for a Canning Kit or even just some of the things/gadgets I'd need.

First stop - Walmart.

Me - excuse me do you have any canning kits or canning supplies?

1st Lady - What's that?
Me - to can jellies and jams.
lady - if we do it'd be in "camping"

*not there - asked another employee*

Me - do you have any canning kits or canning supplies?
2nd Lady - Canning?
Me - yes to make jellies and jams
lady - ummmm check Arts and Crafts

*not there - asked yet another employee*

Me - do you have any canning kits or canning supplies?
HIM - huh?
Me - do you have any canning kits or canning supplies to make jellies and jams with?
him - Ask him, *pointing* to another man

Asked "him".. he said no we have some lids I think but nothing else. Check with Bed Bath and Beyond.

Went to Bed Bath & Beyond. They don't have anything like that.

Then I went to: Lowes, Home Depot, Michaels, TJ Maxx, Target, Publix, Red Barn (woman there did know what I was talking about but they dont carry them), Winn Dixie...... Most of the people didn't have a clue what I was talking about.

Then I called a little hole in the wall hardware store in our neighborhood and they sell the kits but have none. The man offered to order one for me and it would be available for pick up by Jan 17th. His price $56.95 YIKES!!!!

I checked Walmart.com and they have one online for $48.88 but with shipping it comes to $58.85 and it takes 7 - 10 business days.

I may as well wait for the hardware store to order one and just go get it from them.

So, I'm in a holding pattern - no canning for me yet.

Shoot, and I was so ready to dive in today and make something!

And let me just say at both WalMart and TJ Maxx, two of the people I asked didn't speak English. I felt sorry for one lady in TJ Maxx; after I asked her and she got it across to me that she didnt' speak English, I heard another lady approach her for help and the woman had to tell her that she didnt speak English. Poor lady, I wonder how many times a day she has to tell people she doenst speak English? She needs a tee shirt.

I'm frustrated.

Bummer!

I bought my canning equipment at one of the local Ace Hardware stores here.

"She needs a tee shirt." ROFL!

Gee, shaun - you should be frustrated - I would be screaming. What a wasted day.

Though it's not the cheapest, Lehman's seems to have lots of canning equipment.

Kathleen

Here is a link that might be useful: Lehman's canning supplies

shaun, don't you think if you got a job in a retail store, you'd LEARN to speak English pretty quickly? How in the world did she get hired, anyway?

In spite of that, I've found that canning is a "lost art". However, with the economy in the tank, more people are growing a few vegetables or hitting the farmer's markets and stands. Those people are now trying to learn to can or preserve what they've grown/discovered, so maybe soon canning will become more commonplace.

I know, even here in the middle of the agricultural belt, I have store clerks remark that they are astonished that someone "my age" cans. When pressed, the perception is that canning was done by our Grandmothers, not by us.

Now, for a good tip on jars? If you know any elderly ladies, many of them have old canning jars in their basements or garages. I've had hundreds of jars given to me because they don't can any more. They happily (even gleefully) accept my homemade jams, relishes, pickles, whatever, in exchange for those jars.

I also pick jars up at yard sales, second hand shops, GoodWill, etc. Some of the jars I still use belonged to my Grandmother, they've been used for 40 or 50 years. Just run your finger around the top to make sure there aren't any chips, or you'll not be able to get a good seal.

And just think, now you have an excuse to do some more shopping, LOL. Plus, there are lots of good jam recipes around for things like Margarita Jam and Orange Marmalade with Cointreau or Plum Jam with Drambuie or Cherry Jam with Amaretto. Lots of yummy stuff.....

Annie

Not a fun day at all....poor you!

There is no way I could ever find any canning supplies right now...not a biggie in January in Canada!

However, in season the supplies are everywhere and nobody is surprised that I can, especially jams, relishes and jellies. It's not uncommon at all. Actually I have the reverse problem, the stores are usually sold out of jars during the season!

Side note: I give so much away that I'm always in need of jars!

Shaun, I'm surprised Walmart didn't have anything. I'm in Orlando and the Super Wallyworld near me has some jars, lids, pectin & such. Target is hit or miss though. I do know of a family owned hardware store up here that carries everything.

Both Target and Walmart sell big pots and round cake cooling racks. Do you live in Tampa? If you're not too far away from me, maybe I could help you out with some of the supplies.

Kathy

In that kit the most valuable items are the Ball Blue Book and the jar lifter. (It really is dangerous to try to handle hot slippery heavy jars without one.)

I can a lot, and one little expense that bugs the h*** out of me is the cost of the lids. The bands can be reused dozens of times, but the little lids with the rubber compound on them should not be reused. They cost about 20 cents each, and that does eat in to whatever savings you are enjoying by canning your own stuff.

While you're picking up supplies, see if you can find the plastic lids that go on to a canning jar; they are useful for when you have opened a jar and used some of the contents, but need to store the remainder in the fridge. They aren't expensive but they're hard to find.

Annie I know! That's what I said to myself. How do you take a job and not speak English? It has to be frustrating for her too. Think about it, 100's of people trying to talk to you and you dont have any idea what they're saying. Have to say though, most of the people I asked about canning were young-uns. Of course they'd have no idea. When I called the hardware store near our house, the man told me that he just bought his wife a canning kit. I told him that no one knows what I'm talking about when I ask about canning supplies; he said, "Cuz they're stoopid", in his southern drawl. Had to laugh.

Kathy I'm in west palm beach. It was a Walmart Superstore I went to too. When I first asked the girl if they had canning supplies, she didn't know what I was talking about. When I explained, she said, "oh, well I know we have Gulf Wax".

You know something, I feel bad. All my life if someone gave me something they canned, I've never returned the jar. I never knew that you were supposed to! I've actually thrown them away because there was no lid for them. Silly me..... and I'm sorry to anyone here that's sent me canned jellies/jams/salsa and didnt return the jar.

Now I know better.

Shaun,

That is too funny-what a way to spend the day.

Have to relate a "buying canning supplies" story. I went to my local hardware store last weekend, and the only person working was a 17 year old with green and purple hair (yeah, really). I'm thinking this kid isn't going to know what the heck I'm talking about, but I asked "Do you have any half-pint canning jars?" He replied "Regular or wide mouth?" After I scraped my jaw up off the floor, I stammered "Regular", he went and got a case of them and then he asked "If you need more lids, we moved them over here" and proceeded to show me the new spot for them. And then he helped me find the right electrical thingy-ma-bob that DH needed (I brought a sample).

Needless to say, today I brought him a jar of Annie's Salsa as a "Thank You" :-)

Shaun, did you check in the area at Walmart that has the kitchen items? That is where I found mine. I know I paid less than $25 for the canner, rack, jar lifter, magnetic wand and funnel. Even here in Kansas they carry canning items year round.

Shaun, That's soooo frustrating! And I'm sure your traffic this time of year added to the frustration. I thought of you today when I came across canning supplies at both WalMart and Winn Dixie.

We could have a mini-canning camp with Kathy, Donna, you, me.

Very hard to find at the store. The local supermarkets usually have boxes of jars in bottom shelves under the shelves they keep the pectin. Even so-called "kitchen" stores don't have everything.

Shop online! Amazon has free shipping and no tax to most states.

Gina, oh boy do I shop online. I have an online business where I get money back each time I shop online. You can read about it if you click on my name. I saw the set on Amazon but shipping applied to me. I should just sign up and for that super shipper thingie and get free shipping for the year. But the local hardware store is ordering the kit for me.

Is canning a regional thing? Gosh! I know we have fresh veggies and fruits all year long here in FL but golly can't a girl make some jam? hahahah!

Cathy, I'd be definitely be interested in a mini canning camp. In Orlando? Sure. It's only about 3 hrs from me.

Anyone else interested? Can we get Annie down here?

Aw Shaun. I'm sorry to hear you had such a fruitless run-around. Geez, you'd think in Fl there'd be canning stuff all over the place. Maybe it was Karma giving you a bite for throwing out all those canning jars. LOL..

LOL coconut! Lovely to have you join in.

LOL!!!!!!!! Maybe so!

yeahbut you've got to understand that Shaun lives in "Palm Beach" county.

The neighbor lady across the road from our farm house in NC has a canning area the size of our dining room full canning projects from her garden. I asked her once if folks return her jars; she said not many do so I always take a case to her. She's very generous but on a fixed income.

Aw Chase, I piped up earlier in the thread too. Whatsa matter? I don't know her well enough to joke around?Smiles.

Shaun I found a way for you to repair that karma.. heh..ok, ok, just kidding. I wondered if Ebay might have some nice cheap canning supplies. They had a ton of stuff. I found this older graniteware set that has everything you need. You could rescue it. It's more or less vintage but everything is in good shape. Be kind of cool to have around. The auction goes off in two days and there are no bids yet. The minimum is $12.99, so you might be able to get it for close to that if not that. The kicker is the shipping is expensive, $25.64, but if you got the canner for thirteen bucks or so, even with the shipping it would only be less than forty dollars. Pretty good price considering what you've come up with. Not sure how you feel about used, but just something to consider. There might be others on there that are better offers but thought I'd bring this one up.

I've been lucky at times to get cases and cases of jars at flea markets and yard sales for very cheap. People that stop canning just like them to find a home.

Here is a link that might be useful: Canner on Ebay

Yup that's right - but the funny part is that I live in a very rural part of Palm Beach County; way west. We live in an equestrian area, dirt roads, acreage, swamp buggies going down the road in front of our house or police on horseback are not uncommon. 4-wheelers, too.

This is really the "country" to me and I'm surprised that more stores don't have canning supplies OR know what they are.

All the places I went to today - you have no idea how many miles I had to travel! WalMart is a 30 min ride one way.

Hey Coconut, thanks for the link to the ebay canner.

I think I'd rather get a new one with the book and all. I looked at the one on ebay and the bottom is all weird isnt it?

Is that what causes the problem with a smooth cooktop?

shaun, did you see my post above? I do think the bottom is the problem, I was hoping someone else would confirm that. But I believe you would be better off with a flat bottomed pot.

Ya know Shaun, I never really understood the whole smooth top/smooth bottomed canner issue for BWB procedures.

I do know you need a smooth bottomed canner for pressure canning on a smooth top stove (as you want to ensure there is no fluctuation in temp), but I always thought that as long as the water keeps a steady boil in your canner, did it really matter if your canner wasn't smooth bottomed for BWB recipes?

I have a smooth, glass top stove and can with smooth bottomed canners (big pots for BWB & a Presto canner) and haven't had any problems canning. I had to do a lot of research when we bought our stove as to whether I could pressure can and found that the bottom, reinforced plate on the bottom of my pressure canner had to be a certain size for the burner. Something like it couldn't be larger than 1" diameter from the largest burner. I had to call Presto.

So, yes you can can on a smooth top stove. :-)

Oh, and I'd be completely open to an Orlando mini-canny camp. I have another friend (who's not on the CF) who wants to learn too!

Yes Prairie_Love - that's why I was asking about the bottom, because of what you had posted. I should have said, : Prairie_Love: Is that what causes the problem with a smooth cooktop? Thanks for the info.

And thank you also gardengrl!

I think all the canning kettles have that rippled bottom. I also have an 11" diameter stock pot from Costco with a flat, thick bottom and a 10" circular cooling rack with little feet that is a perfect fit. Maybe that would work for you.

electronic messages are so hard to interpret sometimes. I didn't mean to put you on the defensive :) I just wasn't sure if you were asking because of that or not, sorry!

I don't know if this has come across or not, but there is nothing special about "canning pots" except that they are big and usually have a rack that fits very nicely and holds the jars nicely. If the bottom is a concern (and I think it is, but am not entirely sure), you can use any big pot that holds the size jars you want to use. I use the pressure canner pot, partly because it has a rack that fits the bottom. But you can use any big pot and put something in the bottom to protect the jars (there were several suggestions above).

As gardengrl said, the bottom of the pot is not supposed to be more than 1" larger (diameter) than the burner. The Presto pot that I have has an indented bottom. Does that make sense? The pot is actually wider than the part that sits flat on the stove. So the part of the pot that is in contact with the stove is within that 1" larger measurement.

Yuk, I hate trying to explain by email. I hope this makes some sense.

Ann

Ann - I understand perfectly what you're saying! (not defensive at all, just wanted you to know that I did read your post, nothing worse than taking the time to post something and someone not read it!! )

I do have a big pot - I am going to go see how much it hangs over the burner..... and see if I have a circular rack that would fit in there. I have a circular rack that came w/my pressure cooker but it might be too small. Easy enough to find a rack though. Thanks again!

Well - the biggest pot I have is a stainless steel pot with a flat bottom and I just measured the bottom of it and it's 10". Is that big enough? My circular rack is way too small for it. I'll have to find another one.

Shaun, for BWB canning, the 1" diameter thing really isn't an issue as long as:

- You can bring the water up to a steady boil and can maintain a steady boil
- It's (the pot) big enough to allow a metal rack to sit inside on the bottom - and even this can be worked around with rack substitutes (lid bands, towels, etc.)
- It's deep enough to allow 1" of water to cover your jars during boiling

The 1" diamter thing is for pressure canners on smooth top stoves, specifically Presto pressure canners. Not sure what other pressure canners require for smooth tops.

My BWB canner, which is really just a big pot, extends a good 1" or 2" past the largest burner diameter, but I'm able to get a good boil going and keep it.

OH dear, I'm not trying to argue BUT ... my instructions with my glasstop stove said the 1" diameter thing was for the safety of the stovetop. I have heard of people's stove tops breaking when they used inappropriate cookware.

Someone please jump in and correct me if this is wrong, but that is what I was told regarding the glass tops.

Ann

Ann , my glasstop instructions say the same thing. No pot should extend more than 1" beyond the diameter of the ring.

The issue they are talking about is the cracking of the glass top not the the boiling of the water.

Having said that my widest ring is 9" and my widest pot is 10" so I'm good to go.'

Ann, you aren't coming across as argumentative at all. Just concerned and helpful and we are all delighted to have you join in the forum. Welcome.

Thanks, chase! I am just sensitized because I have sent emails that came across very differently than I intended. And also because some of the other gardenweb forums are not nearly as warm and welcoming. This one and harvest are BY FAR my favorites!

Anyway, shaun, we just don't want your stovetop to crack.

Me either and thanks for watching out for me! I'm glad this won't happen to my stovetop. The pot bottom actually fits perfectly over my burner isn't that great?

I just need the rack or jar lifter thingie; I'm skeered to use tongs. I'm not experienced enough yet.

I think the flatbottom smoothtop thing depends on the smoothtop somewhat. My first smoothtop had no problem getting water to a boil with a pot that had the indented bottom. I did can on that with a canner that had a non-flat bottom. When we bought our current house, it had a smoothtop where 3 of the burners were suppose to be smart temperature controlled burners. There was a sensor that detected the temperature of the pot and adjusted burner output to achieve the right setting. Those burners would only work well with a pot with an absolutely flat bottom (which was almost none of the pots that I owned at the time). There was one plain power burner that didn't sense temp and that would work with pots with imperfectly smooth bottoms. I think that even with it, performance (e.g. how fast water would boil or how hot you could get a pan) was best with a smooth bottom. Even without the temperature sensor, the heat transfer was better without air between the smoothtop and the pan bottom.

Shaun

I live just north of the Tampa area and I've found that Walmart seems to stock up for the strawberry season. They are starting to really come in now so you should be able to find more supplies.

I've canned for years and if it can be canned, I've probably done it. I entered our county fair some years back and won the grand champion ribbon. I just wanted to see if I could do it. Never entered again.

The thing I like best to can is green beans. We used to grow them but now the deer usually eat them all. But my DH keeps trying. The joke is now when he wants me to order seeds, I ask him what he wants to feed the deer! I honestly don't know how our ancestors kept them out. We have lived here for 35 years and never even SAW a deer until a few years ago. A couple of years ago they ate everything but a beautiful row of blackeyed peas. I was beginning to be hopeful but, alas, one morning I could see where they had nibbled. I ran to Sams and bought a big bottle of cayenne pepper because I heard they did not like it. Next morning they were mowed down! I guess they like their peas spicy!

With the economy like it is, we are going to have to try in earnest to keep critters out. We have deer, rabbits, and gopher tortoises all poised and ready for the first shoots to peek through. We can plant early here, usually beginning in late Feb.

As far as equipment, if you want to do any veggies at all, you need a pressure canner. I found a nearly new one at a garage sale for about $30. It was one like coconut linked to on ebay. I really like that size. I have a larger one but it is more difficult to handle. I use the magnetic wand and an old jar lifter that uses the weight of the jar to grip the jar. I don't know if they can still be found. I think the Ball Book is an excellent resource, though I have some old ones I like better. I have an old Ball Blue Book that belonged to my grandmother that is marked 10 cents on the back!

I wash my lids and put them in the crockpot, pour boiling water over them and they are ready when I need them.

I always understood that the problem with smooth top ranges was that an uneven pot would cause hot spots on the cook top and could damage the rangetop.

Garage sales are a great place for jars. They shouldn't cost more than 10 - 25 cents.

Canned items can last several years, 2 or 3 at least, if properly stored. Don't store them in a shed in South Florida! Put them in boxes and stick them under the beds or somewhere cool. BTW, you really do not have to use salt in your canned vegetables. That is only for flavor. So if you have someone on a low salt diet, reduce it or leave it out.

Anyway, happy canning.

Carol

Hey Carol, I live just north of Tampa too!

Cathy

Hey Carol thanks for the post there girl! I especially liked your tip for the lids; using the crock pot, that was dandy!

I have a glass cooktop and an old set of cookware that was really cheap junk (hey it was purple). The first time I tried to boil water in the pasta pot it started rocking back and forth on the burner and you could clearly see that it wasn't flat when it was hot. It scared me and I tossed the pots. I didn't like the noise or seeing that pot rock like that.

Shaun - did you ever get a kit or whatnot?

I ask, because living in Central Florida, I had the same problem as you. Finally went to Ace Hardware, purchased canning pot w/rack and some jars with lids, then ordered the kit below from Amazon because it had the jar lifter, stainless steel funnel and ladle (I used the small rack underneath my candle-making pot to melt wax - worked great!).

Also ordered the Ball book from Amazon at same time.

I finally got everything in - now just need a weekend to do it. Have a couple old recipes that we used when growing up, so I know they taste great.

If only finding wild plums anymore were as easy. ;)

Here is a link that might be useful: Amazon - Fagor Home Canning Kit

Yes Hammock_gal I ended up having the little hardware store near me order one for me. I got it last week and have used it twice so far.

My next attempt will be at making Annie's Salsa. But I'm somewhat intimidated because I've never peeled and seeded a tomato hahaha! Should be interesting.

Shaun, that's easy. Just dunk the tomatoes into boiling water for a minute or two, and the skin peels right off. Cut the tomato in half, cut out the stem end and take your thumb and scoop out the seeds and goo.

just like that, peeled and seeded tomatoes. They don't have to look pretty, you're gonna chop 'em for salsa.

Annie

Sounds easy! Thanks Annie!

Shaun, be warned. They are slippery, slippery, slippery. Ask me how I know? LOL