Learn how to can fresh fruit. Learn how to preserve the color and flavor of your home canned fruits.
Sometimes fruits need to be packed with a syrup made of sugar and water when canning. Of course sugar is not necessary for canning, but sometimes the syrup makes the taste and appearance of the fruit improve. You can make either light, medium or heavy syrup.
Apple Rings: Wash and core apples, but do not peel them. Slice and use an antidarkening solution and drain. Add a few drops of red food coloring (optional) to a light to medium syrup mixture and boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add apple rings;let stand for 10 minutes,then simmer for 30 minutes. Pack into jars leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Process pints for 15 minutes and quarts for 20 minutes.
Applesauce: Wash, stem and quarter apples. Cook apples, with just enough water to prevent them from sticking, until tentder. Run apples through a sieve or food mill to extract pulp. If desired, you may sweeten to taste. However, sugar is not necessary. Bring applesauce to a boil until good and hot. Put applesauce into jars, leaving a 1/2-headspace. Process pints and quarts for 20 minutes. You may also use a pressure canner for canning applesauce:
Process pints for 8 minutes and quarts for 10 minutes, both at 5 pounds of pressure.
Apricots:Peel apricots by dipping into hot water, and then cold--Skins will easily come off. Treat for darkening and then drain. Cook apricots in syrup or water for 3 minutes. Pack hot into jars and cover with the hot syrup or water you cooked them in, leaving a 1/2-inch headspace. Process pints and quarts for 20 minutes.
Berries (not strawberries): Fill jar with berries and shake them down. Cover berries with hot sugar syrup or hot berry juice leaving a 1/2 headspace. Process pints for 10 minutes and quarts for 15 minutes.
Introduction on Canning Fruits and VegetablesPage 1 of "How to Can and Freeze Fruits and Vegetables from Your Garden." This page talks about what you should know before you begin to can.
How to Can Vegetables Using a Pressure CannerPage 2 of "How to Can and Freeze Fruits and Vegetables from Your Garden." This talks about canning vegetables using a pressure canner.
How to Can Vegetables Using a Boiling Water CannerPage 3 of "How to Can and Freeze Fruits and Vegetables from Your Garden. This page talks about canning vegetables using a boiling water canner.
How to Can FruitPage 4 of "How to Can Fruits and Vegetables from Your Garden." This page talks about canning fruit.
How to Freeze Fruits and Vegetables from Your Garden.Page 5 of "How to Can and Freeze Fruits and Vegetables from Your Garden." This page talks about freezing basics and "how-to's."
How to Make Jams and Jellies Page 6 of "How to Can and Freeze Fruits and Vegetables from Your Garden." This page talks about the tips and tricks of making homemade jams and jellies.
How to Make Pickles and RelishPage 7 of "How to Can and Freeze Fruits and Vegetables from Your Garden." This page talks about pickling.
How to Dehydrate Fruits and Vegetables from Your Garden.Page 8 of "How to Can and Freeze Fruits and Vegetabes frm Your Garden." This page talks about drying and lists dtying times for fruits and vegetables.
How to Make lye Soap and Other Homemade Concoctions Page 9 of "How to Can and Freeze Fruits and Vegetables from Your Garden." This page talks about making lye soap and other old-fashioned, homemade concoctions and remedies.
Home Processing Troubleshooting GuidePage 10 of "How to Can and Freeze Fruits and Vegetables from Your Garden." This page answers your questions about canning and freezing garden produce.
Other Home Canning Links This site lists other links that you may find helpful.