Canning & Dehydrating

The real causes behind failed canning jar seals — rim residue, trapped air, headspace, chipped jars, reused lids, band tightness, processing time — and what to do with a jar that didn’t seal.

In June 2024, eight people in Fresno County, California were diagnosed with foodborne botulism after eating a nopales (cactus paddle) salad made with home-preserved cactus. Six ended up in intensive c

Canning your own soup sounds like the natural next step once you’ve got a pantry of home-canned vegetables and meat — open a jar, heat it up, dinner’s done. It’s absolutely possible to can soup

Atmospheric steam canners look almost identical to a stockpot with a lid, cost less than most water bath canners, and use noticeably less water and time per load — which is exactly why the safet

There is one sentence that causes more botulism cases than any other in home canning: the jar sealed, so it must be fine. A vacuum seal proves the jar is airtight. It does not prove the jar ever got hot enough. And an airtight, low-acid, room-temperature jar is precisely the environment Clostridium botulinum requires —…

This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through our links we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. In June 2018, three women in New York City ended up in intensive care for between 34 and 54 days. Two needed emergency intubation. All three survived, but only after antitoxin and…

Water bath canning pickles and relishes — safe recipes, cucumber selection, brine ratios, processing times, and shelf-stable storage.

Air-dry vs dehydrator vs oven vs microwave for garden herbs — which method for which herb, plus storage rules that preserve flavor for a year+.

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Why Homemade Jerky Beats Store-Bought Store-bought jerky runs $30–$50 per pound and is loaded with sugar, sodium, and preservatives. Homemade jerky costs $12–$20 per pound in raw beef and gives you complete control…

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Why Pressure Canning Is Non-Negotiable for Meat Home-canned meat is one of the highest-value pantry investments available — shelf-stable protein without a freezer, ready to open and heat, that lasts 2–5 years. Canned…