What canning equipment do I need?

When friends decide they want to start canning, they do not want to put much money into it incase they do not enjoy it.  They often ask me what equipment they really need.  I decided to put together a list of items I always have ready in my Rubbermaid canning containers.  I keep most everything in 2 containers that I keep in the bottom of my pantry so I have easy access and don’t spend a lot of time searching around for that one missing item I need.

 

 Here are some great canning tools:

 

Clock with a second-hand (sweeping hand)

 

 

 

Ball Blue Book 

 

 

 

 

Two bath towels  (I use these to set my canning jars on)

 

3 bowls  (you need them for straining, mixing and other things)

 

 

 

Eight or 16 ounce jars

 

 

 

  Lids   (always new!)

 

 

 

 

Paring knife

 

 

 

Wooden spoons

 

 

 

 Pot Holder or Oven Mit

 

 

 

 

Canning funnel

 

 

 

Ladle

 

 

Small Pot  (non-aluminum)

 

 

 

Big Pot  (non-aluminum)

 

 

Fine mesh strainer 

 

 

 

 

Jar Lifter      

 

 

 

 Water bath canner with pedestal

 

 

Or, you can buy a ball canner discovery kit.  They sell them on Amazon and at the local discount stores as well.   You most likely have everything except the hot water bath canner, book, or discovery kit.

Once you get all these items assembled, you are well on your way to canning!  Depending on what you want to make, I would suggest a dunce cap strainer, also called a chinois strainer.  You can buy them online for about $35 but I see them all the time at flea markets and garage sales for around $10.  Jar Lifters are sold in grocery stores, discount stores and on Amazon for about $5

That is what I need each time I can, no matter if I am making jelly, pickles, or green beans.  What do you need?