Tools for Canning
Welcome to canning season. Once the start of August hits, my pressure canner doesn’t leave my stovetop. It begins with pickles and ends some time at the end of September with bushels of tomatoes. I do realize that as someone who has a job and a fairly good sense of direction, I could just head to a grocery store and buy pickles and tomato sauce, but I don’t want to. I like to can. What about all those poor people who don’t can? The ones who are terrified or intimidated or just don’t know where to start?
The Funnel
I actually did own the funnel from the get-go of my canning career, but not everyone might know about the wide-necked funnel, so I’m showing it to you. Using a ladle to pour liquids through the funnel makes for a neater and safer pour.
Using a funnel makes for a neater and safer transfer of liquids.
The Magnetic Lid Lifter
This is just a plastic or metal stick with a magnet on the end, but it might as well be a magic wand. Trying to remove sealer lids from a pot of hot water and getting them onto a jar with tongs is a huge pain. Buy the magnetic lid lifter.
A magnetic lid lifter makes canning easier.
Go forth and can. You’ll be thanking me in the middle of January when you have a bowl of peaches before you.
Text and photos by Karen Bertelsen
Karen Bertelsen is a Gemini Award nominated television host who has appeared on some of Canada's major networks including HGTV, W Network, Slice and MuchMoreMusic. She started the blog The Art of Doing Stuff (www.theartofdoingstuff.com) as a creative outlet for her writing and endless home projects. The Art of Doing Stuff now receives over half a million views per month and has been featured in Better Homes & Gardens, Style at Home and Canadian Gardening magazines.
