If you’re considering selling your preserves at a market or want tips on how to speed up your canning process, then we have the episode for you! On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, Anna is back to divulge all of her tips and tricks that make canning more manageable, no matter the volume. Anna is nearly through her mission to make over 3,000 jars of jam for a local Christmas market. You’ll hear how it’s going and all the ins and outs of this crazy endeavor. She offers advice on...

Cracked jars and under processed food sound like a canner’s nightmare, right? On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we dive into how to keep jars warm before processing. Jenny explains why you must warm your jars before filling them, and why the best warming method depends on your personal circumstances. She’ll walk you through the most time-efficient ways to warm your jars whether you’re steam canning, water bath canning, or pressure canning. You’ll also be surprised to learn w...

Is it time to phone a friend with your latest canning struggle? On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we help a dear listener with her problematic pressure canner.While we wish it weren’t true, not all pressure canners are created equal. Jenny deep dives into the Barton pressure canner user manual and product specifications. You’ll hear where this particular pressure canner and its manufacturer fall short. Her discussion gives listeners a tale of caution when selecting new canning eq...

Are you in search of a pressure canning appliance that can do it all? On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we discuss kitchen appliances that are marketed for pressure canning.Jenny discusses the technical differences between pressure canners, pressure cookers, and electric pressure cookers. You’ll learn the capabilities of a pressure canner that allow it to safely preserve shelf-stable food. Tune in as Jenny debunks the use of Instant Pots or other electric pressure cookers as pres...

Ready to spice up your meals and share the love with homemade condiments? On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we discuss how to can hot sauce, BBQ sauce, and other condiments.Jenny clears the air of misinformation to bring you safe and tested recipes for your most-loved sauces. Listen to be in the know on how to select suitable tomatoes and vinegar for these products. You’ll learn how to safely modify a hot sauce or BBQ sauce recipe without lowering the acidity. You also won’t want...

It’s time to further your homesteading skills and diversify your pantry with a crash course in preserving wild game! On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we discuss how to pressure wild game.Jenny shares her first-hand experience with preserving buck as her very first pressure canning endeavor. She discusses the benefits of pressure canning wild game, including meat tenderness and improved flavor. You’ll learn the pros and cons of raw packing versus hot packing your meat and the bes...

If you’re interested in preserving all things from our oceans, rivers, lakes, and streams, it’s time to tune in. On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we discuss how to pressure can seafood.We share why seafood must be pressure canned and how to handle it for safe preservation. Find out what ingredients to add to preserve seafood’s taste and texture, and steps to take to ensure a tight seal when dealing with fatty fish. You’ll also learn the ins and outs of canning salmon, tuna, crab...

With apples in abundance, it’s time to make the most of them by using every last drop. On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we discuss how to make and preserve apple cider at home. You’ll learn what tools you need for a smooth apple cider making process, and which apples are best for apple cider. Jenny also shares advice for using every last bit of your apples like a true food preservationist and how to pasteurize your cider while maintaining the fresh taste. You’ll also learn ...

If you’re looking for ways to preserve now that will enhance your cooking later, look no further! On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we share how to prepare and store flavored vinegars.We discuss container options for flavored vinegar and how to properly prepare them, including corked bottles for your cottagecore goals. You’ll learn how to infuse your vinegar with just enough of the right herbs for the best flavor, along with unique flavor pairings. Jenny also walks listeners thro...

Few things say fall more than pumpkin, but did you know it can only be preserved with some guidelines in mind? On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we discuss how to preserve everything pumpkin. We discuss what sets pumpkin apart from other foods, and what that means for how to preserve it. You’ll learn what it takes to work around pumpkin’s low acidity and high density when canning, as well as how to dehydrate and freeze pumpkin. Jenny also shares some favorite apple recipes f...

Is there a preserved food that feels and tastes like home to you? On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we share preserves that hold a special place in various regions of the country. You’ll learn about the most-loved preserves from across the nation, and tips to make them as delectable as can be. Jenny discusses what makes a preserve special, her secret ingredient for blackberry jam, and how to make sure your family salsa recipe is safe. You also may be surprised to hear the on...

Back-to-school season means busier days ahead, and pressure canning is here to ease your load! On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we share three things to pressure can to help your family this school year.You’ll learn how to make delicious recipes from The Pressure Canning Cookbook by Jennifer Gomes. These include Gram’s Hamburger Soup, Chili Con Carne, and Every Bean and Ham Soup. You won’t want to miss Jenny’s expert advice for ensuring seals on pressure canned jars, special ste...

Don’t just take canning advice from us, hear from our listeners! On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we share the best canning advice our listeners have received. You’ll learn tips and tricks from others, including the best way to find new safe and tested recipes and the one canning item you should only buy from a name brand. Jenny shares the canning equipment that listeners say you must try, along with guidance on how to gain confidence with canning. She also gives away the b...

Canning season is at its peak. Wondering where to focus your time? On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we share three (plus a few more) things you should can this week. We’ve curated a list of our most beloved and practical foods to can so you don’t have to feel scrambled. We share why berry jam yields high satisfaction and what is missing from your jam if it’s not quite right. We also offer ideas for bottled fruit, and warn of one fruit we don’t recommend bottling. You’ll le...

Could you make 2,000 jars of jam in 5 months? On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, Anna takes us along for the ride as she prepares to sell her jam at Utah’s largest Christmas market. You’ll learn the behind the scenes of what it takes to run a small food preservation business and prepare for markets. Anna shares how she got into this German-style Christmas market and why she has her sights set on 2,000 jars of jam. You’ll hear where she's sourcing her jars and how she’s handli...

It’s time to expand your horizons and elevate your pantry staples with preserved mushrooms! On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we discuss everything you need to know about how to preserve mushrooms so you can start today. We get into which varieties of mushrooms are safe for home preservation and why preserving foraged mushrooms is not recommended. You’ll learn how to prepare mushrooms for canning and how Jenny’s pressure canned mushrooms turned out. We also teach you h...

If you’re just starting out with canning this summer, look no further! On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we discuss what you need to know if this is your very first summer canning. We have everything you need to get started with canning right here in this episode. We teach you how your elevation will inform your canning practices and about all of the essential equipment you need. Jenny offers her best advice for how to get comfortable with canning quickly, and Anna shares id...

We’re all about making sure preserves are both safe and delicious! On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we discuss the pH level of canning recipes and how to be sure that what you’re making is safe. We cover the ins and outs of pH levels in canning, so that you confidently know if you should water bath, steam can, or pressure can a given recipe. You’ll also learn why pH testing strips have limitations in canning and why a pH meter is a better tool. We also discuss why you can a...

Preserving is in the headlines, and we’re here for it! On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we cover the news on George Washington’s preserved cherries and offer inspiration for how to incorporate cherries into your preserving this summer. We bring you all the fun details on the discovery of preserved fruit at George Washington’s Mt. Vernon, including how it was found, how it was preserved, and why it may have been left behind. You’ll hear how this discovery is informing anthro...

On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we share how to pickle eggs. This episode is filled with the pickled egg process from start to finish, amazing tips for perfect egg texture, and the chit-chat you asked for!We cover how to properly store and serve pickled eggs so you can identify safe bar offerings. We also teach you how to select eggs to pickle, the steps to take to avoid rubbery or hard pickled eggs, and how to boil your eggs so that they peel beautifully. You’ll be inspired wi...

It’s time to get into summer mode with crisp homemade pickles! On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we dive into how to make the most crisp pickles and other preserves. This episode covers all of the common additives used to make crisp preserves, so you can choose the best one for you. We cover why pickling lime is now considered a subpar additive and how it can lead to botulism. You’ll also learn why calcium chloride is a great choice for crisp preserves and how to use it with...

If you have a baby in your life who you want to make nutritious food for, then this is just the episode for you. On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we discuss how to make canned baby food. This episode is perfect for you if you want to take the reins to know what’s in your baby food and how it was produced. We cover how homemade canned baby food differs from store bought baby food. This includes how to safely can purees, which foods need to be pressure canned in chunks, and h...

Wondering where canned goods fall on the health scale? On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we discuss how to make your canned foods as healthy as possible.We cover ways you can add nourishing foods to your pantry by canning. You’ll learn about which organic foods you can can to reduce your pesticide exposure, how pressure-canned beans and meat are nutrient dense pantry staples, and why canned tomatoes are our most valued item. We also discuss ways canned foods can be unhealthy and ...

On this week’s episode of Perfectly Preserved, we discuss how to get ready for the canning season. Grab your pen and paper! This episode is full of our most helpful tips to set yourself up for a successful canning season.We cover how to spring clean your kitchen for canning and take a canning inventory. You’ll also hear what you can do now to lower your canning expenses and how to maintain your pressure canner. Jenny shares her favorite canning books for recipe inspiration, and Anna covers ho...