Efficient Canning with Amish-Made Equipment: Preserving Green Beans and Chicken for Year-Round Enjoyment
Canning is a time-honored method for preserving food, ensuring that you can enjoy fresh-tasting produce and meats long after their harvest season.
Today, we’ll focus on canning green beans and chicken with broth, utilizing a large, Amish-built canner that’s both efficient and cost-effective.
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Why Canning?
Canning allows you to store large quantities of food in a convenient and long-lasting way. By using a high-quality canner, you can preserve the flavors and nutritional value of your ingredients. The Amish-built canners are renowned for their durability and efficiency, and they can hold up to 39 quarts at once, making them a practical choice for large-scale preservation.
Ingredients
For Green Beans:
- - Fresh green beans (enough to fill jars)
- - 1 tsp salt per quart jar (optional, for flavor)
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For Chicken with Broth:
- - 4-5 lbs chicken (cut into pieces)
- - 4 cups chicken broth (or water)
- - 1 tsp salt per quart jar (optional)
- - 1/2 tsp black pepper per quart jar (optional)
- - 1/2 tsp garlic powder per quart jar (optional)
Equipment
- - Amish-built canner (39-quart capacity)
- - Canning jars (quart size)
- - Lids and bands
- - Canning funnel
- - Jar lifter
- - Canning rack
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Instructions
1. Prepare the Ingredients
1. Green Beans: Wash and trim the green beans. Cut them into 1-2 inch pieces if desired.
2. Chicken: Cut the chicken into manageable pieces.
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2. Prepare the Canner
1. Clean the Canner: Ensure the canner is clean and all parts are in good working order. Fill the canner with a few inches of water, as per the manufacturer’s instructions, to create steam.
2. Preheat:
Heat the canner on the stove to start building pressure.
3. Pack the Jars
For Green Beans:
1.Pack Beans: Place the green beans into clean jars, leaving about 1 inch of headspace. Add 1 tsp of salt to each jar if using.
2. Remove Air Bubbles: Use a non-metallic spatula to remove air bubbles by sliding it around the edges of the jar.
3. Wipe Rims: Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean, damp cloth to ensure a good seal.
4. Seal Jars: Place the lids on the jars and screw on the bands until fingertip tight.
For Chicken with Broth:
1. Pack Chicken: Pack the chicken pieces into jars, leaving about 1 inch of headspace. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and a cup of chicken broth (or water) to each jar.
2. Remove Air Bubbles: Remove air bubbles as described above.
3. Wipe Rims: Wipe the rims of the jars.
4. Seal Jars: Place the lids on the jars and screw on the bands until fingertip tight.
4. Process the Jars
1. Load Canner: Place the jars on the canning rack and lower them into the canner. Ensure that the jars are covered by at least 1-2 inches of water.
2.Seal and Process: Secure the lid of the canner and bring it to a boil. Process the jars according to the time required for each type of food: typically, green beans need to be processed for 20-25 minutes, and chicken with broth for 75-90 minutes, depending on your altitude. Follow the canner’s manual for precise times.
3. Cool Down: After processing, carefully remove the jars with the jar lifter and let them cool on a clean towel or rack. Allow them to cool undisturbed for 12-24 hours.
4. Check Seals: Once cooled, check that the jars have sealed properly. The lids should be concave and not flex when pressed.
5.Store
Store the sealed jars in a cool, dark place. Properly canned and sealed jars can last up to a year.
Benefits of Amish-Built Canners
The Amish-built canners are noted for their reliability and efficiency.
They’re designed to provide consistent pressure and temperature, essential for safe canning. Additionally, these canners are cost-effective compared to gas-powered models, making them an excellent choice for both novice and experienced canners.
Canning green beans and chicken with broth using a high-capacity canner is a practical way to ensure you have delicious, home-preserved foods available year-round.
With the right equipment and techniques, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor and savor the taste of home-canned meals whenever you like.
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