MSU Extension Food Preservation

During summer months, yard and garage sales pop up across homes and across neighborhoods. People are also thinking about growing local produce in their backyard and community gardens and start shopping at local farm markets.

If you are planning on browsing yard or garage sales, consider looking for good deals on used equipment to use when home preserving the produce that will soon be available.

When shopping for used equipment, Michigan State University Extension recommends finding out as much information as you can about the items you are considering purchasing. Ask the owners how old the items are, how often the equipment was used and how it was stored. Also consider the following:

Canners

• Look for the canner’s instruction manual or booklet. This will help you properly use the canner and identify replacement parts as needed. If missing, you should be able to find one online from the manufacturer.
• Review older canner instruction manuals, only use the manual as a reference for how to set up and use the canner, not for canning recipes that may be outdated.
• A used dial-gauge pressure canner should be checked yearly for accuracy. Contact your local MSU Extension office to set up a time to have the gauge checked.
• Inspect the rubber gasket if the canner has one; it should be flexible and soft instead of being brittle, sticky or cracked, which means it will need to be replaced.
• Examine the small pipes or vent ports. You should be able to see through them when held up to light or else you will need to clean them.
• Look at the dial gauge or weighted gauge. If the canner has a dial gauge it should not be cracked, broken, rusty or have moisture inside. If so, it will need to be replaced.
• Examine the canner to ensure it is perfectly flat on the bottom otherwise it is not good for use in canning. Also, check to see if the lid fits the top. If it isn’t a perfect fit, it cannot be used.
• Check that the canner handles are tight or can be tightened. If not, the canner should not be used.
• Examine the pressure release plug/safety plug, it should be smooth, firm and elastic.
• Find the rack inside the canner. It is required for canning so if it is rusty or missing, you will need to purchase one.

Jars

• Used jars can be a good buy, since jars can easily last 10 to 15 years if they are well taken care of. Look for nicks and chips on jar rims or jars to determine if they are safe for use in canning. Nicks can prevent lids from sealing. Very old jars can weaken with age and repeated use; they break under pressure and heat. New jars might be a better investment over time than buying used jars at a yard sale depending on the condition of used ones.

In the end, depending on what information you gain about the used home food preservation equipment, make an informed decision. If you can’t get answers to your questions or the equipment isn’t in good condition, it might be a better choice to purchase new items. Watch sales at local department stores, grocery or hardware stores for all types of home food preservation equipment including lids, jars, jar rings and canners.

Great tasting and safe home-preserved food depends on using proper equipment and supplies during processing, so take the time to assess your potential purchases when getting ready to preserve this season. Use only research-based resources when preserving your harvest.