Guide to Canning Equipment and Tools

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All American Pressure Canner Model 921 - The canner I have that allows stacking pint jars.

All American Pressure Canner Model 941 – The big canner that will allow stacking quart jars.

Extra pressure canner rack - If you want to double stack jars you'll need an extra rack.

Mirro Pressure Canner - This canner has no dial and relies only on the weight.

Presto Pressure Canner - 23 quart - The presto that I have. It allows for stacking pint jars.

Weighted Gauge for the Presto - This fits various models. Be sure and check to see that it fits the model you have. The model number should be stamped on the bottom of your canner.

Aluminum Canner - This is not a vintage canner like mine but is similar.

Ball Electric Water Bath Canner - This would be great for anyone who doesn't have a stove or who wants to free up stove space. 

Ball Small Batch Basket - This green basket holds 3 pint jars. Great for use with a stock pot.

Black Granite Ware Canner - A great inexpensive way to get started.

Canning Racks - I recommend stainless steel and flat.

Stainless Steel Canner - My top recommendation.

Roots & Branches Steam Canner  - traditional steam canner with the tall lid and shallow bottom 

Victorio Multi-Use Canner -  I used it for my water bath canner before I tried steam canning. 

1/2 pint - I use these often for pickled items.

Ball Heritage Collection This is to the colored selection of Ball jars. I believe they now have purple, green and a pretty blue.

Gallon Jar - These are not for canning but are great for storage and fermenting.

Half Gallon - These are great for storage of all kinds. For canning purposes the only thing you can process is apple or grape juice.

Jelly Jars - You may get lucky and find embossed jars one like the one I show in the lesson, but they are a rare find. A quilted pattern is very common.

Pint - Perfect for those who need smaller portions.

Quart - Most things are done in quarts.

Squatty Jar - Cute! (can a jar be cute?)

Squatty Jar - This is a slightly larger version than the one I showed in the lesson. I use these all... the... time for both canning and storage. They are perfect for leftovers or taking a lunch.

Teeny 4 oz Jar - I don't use these much for canning but you could!

8oz Slightly Square Jars - These Anchor Hocking jars are only for water bath canning.

Ball plastic storage lids - These are the inexpensive plastic white lids.

Decorative storage lids - These are the metal cute purple, red and blue decorator lids.

Regular size 2 piece lid set - lids and screw bands

Regular size flat lids only - lids only

Wide mouth 2 piece lid set - lids and screw band

Wide mouth flat lids only - lids only.

Harvest Guard Lids - The reusable canning lids I recommend

Plastic Canning Funnels - There are a variety of canning funnel styles. Just be sure it is a funnel with a wide mouth to fit in your jars

Stainless Steel Canning Funnels

Canning Tool Kits - Often these tools come in a kit. If you don't have any of it, a kit is probably a more economical way to go. There are lots of variations so do a search on canning kit and you'll find lots of options.

Jar Lifter - A must have to lift your hot jars.

Magnetic Lid Lifter - Not absolutely essential but highly recommended and inexpensive.

4th Burner Pot - Kuhn Rikon, stainless steel, I love this pot.

Alum - used in pickling, helps with the crunch.

Apple Peeler Corer Slicer - For very thin slices with no peels all in one easy step.

Apple Slicer Corer - This gives somewhat larger chunky slices. I prefer this for pie and plain apples.

Ball Classic Pectin - This is perfect for standard full sugar pectin. It does include lower sugar recipes but they are not super low. 

Ball Low Sugar Pectin - If you want to taste the fruit in your jam, go with low sugar.

Blancher - Used for dipping produce in hot water for removing skins or preparing for the freezer.

Bubble tool - use to measure headspace and remove bubbles from your jars as you fill them. 

canning funnel - a specialized funnel with a wider mouth to help fill jars.  

Canning seals and rings - standard canning seals and rings for home canning. 

Candy Thermometer - Use this when you are making jam and jelly.

Canning Salt - Remember canning salt has no fillers and is needed for canning and pickling.

Celery Seed in Bulk - for pickling recipes! 

Cheesecloth - for jelly making and other uses.  

Chef's knife - large knife for chopping.  Mine is in use a lot! 

Cherry pitter - this one actually works! 

Cinnamon Sticks - for pickling spices and other recipes

Clear Jel - for canning pie filling. 

Crinkle Cutter - makes fun crinkly slices.  I use this often when I'm making bread and butter pickles.  

Cuisinart stick blender - Many uses.  blends right in the pot.

Foley Food Mill - Hand crank food mill.

Food safe gloves  - Can use this for any cooking but especially when chopping spicy peppers.  

Foley Hand-Cranked Food Mill -for tomatoes, applesauce and more.  

Gelatin - Not used for canning, but used for cooking.

Headspace Tool - This tool is inexpensive and can be reassuring for new canners.

Jello - An example of a type of gelatin, used for making Jello, but NOT canning.

Jelly bags - for straining nice clear jelly.

Kitchen Towels - Any kitchen towels will do but.... these are so cute!

Ladle - lots of styles included.  Use for filling jars.

Large Metal Bowls - Lots of options here.

Large Tea Kettle - This is not exactly like mine but very similar.

Liquid Pectin - Different types of liquid pectin.

Mandolin Slicer - Mine is a Pampered Chef brand. But there are lots of varieties available.

Mustard Seed in Bulk - used in pickling 

OXO Garlic Press - Garlic! Pressing is much easier than chopping.  

Pampered Chef Food Chopper - for quick chopping smaller amounts 

Pampered Chef Mix n Chop - for frying ground meat.

Pickle Crisp - Love crips pickles?  Try this. 

Polder Strainer - This is the strainer I use. I highly recommend it!

Polder Thermometer - for jam and jelly making 

Pomonas Pectin - If you want NO sugar at all, I recommend Pomonas.

Pomona's Pectin Cookbook - cookbook with many jam and jelly recipes. 

Pot Holders - Any pot holders will work. I linked to these because I like the pocket style.

Slotted spoon - Used often with many projects. 

Soup Saver Scoop Ladle - I'm not an affiliate for Memo, I just really like her scoop! Of course, any ladle will do but check this one out.  I use it all the time! 

Sure Jell - pectin for jam and jelly 

Tomato or Strawberry Corer - pull out the cores easily. 

Victorio Food Mill - My preference in food mills.

Vinegar – Link to vinegar at Amazon, but you are probably better off just getting it at your local store.

"Vintage" food mill. -  This isn't mine, but it looks very similar. eBay would be a good place to look for an actual vintage strainer like mine.

Weighted Gauge for the Presto - This fits various models. Be sure and check to see that it fits the model you have. 

Whole Allspice - for pickling 

Kraut Pounder - helpful for making sauerkraut

Pickle Pebbles - fermentation weights

Pickle Pipe - my favorite fermentation lids

Fermenting lids - This is another type of lid. If you do a search for fermenting lids, there are dozens of choices in different styles out there in addition to these.

Bouillon - Options at Amazon. Note: Make sure you get something that's just a bouillon, not a soup mix.

8-quart Presto Pressure Cooker - this is a pressure cooker, not for canning.  

Ball Jam and Jelly Maker - this is one of those appliances that people either love or think is ridiculous.  I like mine! 

Bosch Food Attachment - chops and slices food fast!  Used often when I'm dehydrating.  

Bosch Mixer  - A big mixer for big jobs.  Works with the attachment above.  

Nesco roaster - nice for making homemade broth. 

Roots & Branches Steam Canner  - traditional steam canner with the tall lid and shallow bottom 

Victorio Multi-Use Canner -  I used it for my water bath canner before I tried steam canning.

Weed Barrier - special kind of woven black plastic, designed as a weed barrier for your garden.

Hemp Twine - the type of natural fiber twine I used for trellising tomatoes.