Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving

by Altrista Consumer Products

This is the 100th Anniversary Edition. The contents include: Just One Step Beyond Cooking; Fruits, Juices and Tomatoes; Jams, Jellies and Fruit Spread; Chutneys, Pickles and Relishes; Meats, Seafood and Vegetables; Low Sugar and Low Salt Recipes; Sweet and Savory Condiments, Gourmet Spreads and Salsas; Spreads, Meats, Vegetables and Prepared Foods; Fruit Leathers, Jerky and Rubs; From Harvest to Preserving.

Genres: Cookbooks, Nonfiction, Reference, Cooking, Food, Food Preservation, Gardening

200 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2004

Reviews

[Megan Meisberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is pretty decent when it comes to providing approved government information on how to preserve food. If you want recipes that have been rigorously tested by scientists, this is for you (or at least the book claims they are. I didn't see it with my own two eyes). The directions for how to water bath can and pressure can are thorough and clear, although if you're like me, you may learn better if someone teaches you in person. There are helpful charts and math for you if need that kind of thing. There is a section in the back that helps you troubleshoot if things didn't work out the way you planned.

There are a lot of recipes, but many are not friendly for keto, low-carb types. If that's you, and you want to get into canning, I still recommend the book. Just know that there will be tons of sugar in many recipes, although not all. They do give tips on canning fruit with less or no sugar.

Besides this, a lot of the recipes are not things I already eat, so my interest in canning is not always piqued, and it makes me wonder if I can actually manage to preserve a lot of food that I grow and actually enjoy eating it. But that may just mean that I need to try it anyway.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always my starting point, the clearest and most reliable canning recipes and instructions I've found. The illustrated sections were exceptionally useful when I was new to canning and preserving, and I've found the basic scientific explanations very helpful when I adjusted to high altitude canning.

[Damien Cooke]

This is probably where everyone should start to learn all the safety precautions needed.

[Lunnaku · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recently started learning to can and was nervous about it but this book is fantasic and makes it easy.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome book filled with recipes for canning jelly’s, jams, pickles, and such. Just like grandma used to make.

[Bear Paw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be everyone's first canning book, has all the basics of water bath canning and pressure canning in it.. my first go to book for canning something.

[Linnae · Rating 5 out of 5]

My go-to reference for several years now!

For the beginning canner, this book has a lot of good basic information, but it is fairly comprehensive as well. It goes through various methods of processing your canned foods, including food safety, equipment needed, altitude adjustments, and how to prepare everything. Then it has all kinds of recipes, from basic canned fruit, to jams, pickles and relishes, vegetables, low-sugar recipes, pie fillings, and even some dehydrated food like fruit leathers and beef jerky.

It also has several 2-page spreads with step-by-step illustrated instructions for certain things--canning tomatoes, canning green beans, dehydrating apples, and so on.

While I have branched out to other books and resources, I almost always check this one first. At least half the time, I end up using the recipe in here. I always use it when I'm canning a single type of fruit.

You can find more book reviews, plus notes about my gardening & canning adventures on my blog: www.ofbooksandblooms.com

[Katrina]

This is my go-to canning book. Tried and true methods, times, and recipes.

[Selinalynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clear and concise directions on canning, dehydrating, freezing, and more. The Bible for home preserving.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

My go-to book for canning. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to can. I found that a few of the recipes are over processed, so I do not always process as long as it recommends.