Exploring the Snack Bar

People who can their produce and meats know firsthand the benefits of using airtight jars. The shelf life of the item is extended to months, if not years, when you can in jars that are made for this type of storage.

In these days of skyrocketing food prices, it not only makes sense to grow your own foods, but it is rewarding, as well. From tomatoes to beans to herbs, you can pick them cook and process them, and put them in jars for future use.
In places like the UK, and so many other places where the main growing season is relatively short, only a few months out of the year, the more that is grown during these times, the better. You can produce about three to five pounds of potatoes from using only one pound of them to plant, for example. If you successfully grow tomatoes, you can have canned tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, whole tomatoes, all already cooked and ready to use for months to come.

In other parts of the world, where the growing seasons are long, like California in the USA, people can take advantage of this and produce many foods during the year. They then can them and sell them at craft markets, food fairs, and also just give them away to family members in other states, or keep them for a rainy day. In the wine countries, the grapes are not only used for bottled wine, but one can also can many types of jellies and jams for future use.

To process foods for canning in these airtight jars, one must know just a little bit about bacteria and how to prevent it from entering the airtight jars. There is a formula, a certain time to boil the foods, and even after canning them in the airtight jars, the airtight jars need to be boiled, as well. In fact, the jars are boiled before they are filled with foods in order to sterilise them first. Once the canned food is boiled for the specified time, or processed, the hot jars are carefully removed and placed aside, covered with towels. In a short time, you can hear a pop sound coming from the jars. When each of the jars pops, that means that the food is canned properly and air tight from any moisture and oxygen. And your canned food will last a very long time, especially if kept in a cool place, like a storage closet or basement.

This is actually the basic principle for canning foods that you buy in the supermarket. The difference is that they very often use preservatives and a lot of sodium to keep the shelf life extended even longer.

Next time you go to the supermarket, take notice of the various types of canned goods on the shelves. In most cases, you can produce these items yourself, and except for the initial investment in the jars, lids and screw tops, you will find that you save a lot of money in the long run.

Not only is it cheaper to can your own foods, it is healthier, too. After all, you know what you have included in the recipes. They probably do not have as much salt as the canned goods from the supermarket, and various herbs that you have used from your own garden are included in the cans also. These are some of the benefits of using airtight jars for food storage.

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If you are looking to buy a set of air tight jars for your kitchen, please visit us online at www.scottsofstow.co.uk to view the range we have available.

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