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    Home » Blog » Food from scratch

    Step-by-step guide to water bath canning

    Categories: Food from scratch Author: Emily Date Updated: May 2, 2023

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    Learn how to use the water bath canning method to safely and effectively preserve homemade pickles, chutneys, jams and relishes. In this blog we'll cover what equipment you will need and how to sterilise jars, prepare a water bath, fill jars, process correctly and more.

    An open jar of mango chutney on a tray surrounded by canned jars of mango chutnet

    When making high-acid foods (with a ph of 4.6 or less) such as pickles, chutney, jam and relish, you can use the water bath canning or preserving method to ensure a vacuum-tight seal on your jars and avoid food spoilage.

    For more information on water bath canning visit the Ball Mason Jars website.

    In this blog I'll step you through the exact process I've been using for years to safely preserve my own homemade preserves, with minimal effort and expense. The methods I use are backed by leading food safety organisations included the National Centre for Home Food Preservation and the CSIRO.

    Equipment you will need

    • large stock pot with a lid and rack, or a water bath canner
    • canning jars - I like to use Ball Mason 8 oz preserving jars
    • canning lids - I buy canning lids from Amazon.com.au
    • wide mouth stainless steel funnel
    • jar lifter
    • ladle
    Equipment used for canning mango chutney including a stockpot, saucepan, canning jars and lids, scale, tea towel, funnel, label, jar lifter, kitchen paper towel and wooden spoon

    How to can using the water bath method

    Step one: Sterilise the jars and lids

    Wash the jars and lids well in very hot soapy water and rinse. You could also use a dishwasher on the hottest setting.

    Place the lids on a clean tea towel, or kitchen paper towel, and allow to air dry. Avoid touching the inside of the lids.

    Place the jars on a baking tray and place it in the oven. Set the oven to 110 degrees Celsius (248 Fahrenheit). Once the oven has reached temperature, bake the jars for 10 minutes.

    After 10 minutes turn off the oven and keep the door closed, allowing the jars to stay warm in the oven while you make the preserve.

    A tray of jars being place on a tray in the oven to be steralised

    Step two: Prepare the preserve

    Check out my strawberry jam, mango chutney and tomato relish preserving recipes.

    Mango chutney in a large saucepan beginning to boil

    Step four: Prepare the water bath

    Meanwhile, fill a large stock pot with water, place it on the stove and bring the water to the boil. There needs to be enough water in the pot to cover the height of your jars by at least 5 centimetres or a couple of inches.

    Filling the water bath stock pot with tap water

    Once boiling, turn the heat off, but leave this water hot and covered and bring the water back to a simmer when your chutney is almost finished cooking.

    Step five: Fill the jars

    When the filling has finished cooking, use a wide mouth funnel and ladle to carefully fill the jars leaving 1.2 cm (½ inch) head space.

    Filling the sterilised jars with hot mango chutney using a label and canning funnel

    Head space is the space between the level of the filling and the top of the jar.

    Filled jar of mango chutney

    Holding the jar carefully (it will be hot), gently tap the jar on the counter to release any air bubbles caught in the mixture, then wipe the rim and thread of the jar with paper towel to clean off any spilled filling.

    Wiping the rim of a jar filled with mango chutney with a piece of kitchen paper towel

    Once filled, seal immediately with the lids. If using a two-pice lid, first secure the lid and then the band.

    Adding the lid to the jar of mango chutney

    The lids should be 'fingertip' tight. Don't over tighten them or this may interfere with the sealing process.

    Adding the lid ring to the jar of mango chutney

    Step six: Process the jars in the waterbath

    Once all the jars are filled and sealed, place a rack into into the bottom of the stock pot of boiling water, then using the jar lifter, carefully lower the jars onto the rack.

    Placing a rack in the water bath stock pot
    Placing a jar in the water bath stock pot using a jar lifter

    Secure the lid and bring the water back to the boil.

    The lid is placed on the water bath stock pot

    Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium-high and boil the jars for 10 minutes (or however long the recipe specifies). Keep an eye on the water to ensure it remains boiling.

    Water boiling during processing canning of the mango chutney in the water bath

    If for some reason the water stops boiling, turn the heat up and once boiling again, restart the processing time (10 minutes).

    Step seven

    After boiling for 10 minutes, carefully remove the jars using a jar lifter and place them on a tea towel to cool. Leave the jars undisturbed for 24 hours to ensure they seal correctly.

    Lifting a jar of canned mango chutney out of a water bath with a jar lifter
    Jars of mango chutney after processing cooling on a tea towel

    Step eight

    After 24 hours inspect the lids to ensure the jars have sealed. There should be no flex when the centre for the lid is pressed. You can now retighten two piece lids if the bands are loose.

    Store any unsealed jars in the refrigerator and use immediately.

    Storage

    Store the properly sealed jars in a cool dark place for up to 12 months.

    Thanks for following along and happy canning!

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