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Canner Gauge Testing
Time
By Diane Barga, OSU Extension Darke County
Planning to do some canning this year to take advantage of your garden
produce? That means it's time to get your home canning equipment
in working order. OSU Extension, Darke County, will check dial
type pressure canner gauges beginning May 1st, continuing until
September 30th.
There is a $5.00 charge for each gauge tested. You will need to
bring in your dial gauge to our office and we will test it, or call you
to pick it up after it has been tested. In addition, you will
receive the most recent materials available on home food preservation.
Please bring your canner lid with the gauge attached to be
tested. We will also check the gasket on your canner to make sure
that, too, is in working order.
OSU Extension, Darke County, is located at 603 Wagner Avenue,
Greenville, on the north side of Edison State Community College.
If you have any questions, please call 937-548-5215.
Before your produce is ready to preserve, be certain that you check the
jars you plan to use. Inspect them for cracks. Run your
finger around the rim of each jar to inspect for chips, nicks and bumps
in the glass. Any irregularities can cause seals to fail, so
discard jars that don't meet the standard for canning, or use them for
decorative or other purposes.
Also, mayonnaise jars, or similar commercial food jars, are considered
"one-trip" jars. These jars are not thick enough to withstand the
repeated use in home canning. So make sure your jar supply is
ready for the task, as well as the rest of your canning equipment.
Remember, pressure canning is the only safe method of canning low acid
vegetables, meats, poultry and seafood. The 240 degree
temperature required to preserve these foods safely can only be reached
in a pressure canner.
Canning is not the place for creativity. Use only scientifically
tested recipes, instructions and recommendations for home preserving
foods. Home food preservation is easy and safe, but only if you
follow safe guidelines for each particular food you are canning.
Freezing is a safe method to preserve any food, so when in doubt,
freeze it.
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