When you plant your garden, it’s so easy to imagine all of the great-tasting, healthy food that will come from those tiny seeds and plants. You may be one of the people that grow not only enough to eat during the summer but extra so it can be preserved for cold winter nights. Now is a great time to make sure your canning gear is ready for production when your garden starts producing more than you can eat.
The dial gauge on your canner should be tested every year to assure it is processing foods at the correct temperature. The dial gauge registers the pressure in the canner. The pressure is an indicator of the temperature of the inside of the canner. It is important for low acid foods to be processed at 240 degrees Fahrenheit to destroy the spores of Clostridium Botulinum, the bacteria that causes botulism.
Bates County University of Missouri Extension can check your pressure gauge in just a few minutes. This service is provided free of charge. The office is located on the south side of the courthouse. Office hours are 8:30 am – 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm – 4:30 pm. Monday thru Friday.
Another opportunity to get your canner gauge checked is at the Poplar Heights Living History Festival on Saturday, June 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. The University of Missouri Extension home food preservation booth will be located in the breakfast kitchen inside the house.
If you are looking for information on how to preserve your fresh vegetables, University of Missouri Extension has up to date information on how to safely can foods. You can download them at http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/hesguide/foodnut. The Quality for Keeps series is all about home food preservation.
