Canning 101: the hot-pack method

For hot pack method, the product is cooked in advance and, while still hot, is packed into hot jars. The contents and the jars remain at a high temperature throughout the entire process. Remember that processing adds to the cooking time! You may think that something is undercooked when canning it, but the food does indeed cook longer during processing.

Always select blemish-free produce, or cut off any blemishes during preparation. Before canning, inspect your jars to insure there are no nicks or fissures then make certain that the jars you plan to use will fit properly into your water bath processor. Try test-loading before cleaning and preparing the jars for filling. It may be necessary to process in smaller batches.