Building Strong Families April 2015 Are you ready for Canning Season‌. Your pressure canner’s dial gauge should be tested for accuracy each year before you ue it. Every pound of pressure on the gauge is important to make sure that the temperature inside your canner is high enough (240 degrees F) to kill the spores that can cause botulism. If your gauge is reading high, the temperature inside your canner will be lower than expected, foods will be under-processed, and botulism could result. If your gauge is reading low, the temperature inside your canner will be higher than expected and foods will be over-processed. While not a safety issue, over-processing can lead to poor quality canned foods. If testing shows that your gauge is off by just one or two pounds, pressure adjustments can be made during processing to ensure safe, high quality canned foods. Your local Family and Consumer Sciences Extension agent can guide you in making those adjustments. If your gauge is off by more than two pounds, it should be replaced. Using a pressure canner to process low-acid foods is essential for safe home canning, but the safety of your pressure canning process is only as good as the accuracy of your dial gauge. To set up an appointment to get your pressure canner tested, call
270-653-2231 Reference: National Center for Home Food Preservation. (2009). How Do I?...Can. Retrieved February 13, 2015, from http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/ can_home.html Source: Debbie Clouthier, Extension Associate for Food and Nutrition; University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
Cooperative Extension Service Hickman County 329 James H. Phillips Dr. Clinton, KY 42031 (270) 653-2231 Fax: (270) 653-4754 www.ca.uky.edu/ces
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
PG1,2,8 Nurturing Families
PG 2,4 Embracing Life As We Age
PG 3,4,5 Securing Financial Stability
PG 1 Promoting Healthy Homes & Communities
PG1,3,6,7 Accessing Nutritious Foods
PG 1,5 Empowering Community Leaders
PG2, 5 Upcoming Events
PG2