My garden is producing full force and I have cucumbers and green beans by the bucket full.
Living in a travel trailer is not too condusive to canning and last year I wasted so much fresh produce because of not being able to can anything.
This summer I decided to set up an outdoor canning system. I think even when we are moved into our house (SOON!), I'll still use this set up. It is amazing!
I bought a two burner propane camp stove, put it on our porch and got to work! We always have a steady breeze on the hilltop and with the shade on the porch it is very comfortable temperature wise and creates a great outdoor canning kitchen! These propane burners are a very high BTU output so water boils fast!
The burner had no problem bringing my pressure cooker up to the 10 pounds of pressure that I needed and easily held it steady for the 20 minutes I cooked my jars of green beans.
Seven quarts of perfect green beans!
I set up the cooker close to my picnic table and I used that for my counter top!
Then I proceeded to the pickle making session.
My large water kettle boiled in just a few short minutes and I had my jars sterilized and ready on one burner....
...and my pickles hot and ready in the pot on the other burner.
Pickle jars don't need to be pressurized, so they only had to boil for five minutes in this large kettle. I loved how the water was up to boiling in just a few minutes. I made 9 pints of pickles in no time.
Perfect pickles!
(The above picture is my "can pantry" in my new kitchen. I would really, really love to be able to show you my kitchen, tell you about my lovely cabinets, take some gorgeous pictures and show you around. Unfortunately I am STILL waiting for the cabinet guys to come and finish. I have faith that it will be this week - however, I know I said that last week too.)
My daughter and I have been picking and purchasing fresh fruit for the last month so I have a good start to my pantry now with strawberry, blueberry, blackberry and peach jams!
So.... with an outdoor canning "kitchen" on the brain, I've been doing a lot of surfing around the blog world and pinterest for outdoor set-ups. There are a lot of them out there! Eldon has some good ideas, I have a few good ideas, other experienced outdoor canning people have awesome ideas... its my goal for next summer to put some of these ideas in place and really create a great outdoor canning "kitchen". I'm already on the look-out for an old farmhouse sink.
What are your thoughts on the subject?
That is really neat! Keeping the mess out of the house sounds like a good plan!
ReplyDeleteYou amaze me...wish you could "can" your energy and sell me some!
ReplyDeleteYou make it looks so easy. Love your energy!
ReplyDeleteI hope you don't mind but I will probably be copying this canning set up next year when my garden is (hopefully!) providing us with an abundance of fresh vegetables! Love it!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brenda...you make it seem like a piece of cake but I'm sure it's a ton of real work! I love your canning cupboard...what a great idea. I've had all sorts of computer problems and set backs this week so I've been out of touch. Hope all is well!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great idea, you two are just amazing!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant - really!!
ReplyDeleteLove this idea, I am a canner and this would be so much easier and enjoyable... Love your home too..
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts are that you are amazingly creative and smart! I love the outdoor idea. The fact that even the water boils that quickly is wonderful. I always hate the time waiting for the water to boil in bog pots like that.
ReplyDeleteI totally love reading what is going on in your life, Dori.
Blessings to you.
It sounds better than my little galley kitchen which is about 100 degrees right now! :) I made jams over the last two weekends but we are having a horrible heat wave at the moment...hope it passes soon as I want to do some pickles too! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat you dreamed up is awesome..!
What a wonderful idea to can on the porch! I always hate that sweat and moisture in the kitchen.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, friends of mine in south ga build outdoors screen room kitchens for cook outs and canning..They also add a screen area for eating. thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteSwooning over those little jars of jam all lined up! I have a single burner that I pull out if it's really hot outside and I don't want to heat up the kitchen. Love it!!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see all the coming photos!
Wow you got alot accomplished. That is wonderful! And you don't have to sweat it out in the kitchen, although our temps here in PA are incredible. You can't even breathe outside. Great post!
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT!!! All of it! And I love you and you are soooooooooooooooooooooooo amazing, and I love hearing about your "farm" life. I really want to come live with you. :)
ReplyDeleteSo great you got to can this year! I've used my propane burner outside on the patio for several years...we pulled it out one year when we realized we really couldn't use our flat-surface stove, and have been doing it ever since. SO convenient and the water heats up in no time! Thanks for sharing:) Bonnie S.
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