canning......food processing

[glenn57]

so whats everyone got there putting up for winter. canning.....etc. earlier this spring i pickled about 3 qts of winter onions and 6 qts aspargus. they wont make fall.

last week we did 1/2 bushel of garlic dill pickles, getting another 1/2 bushel tonight!!!!

my agenda is to do up a bunch of cukes, salsa, stewed tomatoes and tomato juice. looks like i may have a bumper crop of green beans based on the flowers, some will get blanched and thrown in the freezer, the rest will get pickled!!!!!!!!! my soup starter will wait till next year. i didnt plant cabbage think i have enough kraut.

[Rebel SS]

Why are you using the "W" word already???! It's SUMMER, ya numbskull!!!!   

[HD]

I usually jar 30 to 40 quarts of pickles.
I don't buy mine like some  I grow my own.
I did 8 bottles of dandelion wine.
Snap peas, blanched and froze about 4 gallons.
All my extra peppers get dehydrated for spices during the winter.
Been eating green beans like crazy... I'll have to blanch and freeze some of those.
Potatoes, looks like I'll be making tons of Fry's and hash browns.... (The potato garden is huge this year)

[glenn57]

yea well i dont got 4000 acres either!!!!!!!!!!!!

HD, try picklin some of them green beans. stuff in a jar add 3-4 garlic, some onion and dill. pour the brine in.

brine is 2 qts water 2 cups vinegar.........i add a bit more vinegar, and a 1/2 cup picklin salt. let sit couple months!!!!!!!!!!! nummy. if ya want a little heat add a hot pepper or 2!!!!!!

[Rebel SS]

Stuff green beans in qt jar. Fill with gas. Seal, poke fuse in. Light. KABLOOEY* 

[glenn57]

Stuff green beans in qt jar. Fill with gas. Seal, poke fuse in. Light. KABLOOEY*

even from you..............thats funny right there!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bobberineyes]

That was very funny reb!!! I'm just learning the ropes on canning veggies, did 4 quarts of pickles last week to see if they be any good and they were ( no water bath just boiling brine) although the pickling spice seemed strong with cloves, I think I'll pick some of tgem out next time.2 had Serrano in and 2 with out. Pretty good i thought.     Keep the ideas coming for tgis newbie!!

[LPS]

You guys are really good at the canning thing.  We are fairly new to the pickling thing.  We have done dill pickles twice and I think they are great.  The best part of a burger is our dill pickles on them to me.  Here is a recipe I just got today from a lady that does a lot of gardening and canning.  She said these are real good.  Can also add peppers if you want.

Pickles in a Pail

Layer bottom of ice cream pail with dill, onion, and garlic.

Add cucumbers (halved or quartered) to make 1/2 pail.

Add another layer of dill, onion, and garlic to fill 3/4 full.

Bring to a boil the following:

6 cups water
1/2 tsp alum
1/3 cup canning salt
1 1/4 cup white vinegar

Pour hot brine over pickles.

Let pickles sit out until cool.  Then refrigerate.

Can be eaten in 2 - 4 days.  The longer they sit the better they are.  Add peppers if you want for more of a kick. 

[Rebel SS]

Kinda like a miniature version of crock pickles!

[mike89]

 refrigerator pickles is what I'm hearing and the are good too.

[glenn57]

17 qts of "purchased" pickles all done!

[LPS]

So Glenn, how much does it cost to buy those pickles?  That is what I am hoping to do and just wondered what the going price is..

[glenn57]

A 1/2 bushel of smaller pickles was 45 bucks the larger ones like the 3 to 5 inchers were 38. Around here you best get your name on a list in may if you want any. I grow my own dill.

[Rebel SS]

I bought a jar of Dills yday for $1.79.   

[glenn57]

Mine are more gooder then any purchased pickles!

[LPS]

So 1/2 bushel, is that about a 5 gallon pail full?

[LPS]

I see a bushel is 8 gallons dry measure.  Ok Glenn how many qts of pickles do you get from a 1/2 bushel?

[Rebel SS]

Not meanin' to step on Glenn's toes.....


From USDA canning site:

1 bushel (48 pounds) is equal to 16 to 24 quarts (average 2 pounds per quart). 14 pounds fresh is equal to a canner load of 7 quarts. 9 pounds fresh is equal to a canner load of 9 pints. Preparation: Thoroughly wash cucumbers, especially around the stem, where soil can be trapped.

[glenn57]

So 1/2 bushel, is that about a 5 gallon pail full?

5 gal pail 3/4 full.when I did the first batch of the smaller pickles I got 20 qts, this last batch I got 17 qts. The bigger pickles obviously fill a jar with less pickles.

[glenn57]

I use a pressure washer to clean my pickles. And an elevated grate. I'll post a picture of my setup tomorrow. Won't get home till 10 tonight.

[LPS]

Thanks Rebs and Glenn.  Well I need a bushel then.  Man that is a lot moola.  A bushel of cukes about $80.  although that would last us a year or 2. The last time we did a big batch about 3 years ago a friend of mine let his garden get away from him so he had us come and pick all that he had.  Many pails full.  He as now died and I miss him.  We were fishing buddies.   

[Rebel SS]

So, that's $60 for 3/4 pail that goes for $80, for 17-20 Qts....including the other stuff, that would be a little over $3.20 a qt jar.  Not too bad.....
I got a jar yday for $1.59 at Walmart........      Just kiddin'.   

[glenn57]

He dum dum. I did the math on mine Yesterday. It calculated to about $2,30 a qt. I'm betting your Chinese child labor jar wasn't a qt and it most certainly wasn't home made.

I grow my own dill onion and garlic so 

[mike89]

it can be alot of work but the end results are the tell...    always great when you do your own!!!

[Rebel SS]

Well Dumbo, I said I was kiddin'...and if you take 3/4 of a pail like you said, a pail going for $80 like Barry said, that = $60. Divide by the 20 qts ya said ya get out of 3/4 pail, then 3x20=60. Basic math, So, with that said,      .


You just wait 'til Delmont jumps in and tells ya how to do a proper water bath temp.....

[glenn57]

Well bologna brain, that pail was a half bushel for, well I'll average it out to 41.50 per half bushel. Try your math again.

[Rebel SS]

That's NOT what you said, nozzle nose!!! Are you sure you can count?!  NYA NYA!!!!   

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[glenn57]

  sure is hard to sore with the eagles when your surrounded by 

[Rebel SS]

   

[Boar]

yeah glen but its even harder for u to catch a fish when yu cant fish..