Everything you need to start preserving your hard-earned harvest and make it last all year

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After months of tending your garden, there’s nothing more satisfying than filling your pantry with the fruits and vegetables of your hard work. Canning, pickling, and preserving are all great ways to make your harvest last well beyond the growing season. But it all requires specific tools and supplies.

Here’s everything you need to start preserving your hard-earned harvest and enjoy those homegrown flavors all year long.

Food Dehydrator

A dehydrator is a pivotal tool in a homesteader’s kitchen, efficiently preserving a bounty of foods. It works by gently removing moisture from food through controlled heating, drastically slowing the growth of bacteria, yeast, and molds that cause food spoilage. The result is extended shelf life, nutrient retention, and concentrated flavors.

It’s an invaluable tool for extending the life of your garden’s harvest, reducing food waste, and providing nutritious, home-preserved snacks and ingredients year-round.

We use our dehydrator to dry herbs, make garlic powder, and occasionally make fruit snacks or sun-dried tomatoes.

Instant Pot

An Instant Pot makes food preservation and meal prep so much easier. You can use it to cook dried beans and grains you’ve stored in bulk, make rich homemade broth and stock, or simmer down tomatoes into sauce before canning. It also doubles as a yogurt maker and slow cooker, helping you create wholesome, budget-friendly meals from your preserved pantry staples night after night.

Vintage Canning Labels – Set of 12

12 Downloadable Digital Files for the most commonly made homemade canned goods! Vintage grey-and-white designs can be printed on any color label you choose.

Pressure Canner

A pressure canner is a must-have for anyone serious about preserving food safely and efficiently. Unlike water bath canning, which works for high-acid foods like fruits and pickles, a pressure canner is essential for low-acid foods such as vegetables, meats, soups, and fish.

It uses high heat and pressure to eliminate bacteria and create a secure seal, keeping your food shelf-stable for months. Beyond safety, pressure canning helps lock in the natural flavor, color, and nutrients of your harvest, making it one of the best ways to preserve wholesome, homegrown meals.

Mason Jars

Mason jars are perfect for storing jams, preserves, spices, and herbs. You can also use them to hold leftovers, homemade broths, fruits and vegetables, dry goods, or even DIY cleaning products. Built to handle both water bath and pressure canning, mason jars are durable, reusable, and designed to keep your food fresh and safe.

Vacuum Sealer

When you’re freezing vegetables or portions of meat, you don’t want them to get freezer burn. That’s where a vacuum sealer comes in handy. These tools suck the air out of the bag and heat-seal it. This means your food will last longer and taste better when you are ready to use it.

Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving: 400 Delicious and Creative Recipes for Today

If you’re new to canning, a trusted guide is worth its weight in gold. The Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving is my go-to resource — it’s packed with recipes, safety tips, and creative ideas for using your harvest. It’s the kind of book that earns a permanent place on the kitchen shelf.

Complete Guide to Home Canning – Simplified

Learn essential techniques and tips for preserving fruits, vegetables, and more. This 34-page eBook is packed with essential tips and tricks to get you started canning at home. Whether you’re new to this or looking to refine your skills, our guide can make canning easy and enjoyable.

Canning Funnel Set

When you’re pouring hot jam or pickles into jars, a wide-mouth funnel saves you from messy spills.

Culinary Pickling Spices

For anyone who loves a good homemade pickle, a ready-made spice blend is a simple way to get that classic flavor mix of mustard seed, dill, and peppercorns. It’s one of those small things that makes a big difference.

Water Bath Canner

A water bath canner is perfect for preserving high-acid foods such as fruits, tomatoes, jams, jellies, and pickles. It works by submerging sealed jars in boiling water for a set amount of time, creating a vacuum seal that keeps your food safe and shelf-stable.

Pectin

Pectin is a key ingredient in making jams and jellies. It’s a naturally occurring starch found in fruits that helps your preserves thicken and set to the perfect spreadable texture. While some fruits, like apples and citrus, contain plenty of natural pectin, others benefit from a little extra. Keeping a box or two of pectin in your pantry ensures your homemade jams and jellies turn out just right every time.

Mason Jar Lid Organizer 

A lid rack is a handy tool for anyone who cans regularly. It’s designed to hold multiple jar lids upright and organized while you sterilize them, keeping them clean, contained, and easy to handle.

Extra-Large Stock Pot

An extra-large stock pot makes it perfect for preparing large batches of soups, sauces, and broths. The tall sides and heavy base help evenly distribute heat, ensuring your food cooks thoroughly without scorching. It’s also ideal for blanching vegetables before freezing or boiling jars during the canning process.

Canning Jar Lifter

A canning jar lifter is an essential tool for safely handling hot jars during the canning process. Its rubber-coated grips securely grip the necks of jars, allowing you to lift them in and out of boiling water without slipping or burning your hands. Unlike tongs or oven mitts, a jar lifter gives you steady control, even when jars are heavy or wet.

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