Q. What is wrong with the open kettle method?
A. In this method, food is cooked in an ordinary kettle, then packed into hot jars and sealed without processing. Temperatures in open kettle canning may not be high enough to destroy spoilage organisms that may be in food. Spoilage bacteria may also enter the food while being transferred from kettle to jar. This method is not recommended.
Q. Is steam canning as effective as water bath canning?
A. Research shows that steam canners do not heat as evenly as water bath canning and thus do not heat to as high of a temperature. This results in less bacteria being killed in the processing. The use of steam canners for home canning is not recommended.
Q. If the jar seals, am I assured the food will be safe to eat?
A. No. It takes a lot less heat to seal the lid than to properly process the contents of the jar. If you followed directions correctly, you can be sure the food will keep and be safe to eat. That is why it is very important to select the correct method and carefully follow directions.
Q. Why is it necessary to process jellies, conserves, preserves, and marmalades?
A. Mold and other spoilage microorganisms can grow if the jar is not properly processed and sealed tightly to exclude air. Water bath processing produces a strong vacuum seal.