Getting Canning Equipment for Cheap

If you are going to try and live more sustainable I highly recommend getting all of your own canning equipment. You can just buy everything new or get it for cheap. Assuming you have normal kitchen equipment like, knives, cutting boards, pots, strainers, big mixing bowls, and a stove. What do you need to bottle food?

Quart Jars- Make sure to get brand name jars like Ball or Kern. If they don’t have a brand name in the glass they are not worth it. They are too cheap and will break easier.

Pint Jars

Lids- I would always use new lids to make sure the seal sets properly. It’s not worth it to use used lids.

Rings

Water Bath Pot

Water Bath Cage

Canning Accessory Kit

Pressure Canner- If you get it used make sure you have it tested by a professional to see if it holds the right pressure. You don’t want to use one you think works and doesn’t. Botulism can kill you.

Time Saving Equipment

Camp Stove- This is good for allowing you to process more jars at once. It saves tons of time when your stove is tied up doing something else.

Steamer- Instead of boiling a huge pot of water you just have to boil 2 inches of water at the bottom of the pot and the steam processes the bottles. It requires the same processing time it just takes less time to start boiling the water.

How I got my equipment.

I got bottles from my mom who is tired of bottling food and would rather just freeze everything. Also, in my parent’s neighborhood there was an old couple that moved to a retirement home and just left all of their food bottled in their root cellar. It is too old to eat but my dad’s pigs will love it and after washing them they will be good as new. There is probably 200 bottles down there. I indefinitely borrowed some equipment from my parents because they haven’t used it in over 22 years. If they ever want it back I will give it to them. The rest I bought because I didn’t care to be super frugal but I got a good price for it.

Tips for getting it for free or supper cheap

• Ask your family, friends and neighbors if they know anyone who isn’t using their equipment anymore. Often old people have all the equipment but don’t care to bottle food anymore and will just give it to you, especially if they are moving, downsizing to an apt or going into a retirement home. They would be happy to give you their stuff for free, particularly if you are going to put it to good use.
• Check garage sales you can always get stuff like this at garage sales for a fraction of the cost.
• Look on craigslist. You can always find good deals and talk people down on their offering price. You can get really good deals from people who are de-junking their place or are moving and need to get rid of stuff. Often there are similar sites to craigslist in your area you can also check on. In Utah the most popular site is ksl.com/classifieds, which has a free section. You can check everyday and see if any of your needed equipment pops up. People will give it away if you will just pick it up.
• Goodwill- you can always get the stuff you need, especially bottles at places like Goodwill. In Utah there is also DI, which is the same thing.

Whatever you can’t find you can always just buy from amazon.com or a local store. If you need to be frugal do it, if not just go buy it. Here is a price sheet for what these things generally cost new. If you can get it less than this you are getting a good deal.

It is worth the investment because you will be able to process all your own food and save money in the long run but more than that you will be living a more sustainable life style. See “Why Should I Live Sustainably” post click here.

Authored by Steven Cooper Google