Where to buy canning supplies?

[Teaberry]

I found this fantastic website answering questions on canning:

 

http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/questions/FAQ_canning.html#4

 

I just canned my first jam the other day and thought a lot of space was being wasted, since I couldn't stack jars atop one another. The site above had the answer:

 

Can two layers of jars be processed in a canner at one time?

Yes, two layers can be processed at one time, in either the boiling water bath or pressure canner. Place a small wire rack between the layers so water or steam will circulate around each jar. Make certain that the water covers the tops of all jars by 1 inch in a boiling water bath canner. The pressure canner should have 2 to 3 inches of water in the bottom.

 

Okay, so where do I buy another rack to place atop the bottom layer of jars? I don't want to have to buy an entire water bath canner just to get another rack.

 

(Btw, my extension agent told me it is important to have a rack, so the jars don't tilt over and cause the seal to fail.)

[WormGuy]

Can you use the rack from your pressure canner? It is flat and should work.

 

 

 

John

[ArmyOfFive4God]

One of my pans will hold my PC rack. For my slightly smaller one, I use canning rings in a layer across the bottom.

[Amishway Homesteaders]

Those round wire cake racks work OK?

and you can sometimes find waterbath canners at yard sales or thrift shops cheap. Most of the time the canner is rusty but the rack is OK and if you can get them for $2.00 (like we did) use the rack and put the canner to work for you elsewere like in the garden or to hold books/magizines etc.

 

welcome to the world of canner people.

[ArmyOfFive4God]

Since that was kinda short & I realised maybe confusing- do rings on the bottom & your rack on top of the first layer.

[Violet]

Check your thift stores. You can often find racks here for cheap, for $1 or less. The best ones I have are from a small charcoal bbq grill.

Still, even with a rack, stagger the jars. Don't sit one on top of the other.

You can buy new racks for canners here, but I won't pay the $$ they want for them. No need to when I find them cheap at the thrift stores.

You can put a folded towel in the bottom, too, and then use the rack for the second layer.

[Teaberry]

Thanks for all the good tips. I guess the main thing is if I layer the jars one atop another, I need to make sure that an inch to two inches of water if above the top jars.

[Violet]

Yes, the water needs to be 1 to 2 inches over the tops if you are BWB canning.