Developed by Barbara Willenberg

Revised by Susan Mills-Gray
State Nutrition Specialist

Vegetables are at peak quality for six to 12 hours after harvesting. If you must delay canning fresh vegetables, keep refrigerated until you are ready to begin.

Pressure canning is the only safe method for canning vegetables because they are low-acid. Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes botulism food poisoning, is destroyed in low-acid foods, such as vegetables, only when they are processed for the correct amount of time at the recommended pounds of pressure in a pressure canner.

• Canning low-acid foods in boiling-water or canner is absolutely unsafe because the botulinum bacteria can survive this process.
• If Clostridium botulinum bacteria survive and grow inside a sealed jar of food, they can produce a poisonous toxin.

Please refer to MU Extension publications GH1451, Safe Home Canning Basics, and GH1452, Steps for Successful Home Canning, for information on correct canning procedures and the steps to follow in pressure canning.

It's OK to skip the salt

Salt seasons vegetables, but it is not necessary for safety. It is perfectly safe to can vegetables without adding salt. Add salt substitutes when serving vegetables, but not when canning. If added before the canning process, salt substitutes may cause a bitter taste. If you do add salt, be sure to use canning salt as table salt creates a cloudy product.

Asparagus—spears or pieces

Quantity
For eight to 12 quart jars, you need an average of 24 pounds of fresh asparagus.

Quality
Use tender, tight-tipped spears, 4 to 6 inches long.

Procedure
Wash asparagus. Trim off tough scales, break off tough stems and wash again. Cut into 1-inch pieces or leave whole.

Hot pack
Cover asparagus with boiling water. Boil 2 or 3 minutes. Loosely fill jars with hot asparagus; leave 1 inch of headspace.

Raw pack
Fill jars with raw asparagus, pack as tightly as possible without crushing, and leave 1 inch of headspace.

Final steps
Add 1 teaspoon canning salt per quart, or ½ teaspoon per pint, to each jar, if desired. Add boiling water; leave 1 inch of headspace. Adjusts lids, and process as directed in Table 1.

Beans or peas—shelled and dried (all varieties)

Quantity
For each 7-quart canner load, you need an average of 5 pounds of dried beans or peas. For each 9-pint canner load, you need an average of 3¼ pounds of dried beans or peas (an average of ¾ pound per quart).

Quality
Select mature, dry seeds. Sort out and discard discolored beans.

Procedure
Place dried beans or peas in a large pot, and cover with water. Soak 12 to 18 hours in a refrigerator. Drain water or, to save time, cover sorted and washed beans or peas with boiling water in a saucepan. Boil 2 minutes, remove from heat, soak 1 hour, and drain.

After soaking beans or peas, cover with fresh water and boil 30 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon canning salt per quart, or ½ teaspoon per pint, to each jar if desired. Fill jars with beans or peas and cooking water; leave 1 inch of headspace. Adjust lids, and process as directed in Table 1.

Beans, fresh lima—shelled

Quantity
For each 7-quart canner load, you need an average of 28 pounds of fresh, shelled lima beans. For each 9-pint canner load, you need an average of 18 pounds of fresh, shelled lima beans.

A bushel weighs 30 pounds and yields 5 to 8 quarts (an average of 4 to 5 pounds per quart).

Quality
Select well-filled pods with green seeds. Discard insect-damaged and diseased seeds.

Procedure
Shell beans, and wash thoroughly.

Hot pack
Cover beans with boiling water, and heat to boil. Boil 3 minutes. Fill jars loosely; leave 1 inch of headspace.

Raw pack
Fill jars loosely with raw beans. Do not press or shake down.

Small beans
Leave 1 inch of headspace for pints and 1½ inches for quarts.

Large beans
Leave 1 inch of headspace for pints and 1¼ inches for quarts.

Final steps
Add 1 teaspoon canning salt per quart, or ½ teaspoon per pint, to each jar if desired. Add boiling water; leave the same headspace listed above. Remove air bubbles. Adjust lids and process as directed in Table 1.

Beans, snap and Italian—pieces (green and wax)

Quantity
For each 7-quart canner load, you need an average of 14 pounds of fresh beans. For each 9-pint canner load, you need an average of 9 pounds of fresh beans.

A bushel weighs 30 pounds and yields 15 to 20 quarts (an average of 1½ to 2 pounds per quart).

Quality
Select filled but tender, crisp pods. Remove and discard diseased and rusty pods.

Procedure
Wash beans and trim ends. Leave whole, cut or snap into 1-inch pieces.

Hot pack
Place beans in a large saucepan, and cover with boiling water; boil 5 minutes. Fill jars; leave 1 inch of headspace.

Raw pack
Fill jars with raw beans, pack tightly, and leave 1 inch of headspace.

Final steps
Add 1 teaspoon canning salt per quart, or ½ teaspoon per pint, to the jar, if desired. Add boiling water; leave 1 inch of headspace. Remove air bubbles. Adjust lids, and process as directed in Table 1.

Beets—whole, cubed or sliced

Quantity
For each 7-quart canner load, you will need an average of 21 pounds of fresh beets (without tops). For each 9-pint canner load, you will need an average of 13½ pounds of fresh beets.

A bushel of beets (without tops) weighs 52 pounds and yields 17 to 20 quarts (an average of 2½ to 3 pounds per quart).

Quality
Beets with a diameter of 1 to 2 inches are preferred for whole packs. Beets larger than 3 inches in diameter are often fibrous and tough.

Procedure
Trim off beet tops; leave 1 inch of stem and root to reduce bleeding of color. Scrub well. Cover with boiling water. Boil until skins slip off easily, about 15 to 25 minutes depending on size. Cool just enough to remove skins. Trim off stems and roots. Leave baby beets whole.

Cut medium or large beets into ½-inch cubes or slices.

Halve or quarter very large slices.

Add 1 teaspoon canning salt per quart, or ½ teaspoon per pint, to each jar, if desired. Fill jars with hot beets and fresh hot water; leave 1 inch of headspace. Remove air bubbles. Adjust lids, and process as directed in Table 1.

Carrots—sliced or diced

Quantity
For each 7-quart canner load, you will need an average of 17½ pounds of fresh carrots (without tops). For each 9-pint canner load, you will need an average of 11 pounds of fresh carrots. A bushel of carrots (without tops) weighs 50 pounds and yields 16 to 20 quarts (an average of 2½ to 3 pounds per quart).

Quality
Select small carrots, preferably 1 to 1¼ inches in diameter. Larger carrots are often too fibrous and tough.

Procedure
Wash, peel and rewash carrots. Slice or dice.

Hot pack
Cover with boiling water, bring to boil again and simmer for 5 minutes. Fill jars; leave 1 inch of headspace.

Raw pack
Fill jars with raw carrots, packing tightly.

Final steps
Add 1 teaspoon canning salt per quart, or ½ teaspoon per pint, to each jar, if desired. Add boiling cooking liquid or water; leave 1 inch of headspace. Remove air bubbles. Adjust lids, and process as directed in Table 1.

Corn—cream style

Quantity
For each 9-pint canner load, you will need an average of 20 pounds of sweet corn (in husks). A bushel weighs 35 pounds and yields 12 to 20 pints (an average of 2¼ pounds per pint).

Quality
Select ears containing slightly immature kernels or corn that is at the ideal stage or maturity for eating fresh.

Procedure
Husk corn, remove silk and wash ears. Blanch ears 4 minutes in boiling water. Cut corn from cob at about the center of the kernel. Scrape remaining corn from cobs with a table knife.

Caution
Quart jars are not recommended due to the denseness of the canned product.

Hot pack
Add 1 cup of boiling water for each 2 cups of corn. Heat to boiling.

Add ½ teaspoon canning salt to each pint jar, if desired. Fill pint jars with hot corn mixture; leave 1 inch of headspace. Remove air bubbles. Adjust lids, and process as directed in Table 1.

Corn—whole kernel

Quantity
For each 7-quart canner load, you need an average of 31½ pounds of sweet corn (with husks). For each 9-pint canner load, you need an average of 20 pounds of sweet corn.

A bushel weighs 35 pounds and yields 8 to 9 quarts (an average of 4½ pounds per quart).

Quality
Select ears containing slightly immature kernels at the ideal stage of maturity for eating fresh. Some of the sweeter varieties may turn brown during the canning process. Kernels that are too immature may also turn brown. This discoloration does not affect safety. For best quality, can a small amount and check color and flavor before canning large quantities.

Procedure
Remove husks and silk, and wash corn. Blanch 3 minutes in boiling water. Cut corn from cob at about three-fourths the depth of the kernel.

Caution
Do not scrape the cob.

Hot pack
: Place kernels in a saucepan. Add 1 cup of hot water for each quart of corn, heat to boiling and simmer 5 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon canning salt per quart, or ½ teaspoon per pint, to each jar, if desired. Fill jars with corn and cooking liquid; leave 1 inch of headspace.

Raw pack
Fill jars with raw kernels; leave 1 inch of headspace. Do not shake or press down. Add 1 teaspoon canning salt per quart, or ½ teaspoon per pint, to each jar, if desired. Add fresh boiling water; leave 1 inch of headspace.

Final steps
Remove air bubbles. Adjust lids, and process as directed in Table 1.

Okra

Quantity
For each 7-quart canner load, you need an average of 11 pounds of fresh okra. For each 9-pint canner load, you need an average of 7 pounds of fresh okra.

A bushel weighs 30 pounds and yields 19 to 21 quarts (an average of 1½ pounds per quart).

Quality
Select young, tender pods. Remove and discard diseased and rust-spotted pods.

Procedure
Wash pods, and trim ends. Leave whole or cut into 1-inch pieces. Cover with hot water in a saucepan, boil 2 minutes and drain. Fill jars with hot okra and cooking liquid; leave 1 inch of headspace. Add 1 teaspoon canning salt per quart, or ½ teaspoon per pint, to each jar if desired. Remove air bubbles. Adjust lids, and process as directed in Table 1.

Peas, green or English—shelled

Note
Sugar snap and Chinese edible podded peas should be frozen for best quality.

Quantity
For each 7-quart canner load, you need an average of 31½ pounds of fresh peas (in pods). For each 9-pint canner load, you need an average of 20 pounds. A bushel weighs 30 pounds and yields 6 to 8 quarts (an average of 4½ pounds per quart).

A bushel weighs 30 pounds and yields 6 to 8 quarts (an average of 4½ pounds per quart).

Quality
Select filled pods containing young, tender, sweet seeds. Discard diseased pods.

Procedure
Shell and wash peas. Add 1 teaspoon canning salt per quart, or ½ teaspoon per pint, to each jar, if desired.

Hot pack
Cover with boiling water. Bring to a boil in a saucepan, and boil 2 minutes. Fill jars with hot peas (don’t pack tightly), and add cooking liquid. Leave 1 inch of headspace.

Raw pack
Fill jars with raw peas, and add boiling water; leave 1 inch of headspace. Do not shake or press down peas.

Final steps
Remove air bubbles. Adjust lids, and process as directed in Table 1.

Peppers—hot or sweet

Types
Chili, jalapeño and pimento peppers.

Caution
If you choose hot peppers, wear plastic gloves while handling them, or wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before touching your face.

Quantity
For each 9-pint canner load, you need an average of 9 pounds of fresh peppers.

A bushel weighs 25 pounds and yields 20 to 30 pints (an average of 1 pound per pint).

Quality
Select firm yellow, green or red peppers. Do not use soft or diseased peppers.

Procedure
Select your favorite pepper(s). Leave small peppers whole. Cut large peppers into quarters. Remove cores and seeds. Slash 2 or 4 slits in each pepper, and either blanch in boiling water or blister in an oven or broiler.

Oven or broiler method
Place peppers in a hot oven (400 degrees F) or broiler for 6 to 8 minutes until skins blister.

Allow peppers to cool. Place in a pan, and cover with a damp cloth to make peeling the peppers easier. After several minutes, peel each pepper. Flatten whole peppers. Fill jars loosely with peppers, and add fresh boiling water; leave 1 inch of headspace. Add ½ teaspoon canning salt to each pint jar, if desired. Adjust lids, and process as directed in Table 1.

Potatoes, sweet—pieces or whole

Caution
It is unsafe to dry-pack or can mashed or pureed sweet potatoes.

Quantity
For each 7-quart canner load, you need an average of 17½ pounds of potatoes. For each 9-pint canner load, you need an average of 11 pounds of fresh potatoes.

A bushel weighs 50 pounds and yields 17 to 25 quarts (an average of 2½ pounds per quart).

Quality
Choose small to medium potatoes. They should be mature and not too fibrous. Can within 1 to 2 months after harvest.

Procedure
Wash potatoes, and boil or steam just until tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Remove skins. Cut potatoes into uniform pieces. Fill jars; leave 1 inch of headspace. Add 1 teaspoon canning salt per quart, or ½ teaspoon per pint, to each jar, if desired. Cover with fresh boiling water or syrup. (See MU Extension publication GH1455, How to Can Fresh Fruit, for syrup directions.) Remove air bubbles. Adjust lids, and process as directed in Table 1.

Potatoes, white—cubed or whole

Quantity
For each 7-quart canner load, you need an average of 35 pounds of potatoes. For each 9-pint canner load, you need an average of 22½ pounds of potatoes.

A 50-pound bag yields 8 to 12 quarts (an average of 5 pounds per quart).

Quality
Select small-to-medium, mature potatoes of ideal quality for cooking. Potatoes stored below 45 degrees F may discolor when canned. Choose potatoes with a 1- to 2-inch diameter if they are to be packed whole.

Procedure
Wash and peel potatoes. Place in ascorbic acid solution to prevent darkening. (See MU Extension publication GH1455, How to Can Fresh Fruit. If desired, cut into ½-inch cubes. Drain. Cook cubed potatoes 2 minutes in boiling water, and drain again. For whole potatoes, boil 10 minutes and drain. Add 1 teaspoon canning salt per quart, or ½ teaspoon per pint, to each jar, if desired. Fill jars with hot potatoes and fresh hot water; leave 1 inch of headspace. Remove air bubbles. Adjust lids, and process as directed in Table 1.

Pumpkins and winter squash

Caution
It is unsafe to can mashed or pureed pumpkins or squash. Instead, cut pumpkins or squash into cubes.

Quantity
For each 7-quart canner load, you need an average of 16 pounds of pumpkins or squash. For each 9-pint canner load, you need 10 pounds of pumpkins or squash (an average of 2¼ pounds per quart).

Quality
Pumpkins and squash should have a hard rind and stringless, mature pulp of ideal quality for cooking fresh. Small pumpkins (sugar or pie varieties) make better canned products.

Procedure
Wash, remove seeds, cut into 1-inch-wide slices and peel. Cut flesh into 1-inch cubes. Boil 2 minutes in water. Fill jars with cubes and cooking liquid; leave 1 inch of headspace. Remove air bubbles. Adjust lids, and process as directed in Table 1.

Spinach and other greens

Note
Greens can be canned, but freezing results in a better product.

Quantity
For each 7-quart canner load, you need an average of 28 pounds of fresh spinach or other greens. For each 9-pint canner load, you need an average of 18 pounds of fresh spinach or other greens. A bushel weighs 20 pounds and yields 3 to 9 quarts (an average of 4 pounds per quart).

Quality
Can only freshly harvested greens. Discard any wilted, discolored, diseased or insect-damaged leaves.

Leaves should be tender and attractive in color.

Procedure
Wash only small amounts of greens at a time. Drain water and continue rinsing until water is clear and free of grit. Cut out tough stems and midribs. Place 1 pound of greens at a time in cheesecloth bag or blancher basket and steam 3 to 5 minutes, or until wilted thoroughly.

Fill jars loosely with greens, add fresh boiling water and leave 1 inch of headspace. Add ½ teaspoon canning salt to each quart jar, or ¼ teaspoon per pint, if desired. Remove air bubbles. Adjust lids, and process as directed in Table 1.

Table 1. Recommended process times for vegetables in a pressure canner

Information in this publication is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied.