Home Canning Bread and Butter Pickles 
Leave a Comment
Home canning is not hard and it's really not labor intensive. I'm sorry I didn't start canning YEARS ago. The key is having all the tools, pots, jars and lids ready and understanding the flow of the recipe. Home can one time and you'll have it down to preserve ANY food you like. The steps are pretty much the same. The only differences between recipes are the measurements of the ingredients for the food you want to preserve.
This is my first home canning experience. I chose to put-up Bread & Butter Pickles because they're the Pre-K of home canning. Super, super simple, it didn't feel like I really canned at all.
HERE'S ALL IT TAKES
- 7 lb pickling cucumbers (about 28 small to medium)
- 5 cups white vinegar
- 5 cups sugar
- 1 3.5-oz pkg Ball® Simple Creations® Bread & Butter Pickle Mix
- 4 (32 oz) quart or 8 (16 oz) pint glass preserving jars with lids and bands
CUT cucumbers into 1/2-inch thick slices, discarding ends.
SOAK cut cucumbers in ice water for 4 hours before preparing recipe. Then drain.
PREPARE boiling water canner. Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside.
COMBINE vinegar, sugar and contents of package in a medium saucepan. Heat to a boil.
PACK drained cucumber slices into hot jars leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Ladle hot pickling liquid over cucumbers leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles. Wipe rim. Center hot lid on jar. Apply band and adjust until it is fingertip tight.
PROCESS filled jars in a boiling water canner for 15 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.
For added flavor, allow pickles to stand for 4 to 6 weeks.
Start with Fresh Pickling Cucumbers
Here I am. Happy to be canning for the first time.
I used a ruler to make 1/2-inch cuts, consistantly.
Cut slices soaking in ice bath for 4 hours.
Got my tools out, cleaned & ready.
Pots are in position, water is hot.
Sterile, hot jars waiting to be filled.
Filled, Processed and Cooling.
