Author Archives: Sharon

Interview with Tattler and SimplyCanning.com

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Hi Sharon here, with SimplyCanning.com.   Listen in here as I interviewed Brad Stieg of Tattler Reusable Canning Lids. We discuss tips for using tattler lids, how long they last and why they are as Brad puts it….. “good math”.

LINK TO INTERVIEW

tattler reusable canning lids tally

Interview with Sharon and Brad.

 

 

 

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Tips for using Tattler Reusable Canning Jar Lids

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Here are a few tips to make using Tattlers easy.

Heating Tattlers before placing on the jar.

Before you place your lids on the jars you need to simmer in a pan of water.   I’ve heard some say that the gaskets are small and hard to pick out of the pot.

This is such an easy thing to solve!  Don’t place the lids in the water separately.  It is much easier to place the gasket right on the white lid, and then lay them all down flat in the pan to simmer.  Use a tongs to pull the lid and gasket out together.

Occasionally a gasket will slip off but most of the time they stay right in place.

Placing Tattlers on the jar.

Doing it this way is awkward.

I’ve read of a few people who are trying to place the gasket of the tattler lids on the rim of the jar and THEN adding the white lid and finally screwing it all down together.  This is an awkward way to work with these lids.  Trying to line up the gasket on the jar rim would be difficult.

Do it this way!!

Another easy tip.  I simply leave the gasket on the tattler lid and place them both on the jar.  It slips right on and is much easier this way.  That little rim holds it in place pretty well.

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Retailers with Tattler Reusable Canning Lids

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We have begun shipping TATTLER products to a significant number of retailers across the US, as everyone prepares for the coming canning season. Look for TATTLER Reusable Canning Lids in

  • True Value,
  • Do It Best, and soon
  • Ace Hardware stores nationwide.

And….. If your local store doesn’t carry them, be sure to ask!  They can be ordered through their respective distribution systems.

Check our Store Locator to help find the closest retailer.

tattler reusable canning lids retailers

Click here to find the closest retailer to you.

 

A partial list of retailers with TATTLER products.

Arkansas – Haynes Hardware, Conway – Growfresh, Ft. Smith

California – Fairfax Lumber/Hardware Ace, Fairfax – Pollinate Farm and Garden, Oakland – Pickle-biotics, Ojai – Nutragroup, San Francisco

Colorado – Mile High Ace, Federal Heights – Downtown Ace, Ft. Collins – Harvest Reserve, Grand Junction – Ace Gambles, Hotchkiss – Valley Ace, Westcliffe

Florida – Hagan Ace, Orange Park

Iowa – Dutchman’s Store, Cantril – Taste of Country, Holstein – Norby’s, Independence – Stringtown Grocery, Kalona – Big G Foods, Marengo

Idaho – Badger Peak, McCall – Moscow Ace, Moscow

Illinois – Big R Stores

Indiana – Habeggers Ace of Bluffton, Bluffton – Yoder’s Shipshewana Hardware, Shipshewana

Kansas – West’s Plaza Country Mart, Abline – Ranch Mart Ace, Overland Park

Minnesota – Nelson’ Marketplace, Albert Lea – L&M Supply, Grand Rapids – Ogle’s Marketplace Foods, Grand Rapids – Ace Hardware, Little Falls – Glen’s Food Center, Luverne – Running’s Supply, Marshall – Cub Foods, Minnetonka – Peterson’s North Branch Mill, North Branch – Hy Vee, Rochester – Eggplant Urban Farm Supply, St Paul – Maynard’s, Westbrook

Missouri – Morgan County Seeds, Barnett – Rolling Hills Store, Jamesport – Henkle Ace Hardware, Webb City

Montana – Great Falls Ace, Great Falls – Lewistown Ace, Lewistown – Pantry Paratus, Libby

North Carolina – Water’s Ace, Swansboro – Mast General Store, Valle Crucis – Blair Super Foods, Blair

New Hampshire – Goffstown Ace Hardware, Goffstown

New Jersey – Big Fly Sports, North Bergen

New York – Schuylers, Panama City

Ohio – Lehman’s, Dalton – The Jam and Jelly Lady, Lebanon – Middlefield Ace, Middlefield

Oregon – BI-MART, Eugene – Nichol’s Garden Nursery, Albany – Down to Earth Distributors, Eugene – Grange Co-op, Medford – Parkrose Ace Hardware, Portland – Miniflerd Farm, Prineville

Pennsyvania – Echo Hill Country Store, Fleetwood

South Carolina – Pee Dee Christian Book and Supply, Florence

South Dakota – Ken’s Food Fair, Britton – Ken’s Food Fair, Clark Breadroot Co-op, Lead – Hartman’s Family Foods, Milbank – Running’s Supply, Pierre

Texas – Smart Food Storage, Blooming Grove – Denver City Ace, Denver City – Medina Ace, Medina

Utah – Kringle’s Toys and Gifts, American Fork

Virginia – Twin’s Ace, Fairfax – Red Hill General Store, Hillsville

Washington – Battle Ground Apothecary, Battle Ground – Good Ideas For Life, Bellingham – Skagit, Burlington – Ferndale Ace, Ferndale – Skagit, Freelant – Skagit, Mt Vernon – Swain’s General Ace Hardware, Port Angeles – Skagit, Sedro-Wooley, Skagit, Stanwood – Parkrose Ace Hardware, Vancouver – Good Ideas For Life, Wauconda

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Sharon’s video review of Tattler lids.

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Hey all,  I’m figuring out how to do videos!   I figured I’d share my review of tattler canning lids.  Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Sharon

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Carla, Hannah, Nora and Susie have something in common.

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There are a few types of people who like home canning. In fun I decided to give them names.  Of course these are simply fun names for some typical traits.  The reality is there is probably a bit of each in most of us… but some of us will tend toward one of these four fictional characters.  Crafty Carla, Healthy Hanna, Nostalgic Nora and Sustainable Susie.   Which one are you?  Leave a comment below and lets find out who visits here.

Crafty Carla cans for fun.

reusable canning lids at the fair She makes jams jellies, pickled items.  Wraps them all up with pretty ribbons and baskets and offers them to friends and family for gifts.  She can always be found at the county fair with a few blue ribbons. I’m a bit jealous of Crafty Carla….. I’m not nearly that creative.

Healthy Hanna represents the health conscious folks.

These people are interested in what is in their food.  They grow their own organic gardens or purchase good organic foods from local farm stands.  They what to know what they are eating, where that food has come from and feel good creating a healthy diet for their families.  I’ve a good portion of Healthy Hannah in me.  I LOVE knowing what is in my jars and what goes on my table is very important to the health of my family.

Nostalgic Nora

Nora loves the old days. When homesteading skills were the norm and Momma and Grandma passed down the skills of sewing, gardening, canning and cooking. She loves her modern appliances…. but would seriously consider going back to the days of jars and fresh eggs from right under the chicken.

Sustainable Susie.

Susie wants more than a great orange marmalade.  She wants to create a sustainable lifestyle without the dependency on the local grocery stores, which depend on the truck drivers, who are greatly affected by the gas pricing, which is dependent on….. you get the idea. If you are the self reliant sort….. good for you!  So am I.

I’m guessing that a lot of today’s audience are looking to learn to can to be able to feed their family. I (Sharon) am strong cross between Susie, Nora and Hannah. Carla on the other hand has it all over me…. I just can’t get my ribbons straight.

What are you?

Crafty Carla?

Healthy Hannah?

Nostalgic Nora?

Sustainable Susie?

Leave a comment and lets take a poll.  (all scientific and everything of course ;)

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Tattler canning lid reviews

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Tattler lid reviews found around the Web.

Food Storage and Survival

We do a lot of canning here.  And the thought has always followed that in an emergency situation, canning things would be impossible without a good supply of canning lids.  The jars and rings can be re-used, but the lids are supposedly a one time use deal.  So we stock canning lids in the food storage.  A bunch of them.  But even those will eventually run out and then canning as a preservation method is done.  ……. Click to Read more.

Alaskan Bargain Hunter Blogspot

Reusable canning lids. Yes, they exist. Yes they have existed for quite some time (since 1976 as a matter of fact). And yes, they do indeed work and they kick some major canning keester!    …….Click to Read more.

Food Storage Made Easy

This year I did my canning almost exclusively with Tattler Reusable Canning Lids. They have recently put out some new instructions that I wanted to try, and I have used them enough times now that I felt like I could give an accurate review on them. So here are some of my experiences this year:     ….. Click to Read more. 

 

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Is the pressure canner really necessary?

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Occasionally I get letters with questions from people who are fearful of pressure canning. Big pots… valves, steam, pressure, scary! It isn’t really necessary… is it?

My answer is YES it IS really necessary. The fear that these new canners express is real. Know what conquers fear? Knowledge. If you understand why pressure canning is important you will overcome that fear of that “big ol pot”

HOW PROCESSING STOPS SPOILAGE IN YOUR FOODS

The short explanation of what happens when you process your jars: During processing, as the contents boil, food spoilers are stopped and oxygen is expelled from the jar. As the jar cools after processing, its contents shrink and the lid is pulled down flat to form a seal.

This prevents further contamination of the freshly sterilized foods inside the jar. The difference between water bath and pressure canning is the amount of heat produced. A pressure canner produces a much higher level of heat. And remember, botulism can only be killed at very high temperatures. Let’s go over each method.

Pressure Canning

Processing in a pressure canner is the only recommended method of canning vegetables, meats or recipes that include any of these as ingredients. Chili or soup recipes are some examples. Vegetables and meats are low acid foods. Botulism thrives in low acid, low oxygen environments. Just like what you find in a jar of home canned food. In order to get rid of the risk of botulism… pressure is necessary. Pressure boosts the heat levels in your canner high enough to kill the bacteria that causes botulism.

Waterbath canning

High acid foods may be safely processed in a water bath canner. Fruits like apples, peaches, pears etc are high acid foods. Pie fillings, jams, jellies and fruit spreads (such as apple butter) are all included in this group.

Pickled products are also considered to be a high acid food even though they are usually vegetables. Since they have acid added during preparation, usually in the form of vinegar or lemon juice they are acidic enough to be safely processed in a waterbath canner.

Salsa, some condiments including ketchup and barbecue sauce, as well as the dill pickle are included in this group. Because the acid is added during the cooking process, these are also considered high acid foods and are safely processed in a boiling water bath.

Pay attention to where you get your recipes for this group! Be sure it is a tested recipe from a reliable source. Safety in canning is based on the acidity level of your foods. If you are using a tested recipe you will know that the ingredients are acidic enough to be safe.

Making your family sick is much more fearful than taking any chances with unsafe canning. When pressure canning is called for. I suggest you follow the recommended guidelines, and process your foods with the correct canning methods.

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Canning Beets and losing color

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Question from Sharon’s inbox :

I just canned 8 pints of beets and they have all lost their color.  I left about 1 inch on the stem and didn’t cut the root when I cooked them.  They looked fine when I filled the jars, when I took them out of the canner, the water was red and the beets look white.  I did add a teaspoon of cider vinegar to each jar before canning.  Would the vinegar make them lose their color?  Thank you!

Hi Barb,   Leaving the stems and roots will help, but beets will always lose some color when you can them.  It is an unfortunate reality.   I don’t use vinegar when I am canning beets so I’m not familiar with it to know if it affects color. But I wouldn’t think it would change anything.

Your beets shouldn’t turn extremely white though. They should have some color.  A dark pinkish color.

If yours are losing a lot of color be sure and check your processing time. Over processing may cause more color loss. But don’t reduce your processing below what is recommended just to keep the color.

With pickled beets it is a different story. The beets stay nice and red. They are only waterbath processed so it is a gentler process.

Commercial canners have different equipment and are able to reach the correct temperature for safety with different processes. (I also can’t help but wonder how much food die is in those cans.) Home canned still beat them in taste though!

Sharon

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Canning Safety 101 – Old Fashioned Methods

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There are only 2 recommended methods for home canning. Water Bath Canning and Pressure Canning. Other old fashioned methods are not acceptable!

open kettle canning

Corn Cob Jelly I turned upside down for illustration purposes only…. I do NOT use this method in my own home.

The first old fashioned method I’d like to mention is; open kettle canning. This is a process where jars of jam, jelly or fruits are simply packed hot and then turned upside down on the counter to cool. This is still often used today.

Many people feel comfortable with this. However there is still a higher risk of other types of spoilage! You are much better off spending the extra few minutes and processing those jars in a water bath canner. Why go to all that work just to have it go bad on you.

Other things I’ve heard of are adding aspirin to your jars. This is not an effective preservative and will not make your food safe.

Oven canning is when filled jars are placed in an oven to heat and then cook and seal. According to the University of Georgia this is not safe because the heat produced in ovens is not always consistent. Oven temperatures vary, the dry heat does not circulate as well as boiling water or pressure in a pressure canner.

If you are going to go to all that work, be sure of your results. Why take the risk of making your family sick or having to throw away all that food. It is a simple process to just boil your jars of jam, or place those veggies in a pressure canner.

More information is available at www.simplycanning.com/canning-safety.html

 

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Why learn the skill of home canning?

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Why do YOU can your own food?  Leave a comment and let us know!

Just for Fun!

Canning can be fun.  Home canners can make their own varieties of jams and jellies. Pickled items are wonderful to have on your shelf for summer picnics.

Home canned items make great gift items. Purchase an inexpensive basket, dress it up with ribbons and a pretty dish cloth in the bottom. Add a couple of jars of homemade jam and a box of gourmet crackers. Or line your basket with a red checked tablecloth, add a jar of each: dill pickles, sweet pickle relish, homemade barbecue sauce. Add in some cute picnic themed paper plates and matching napkins.  People LOVE presents like this. No one really wants another nick-knack to dust.

home canned apricots

Home canned apricots from a local orchard. Dress them up with ribbons on a basket… and they make a great gift.

Healthy Local Food

Many people have backyard gardens so they can know what exactly is going on and in their foods they eat. They love organic foods and love knowing what they are eating. Maybe they need to reduce their salt intake. When you grow and can your own produce you know exactly what is on your dinner table.  If you don’t have your own garden you can still have more control over your dinner table by purchasing your foods from local orchards and farmers markets.

Preparedness and Self Reliance

I’m guessing that a lot of readers on this blog are looking to learn to can to be able to feed their family. You want more than a great orange marmalade. You want a pantry full of green beans, applesauce, tomatoes, meat and more.

Commercially packaged traditional food storage will not last forever. No matter how many cans of freeze dried vegetables you buy…. You will run out eventually.

Gardening and preserving skills will sustain you year after year. Tattler is ideal for this type of canner. If things ever get bad and the old metal lids are not available… you will still have your tattlers.

Save freezer space and costs.

If you read the news you will hear things like ‘Electricity costs are likely to skyrocket’. I’ll fully admit, it is more preparation work to can your food. Freezing is easy, just pop it into a bag and freeze it. However… what if your freezer goes down? You’ll lose all that food if you don’t’ do something quick. Jars on a shelf are not at as much risk.

All of the above are legitimate reasons to learn the skill of canning.  Don’t wait, get started now. Whether it is a few tomato plants on your apartment balcony. Or a 1/2 acre garden.   Plan a garden this year.  And learn how to preserve that food.

So I’m curious just where my audience is on this issue. Tell me…… why do YOU want to can your own foods?  Is it just for fun? Is it for self reliance reasons? Leave a comment below.

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