Good resource for learning to preasure can?

[Gargoyle91]

So I got my pressure cooker/canner with the ambition of learning to pressure can but now I'm a bit nervous about it lol

Can someone explain how pressure canning works ? I'm going to do things like Bean soup , Chili ect .. Even meat if I can get it down but I'm confused because from what I'm understanding is you actually cook stuff in the canning process how do you know how long to cook and not over cook but still make sure it canned properly also if a item is already cooked like bean soup will the canning process over cook the soup ?

 

[SmokenFire]

A few good resources I have used in the past:
 
National Center For Home Food Preservation
 
Fresh Preserving (From the makers of Ball canning jars)
 
University of Minnesota (handy reference chart)
 
Pressure canning is a great way to save low acid foods.  It's not difficult or too time consuming, but you MUST be very strict about cleanliness.  Good luck! 

 

[The_NorthEast_ChileMan]

So I got my pressure cooker/canner with the ambition of learning to pressure can but now I'm a bit nervous about it lol

Can someone explain how pressure canning works ? I'm going to do things like Bean soup , Chili ect .. Even meat if I can get it down but I'm confused because from what I'm understanding is you actually cook stuff in the canning process how do you know how long to cook and not over cook but still make sure it canned properly also if a item is already cooked like bean soup will the canning process over cook the soup ?

 
Above are great off-forum sites, don't forget the "standard" BALL-KERR

But right here at the THP Forum:

Canning peppers WITHOUT a waterbath
Pressure canner
pressure canning

 

[Gargoyle91]

I guess my main question is can you pressure can precooked food or will the canning process over cook it ?

 

[CaneDog]

Cool on getting the PC.  I'm not the best person to answer that last question of yours, but I am curious what type you got. 
 
They're pretty handy.

 

[Gargoyle91]

Cool on getting the PC.  I'm not the best person to answer that last question of yours, but I am curious what type you got. 
 
They're pretty handy.

I got the Pesto 23 quart cooker canner

https://www.gopresto.com/product/presto-23-quart-pressure-canner-01781

 

[CaneDog]

Nice!  I have a 21-1/2 Quart PC, so a very similar size.  For me it seems to be a good balance between it being big enough to do a lot with it and process bigger batches, but not being quite so big as to be a hassle.

 

[SmokenFire]

I guess my main question is can you pressure can precooked food or will the canning process over cook it ?

 
you mention canning beans and chili.  assuming its ground beef chili - that stuff is pretty hard to overcook.  I have not pressure canned beans, but I imagine their texture might be a little soft. this website disagrees though, and makes pressure canned dry beans sounds really good.