Kevin Lee Jacobs

Gardening, Recipes & Home Décor Tips

September Giveaway: Waterbath Canning Kit

BY Kevin Lee Jacobs | 98 Comments

Last updated on December 2nd, 2011

BECAUSE MY FREEZER IS TOO SMALL TO ACCOMMODATE ALL THE TOMATOES I’VE HARVESTED, I’ve decided to learn a new skill: waterbath canning. And to make the job as easy as possible, I ordered the nifty canning-kit you see pictured above. Of course, I purchased an extra kit for you. Would you like a chance to win it in a random drawing?

Generations of food-preserving-enthusiasts (including my mother and her mother) have used Ball’s canning kit. The product features a 21-quart capacity enamel waterbath canner, plus these really cool doo-dads: a funnel for filling the jars; a magnetic stick for retrieving heated lids; a plastic stick for removing air-bubbles; a chrome-plated rack for lowering jars into the canner, and a rubberized tong-device for lifting jars from their hot bath.

What can you preserve with this kit? Basically, anything that’s acidic. Jams, jellies, peaches, pickles and tomatoes come to mind. (To insure that tomatoes contain enough acidity, you have to add a little citric acid — either lemon juice or “Fruit Fresh” — to their jars.)

If you don’t want this canning kit, I suspect you know someone who does. What a great gift for someone who wants to learn how to “put food by.”

To enter this random drawing, just do these 3 simple things:

1. Sign up (if you haven’t already) for my weekly email newsletter.
2. Leave a comment below. Tell me what you’ve already preserved from your garden or farmers’ market, or what you would preserve, if only you had this kit. If that’s too much trouble, just say “Hello.” In any event, leave your email address (or just a portion of it) so that I can easily verify you’ve subscribed to my newsletter.

3. Click the Facebook “Like” button below.

Enter soon! This drawing ends at 11:59 PM on Saturday, September 10, 2011. I’ll announce the winner at the end of the comments; the winner will also be contacted by email. As always, I’ll let Random.org select the winner.

I look forward to reading your comments.

Don’t miss anything at A Garden for the House…sign up for Kevin’s weekly newsletter.

Related Posts:
Tomato-mania!
How to Ripen Green Tomatoes Indoors
How I Freeze Kale and Other Greens
Freezing Peaches
How to Harvest & Store Winter Squash

Comments

  1. 1

    Kelly says

    I have canned tomatoes with my grandmother YEARS ago and my mother and I made blueberry jam from blueberries that we grew in our yard. Now, since we don't have a canning set up I have been freezing veggies from our garden and local farmers markets. I would LOVE to win this set and re-learn how to can! (Especially since we have a daughter who will be exploring solid foods this winter). [email protected] 🙂 I subscribed. (GREAT blog!)

  2. 2

    [email protected] says

    OH, I would love love love to have this. I just processed some squash pickles last night. I do not have a canner and the pot I have is not quite deep enough (plus it doesn't have the racks in it) so the canning process does not go so well. This would surely make it a more enjoyable process 🙂

  3. 3

    Kate Stalter-Mastro says

    My first canning adventure was just one month ago. I put up 5 quarts of homemade tomato sauce. It was quite a learning experience but it is all part of getting back to basics. As my journey continues I anticipate greater yield from my garden, more “put up” foods in the pantry and a greater satisfaction with Life in general. Our move to North Carolina has brought a greater balance to our lives and this is just part of it.

  4. 4

    Jon says

    I just put lots of tomatoes in the freezer this would enable me to finish the job properly ,my freezer is getting full already and I have corn and brussel sprouts to go !Thanks , I enjoy reading your posts

  5. 5

    Wendy Komorowski says

    Ohh I can , tomatoes , Salsa, Green beans,Tomato jam,Tomato sauce, Tomato paste, I pickle, garlic , Saurkraut, Pickles, My water bath canner is so old it is kinda getting rusty, I was telling my hubbs I so need a new one , I love the flat rack, it can be used with the europen jars alot easier 😀 I could use this and If I don't win I'd love to know where you got it 😀 Partial email is w8in4 , You have a very nice blog !!
    Have a great day
    Wendy

  7. 7

    Katreader says

    I want to try to be more self sufficient and learning to can would certainly help! I'm one of the weirdos who does not like fresh tomatoes-but I'd love to be able to make something with them and can it!

  8. 8

    sugrz says

    Wow, I could use a new canner mine is 30+ years old. It has been put to great use this summer already and at this point two would be great.
    I also enjoy reading anything on gardening, preserving, day=today country life.

  9. 9

    Broken Barn Industries says

    We haven't learned how to can tomatoes yet- don't have the kit! That's definitely #1 on our list. Also, we're gettin' hitched on the 24th so it'd make an awesome wedding present (hint, hint!).

  12. 12

    richard says

    I can so many things that I really could use a 2nd one so it doesn't take as long to get it all done! My wife and daughter carry canned goodies to the nursing home that they both work at, and the residents there just love them.

  13. 13

    Melissa says

    Hi Kevin, I have never canned anything as I was an Army Brat growing up and never even had a garden. Now I live in Sonoma with lemon, orange, meyer lemons in my yard and a friend with a fig tree. I sure would like to try canning and this would sure jump start my desire! Thanks, Melissa

  14. 14

    Viva says

    This looks wonderful. I've never tried canning, but have always been curious. I too have so many tomatoes this season and would use this on those. Plus pickles sound delicious! Email subscriber, viva… happy labor day!

  16. 16

    ErinFromIowa says

    Last year I conquered knitting and what a satisfying and relaxing thing it has turned out to be. I have a feeling canning would be just as awesome. I remember helping to prep the food to be canned when I was under twelve. The rest of the process is a mystery to me.

  18. 18

    Deborah says

    I have a ton of tomatoes in my freezer waiting for…some way to preserve them. Canning would be ideal. Thanks for the chance to win the kit! asthenight at gmail dot com

  19. 19

    BethElderton says

    I would can tomatoes. My grandmother used to make what she called Tomato Relish–I'd call it salsa–and I'd love to make some.
    bethelderton59 at gmail dot com

  21. 21

    sksweeps says

    I did facebook like and am an email subscriber. I currently have a cobbled together set of older (not canning pots) pots, some strange racks that only keep things above bottom, not helpful to get out… I can mainly jam from my blackberries and plums (or combos of above). I'd so love a new, complete, totally designed for canning set! Thanks!
    Suzanne
    sksweeps (at) earthlink (dot) net

  22. 22

    Sharon says

    I would love to can tomatoes. I can remember helping my Great Grandma with canning when I was a kid. I'd love to do it again.

    wdwfla at gmail dot com

  23. 23

    Danny Lindsey says

    Email subscriber.
    I made some kim chee back in the spring. It turned much better than anything I have been
    able to find in the stores. I'm about due to make another batch.
    [email protected]

  24. 24

    duckandjunebug says

    Hello. I love canning and could always use an extra pot to have more than one waterbath going at the same time. This year I've canned 12 qts of tomatoes, varius kids of pickle relish, and the thing I'm most proud of, ketchup. It's delicious.

  25. 25

    pmj says

    email sub
    fb fan
    I would love to learn how to can.
    My mom used to do it every year and we would live on the canned food all winter. It's funny how old is new again!

    pjames330 at aol dot com

  26. 26

    Cindy G says

    One canner just isn't enough around here- I would love to have another! Just finished watermelon rind pickles this morning, about to pick red and yellow peppers for relish, and more tomatoes for sauce. Thanks!

  28. 28

    Chris Nicholson says

    We started out by planning on a 6 x 40 ft. strip
    for peonies that need more sun but do to the
    enthusiasm of our tenant/landscape helper a
    40X40 garden resulted–mid June but still lots
    of produce.

    I'd use the canner for tomato sauce, pickles,
    applesauce, and jellies,jams.

    Thanks for this prize offer.

  29. 29

    Jerry in Sealy says

    Already can, freeze or dry the garden bounty. This year I tried a new idea; Pepper Relish, we have an over abundance of sweet bananna and gypsy peppers so let a few go to red and picked most green/yellow. Fast Pulse in the processor, process onion and thru in a few green tomatoes. Found a really good recipe for sweet relish and proceeded with that idea. Did a 15 minute water bath for pints. Yummy Yummy! Use just like pickle relish in salads etc. I just wanted to make a comment on the merits of canning, hope a newby wins!

  30. 30

    VirginiaGardenGirl says

    I have made srawberry jam from fresh strawberries we pick at a local farm. I put them up in late June and then give them away as Christmas gifts. I would love to learn how to make my own canned tomatoes, etc. now that I have a garden

  31. 31

    h2e says

    I made refrigerator pickles for the first time this year. I've frozen tomatoes, but this year I loaded up my freezer with grass-fed beef! And I keep looking at the canning supplies, but I blew my budget on that beef. Would love to win this kit! Thanks!

  32. 32

    cpage2323 says

    Last year was my first garden experience. I froze a lot of tomato products i had made. This year I, too, made refrigerator pickles. Right now we are harvesting a lot of tomatoes and i was thinking of trying out canning this year. This would be a great giveaway to win. Thanks for the chance.

    trixie420247 at yahoo dot com

  33. 33

    Pam in AZ says

    My family and I like to go prickly pear hunting and it's fun to make jelly with the pears. I would love to have this to make canning easier when I make the jelly! Thank you.

  34. 34

    Mimi Alexander says

    Hello Kevin,
    Reading your weekly Newsletter has been totally enjoyable, informative, educational, and even entertaining at times and I thank you for sharing your experiences and expertise. Ive used many of your tips and hope to do some serious Canning if I'm fortunate to win the Water Bath. Tomatoes are good but going even further…..Marinara Sauce, Chile Salsa Sauce, and thick tomatoe sauce interests me. I like to think BIG and say a prayer for success ~ I've been receiving your weekly Newsletter for a while and send a huge, ~Thank You ~
    Mimi Alexander
    [email protected]
    [email protected]

  35. 35

    Mark Cotrupe says

    My wife and I have been planning to learn canning, but haven't been able to buy all the equipment to get started. This would get us going 🙂

  36. 36

    SneePete says

    What a great idea! I would love to use the waterbath to make mint jelly to use as Christmas gifts. It's so good on top of cream cheese with salty crackers to spread it on. Thanks for the contest. SneePete at gmail

  38. 38

    HomemadeBaby says

    I am an e-mail newsletter subscriber.
    We are going to start our garden from scratch next year since we had our house re-sided and we are redoing all our landscaping. I mostly stick to things like basil pesto, haven't done any canning yet, just freezing – but I would love to work with tomatoes and cucumbers! Thanks!
    Marysa {at} marysa {dot} com

  40. 40

    Doctora says

    Canning is so satisfying. Haven't done it for years and years, but I have a fantastic recipe for pickles, the jars, and just need the canner 🙂
    Doctora/Robin

  41. 41

    Debbi says

    When I commented on FB, I didn't know you were doing a giveaway. This would be a fantastic gift for a new gardener, and I know just the person. Thanks for the opportunity to win one.

  43. 43

    Tris Niem. says

    Hey there! I don't facebook so I hope this doesn't exclude me from the drawing. We have a small container garden…aaaah, the joys of apartment life. We have managed to dehydrate lots of herbs, peppers and flowers. We'd love to be able to can the tomato crop, though. Med bills will not allow for any new purchases this year so winning something would be fantastic! Thanks for the opportunity and keeping my fingers crossed!

  44. 44

    Susan says

    My neighbor and I are gardening at my house this year and we have been canning like crazy. I've got a water bath canner but the rack is rusty so a new set would be nice. We have canned tomatoes, green tomatoes, salsa, pickles, chow chow, relish, jams, etc. Love your blog!
    sscox

  45. 45

    w8in4dave says

    Can I sign up again? I have two emails and two FB accounts 😀 , I have posted this on just about ever site I know of … Trying to get either me our one of my buddies to win this 😀 It is so very very nice of you , and got alot of readers of your newsletter. What a great idea on your part, I pickle relish, pickles saurkraut, I am even going to pickle Garlic 😀 I also can Tomato chunks, toamato Salsa, Spaghetti sauce , I love to water bath instead of pressure canning, my old water bath canner used to belong to my husbands 92 year old mother. I think it is time for a new one 😀 w8in4dave at g mail dot com ….

  47. 47

    Romy says

    As time marches on, so does the age of the canning equipment we all have used. The latest jar that broke when I was canning was a fast save but a disappointing affair. It is time to get a few more things to update the simple kit needed. 🙂 I can say I am creative when I do not have something, however! I entered my email for your newsletter as [email protected]
    My blog is http://www.romysrealm.blogspot.com I live on an island so my computer has become my window to the world.

  48. 48

    Anonymous says

    I have been dying to make pickles again. I canned about a dozen jars one year. They didn't make it through the end of autumn, let alone through the winter. The house smelled so good and pickle-y!!

    Sharon
    (I am subscribed to your newsletter as dragynphyre AT gmail DOT com)

  49. 49

    elizabeth green says

    I always get lots of tomatoes and grapes coming in September and this would be a wonderful way to preserve them!

  50. 50

    Michael says

    We are getting more tomatoes than I can freeze, eat or give away from our garden. I want to start canning the tomato sauce so that we can use it over the winter.

  51. 51

    Dena Mullins says

    One of my fondest memories as a child is pickle day. That is the day grandpa would make the best dill pickles on earth. I would love to win this to start canning also and carry on that tradition.
    [email protected]

  53. 53

    Catina says

    Unfortunately, my garden didn't make it this year due to the extreme heat in Texas, but some of the folks at the farmer's market did. So, I am buying from them and hoping I can put up enough for the winter.

  55. 55

    Nikki.Marie82 says

    I have so many tomatoes I just don't know what to do with all. This would be a great starter kit!! 🙂

  58. 58

    Laura says

    I would love to do more preserving, but it's hard because I don't have the supplies I need. I successfully preserved meyer lemons from our neighbor's garden, but failed at trying to preserve peaches (the jar actually exploded!). I would love to win this!
    lajohnson555 at yahoo dot com

  59. 59

    SolDucky says

    I liked this and am a subscriber!
    We had a TON of cucumbers this year and I would have loved to pickle them, but quite inconveniently had a baby right when the bumper crop seemed to hit! We gave away a lot of cucumbers. I have dozens of tomatoes on the vine still to ripen though.

  60. 60

    Jenn S. says

    I always have more tomatoes and cucumbers then I know what to do with. Would love to try my hand at canning.

    jas8929(at)gmail(dot)com

  68. 68

    t42vek20 says

    Hi I have preserved rosemary and basil. I tried so hard to grow organic green bell peppers this year but they are only half the size they needed to be. I would love to have a canner to preserve all the veggies my son brings me. Thanks for the chance to win one.
    t42vek20 at gmail dot com

  71. 71

    ferriz says

    ive never canned before. we just moved out and can finally grow things. i have no idea where to start!

    email sub: ferriza2(at)yahoo(dot)com
    liked on fb: xferriza2 danielle b

  72. 72

    Amy says

    I am starting a container garden. I hope to have enough food to start canning I would love to win. Thanks for the chance. In sunny FL we seem to be able to grow tomatoes, so I would can sauce and salsa!

  74. 74

    Jammie says

    I am an email subscriber, I liked the post Jammie M, and I would can some pickles, and jams. We picked a mess of fresh fruits would love to do some pie fillings, and jams with them. sweepmorey at gmail dot com

  76. 76

    Anonymous says

    I have wanted to learn to can forever so this would be a great start.

    I liked you on FB(alyce poalillo)and I signed up for your newsletter.

    apoalillo {AT} hotmail dot com

  79. 79

    Anonymous says

    Hi my name is shari and I have canned jams, tomato sauces and k-up. I am on fixed income and shop once a month so if I can can and stock up it will help me to cut cost and trips to the store. [email protected]

  81. 81

    Betty C says

    My mother always canned so many vegetables and made pickles. I haven't done much myself except freezing foods. Our garden wasn't very productive this year but I'm sure next year will be better.

  83. 83

    Beverly Metcalf says

    So far this year I have made strawberry jam, and bread and butter pickles and some crabapple jelly. I'm hoping to can some tomatoes from my garden, if they ever ripen. This would be great to win, my old canning kettle is at least 30 years old. Thanks for having the contest!

  84. 84

    brianpiero says

    Thanks for the giveaway…subscribed via email & clicked the Facebook “Like” button.

    …we have tomatos & various hot peppers that we would love to “can” !

    senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com

  89. 89

    Kevin Lee Jacobs says

    Thanks for playing, everyone! Your comments were fun to read, and if I could, I'd send each and every one of you a waterbath canner. But that's why I use Random.org to select the winner. And it selected comment #2.

    So congrats to [email protected]! I'll contact you via email.

  92. 92

    Cindy Tony says

    I'd love a new canner-I'm still using my late mother's and the poor rack (and the bottom of the canner) is pretty rusty! Just finished up some italian pepper rings.

  93. 93

    lamberjam says

    I know it's too late to enter cause I'm on west coast – but there was nothing better in the world than my mothers canned peaches and apricots – she will be 90 this year –

  97. 97

    viva solar says

    I have done the baisc jams and jellies – cherry, currant, raspberry, grape, a fab strawberry rhubard and blueberry rhubarb, dill pickles, bread and butter pickles. I would love to try canning tomatoes or salsas

  98. 98

    Robin Roski says

    I used to do tomatoes when I was younger. Going through my second childhood now. HAHA. So that kit would be really nice to do it again. And a great improvement over the equipment I used to use. I also plan to do beans this year too, but by the blanch and freeze method you recently described.

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