5 Simple Tips to Make Canning Fun Even if You’ve Never Done it Before
If the thought of canning makes you think of some complicated setups with hours of standing legwork, you’re not alone. Many beginners feel that canning is intimidating & I don’t really blame ‘em because I did too before I started. But on the other side now, I can confidently say it doesn’t have to be! Just use an easy canning tip (there are 5 below) to help, plus with a few creative touches canning can be just as fun as it is rewarding.
Start Small with Beginner-Friendly Recipes
I’m confident you’ll enjoy canning more if you start with beginner-friendly canning recipes. That’s the #1 easy canning tip I have for you. Similar to “go for what you know” meals on the weekend when Mom doesn’t cook, such recipes are nearly fool-proof for an early-off canner. Recipes like simple jams, pickles, or applesauce (which is by far one of my personal faves).
I love recipes like these because they usually require very little ingredients & the prep is often simpler. That means you’ll be saving time & skipping out on those “hours of legwork”.
Related Blog Post: How much time should I set aside for preserving anyway?
But for your effort, you end up with some ridiculously delicious foods to start stocking (& displaying) on your pantry shelves. These beginner canning recipes expose you to the same skill set that a more complex canning recipe might like like sanitizing jars, applying lids & processing.
Check my all-time favorite low-sugar jam making book out if you need some inspo! Preserving with Pomona’s Pectin. OR – find simple recipes with trusted instructions in the National Center for Home Food Preservation USDA’s complete guide to canning.
Set the Atmosphere – Create a Vibe
A comfortable setup makes a big difference with how enjoyable canning feels.
So my favorite (& quite possibly the easiest “easy” canning tip or trick out there) is to make the space ooze with comfort.
Lay out all your tools, jars & ingredients ahead of time. Don’t get stressed already because you can’t find the veggie peeler alright.
Clear a dedicated workspace. Even if your kitchen is tinier than a ship’s cabin window, make sure you account for this. Pull up the dining table or bring out some tray tables. Lay a cutting board over the sink or an open drawer for extra space. I still do this sometimes.
Create a bomb playlist. Like frfr! Whatever your vibe, this is the time for it to shine. I’m a multi-genre music loving girl. My playlist alternates between some Sammy Davis Jr. crooner music & Christian rap artists like Caleb McCoy. You’ll also find I love blasting a lil Bing Crosby or Motown too (Christmas music year-round? Yes. That’s definitely me though I do try to have some chill most months for a lil balance.) And if you’re not into music, try podcasts or audiobooks. I love podcasts (business/entreprenurial & even true crime) because I can lose myself in them. But if the gang joins me, I love having classic lit audiobooks on like Anne of Green Gables & Little Women because they occasionally will actually listen to bits of them.
Preparing in advance not only saves you time but also reduces stress. And if you’re not stressed going into the session, you can focus on the fun of canning instead of scrambling for supplies. Sorta how chef’s operate in mise-en-place (meaning everything in it’s place & likely pre-measured too), this simple setup will do wonders for your canning experiences.
Make Canning Social
Canning really shouldn’t be a solo activity! Invite family or a friend to join you.
Yeah, maybe both of ya know just as much as the other, but learn together. It turns the activity into a memorable event.
And you both walk away with some goodies – if you share that is. 😎
Alternatively, if you’re on your own, you can always cue up your favorite YouTubie for the down time.
Customize Your Canning Jars
Decorating your jars by adding custom labels is a simple way to bring your own creativity into canning. You can DIY these for sure using a software like Canva (which I absolutely looooooove). But if you’re not feeling the most creative, you can sort through a million & three Pinterest pins & Etsy stores.
Besides decorative labels, you might like putting fabric on top of your lids or some ribbon around them. These personal touches make the jars pretty to look at on the shelf, but it also turns canning into something like an art project. Andddddd if you gift these later, you can skip trying to find a bag in that sea of old gift bags you got under the stairs.
A quick word on labeling, because this is actually ultra-important.
Whatever your label looks like, you need to standardize some info that goes on it.
- You should always have the date (mo/yr is fine) the item was made at minimum. This is how the majority of my items are because I can tell a jar of home canned black beans apart from a jar of home canned strawberries. It gets harder to distinguish items once you start canning jams or meals.
- So include the name of the item as necessary. Home canned soups & blended jams are ideal candidates for this criteria.
- Add a batch number for FIFO (first-in, first-out) purposes. It’s an easy canning tip for beginners that reduces food waste by making sure you eat through your oldest jars first before more recent ones. If you made… …peach pie filling multiple times this summer, labeling them 1/3 or 2/3, etc. keeps this bit simple.
- Common allergen info is always helpful, but especially if you intend to give your home canned food as gifts. You might forget which recipe you used or what was in it. 🤷🏽♀️
- And speaking of gifts, you could always include a cute lil signature like “Made with love by Claire” or something cheesy like that.
Focus on the Rewards
This is an easy canning tip that requires some remembering. At the end of the day, you can pull out all the tricks of the trade & still struggle to make canning fun. And that’s ok.
The satisfaction that comes from opening a jar of homemade jam or pickles is unbeatable. When you think about the rewards, canning feels like a worthwhile investment, not just a task to check off. You’ll save money, reduce waste, and have your own stock of high-quality, preservative-free foods. Remember, pull out any of these easy canning tip or tricks to make the process fun & that each jar you fill is just a physical representation of the skill & effort you’ve put in.
Key Take-Aways
With a few tweaks, canning can go from intimidating to enjoyable! Starting small, creating a relaxing workspace, making it social, and adding personal touches are all easy ways to make canning fun and fulfilling. Remember, anyone can learn to can, and each step you take brings you closer to a pantry full of delicious, homemade goods.
🌱 Start Small. Start Now. Start where you are with what you have. The rest will follow. 🌱
If you want to be more self-sufficient, start with your food.
But you don’t have to give up good food to do it!
The Eat Good Food All the Time e-course is here & FREE!
You already know how to eat good food.
Let me show you how to save $$$ doing it.