Canning Chicken

(a re-post from my family blog)

You may want to crinkle up your nose like this and you may either think I am gross or you will think this is awesome.

Either way you can laugh at the pictures of me handling raw chicken. It's not my favorite thing in the world.

Last year I was introduced to the idea of canning meat for food storage purposes...
I went to a friends house to learn and found out that it wasn't as intimidating as I thought it was going to be. I've canned pickles and peaches in the past and thought that was pretty easy but this is so much easier! I have been on a hunt for my own pressure canner ever since she showed me and even had several people looking out for a used one....and finally got around to purchasing one.
( Thanks MOM!)

This week chicken breast went on sale for .95c a lb and I went crazy buying out the stores supply..seriously! And I am going back for some more tomorrow!


The process of canning chicken is fast and easy...I had a little helper.


Here is the process:
1. Fill your pressure canner (not to be confused with pressure cooker) with boiling water to the lowest mark in the pot.
2. Fill CLEAN pint jars with RAW chicken up to the neck of the jar. (It's about 1 lb. per jar)
3. Place 1/2 tsp of salt into each pint jar.
4. Wipe tops of jars to clean from any debris/salt with a clean washcloth dipped in vinegar.
5. Boil lids in water for 3 minutes
6. Place boiled lids on jar and place rings on.
7. Place all the jars into the canner.
8. Close canner and let it steam out for 10 minutes.
9. Put weight on the pressure canner and wait for the pressure gauge to reach 11 psi...once it's reach this point start the timer for 75 minutes.
10. Adjust temperature on the stove to keep the psi at 11 the whole time....never leaving the canner! You will adjust the temperature several times during the process.
11. After 75 minutes turn off stove...allow the psi to return to "0" and wait until everything is quiet...you will hear the steam.
12. Once completely cooled carefully lift lid off canner away from your face! Unless you are in need of a steam facial. Just kidding...don't do that.
13. Place jars on a towel on the counter top...take off rings and listen for the pop pop of the jars sealing! TA...DA!

Now you can..open up a jar of cooked chicken for your family and put together a meal in minutes! Think about the possibilities...chicken salads, chicken enchiladas, chicken tacos, soups.....

linking to Tatertots and Jello