All About Home Preserving, Bottling, Freezing and Making Sauces, Chutneys, Jams and Jellies
All About Home Preserving, Bottling, Freezing and Drying Foods in the U.K.
(Recipes and illustrated directions to make applesauce, jams, chutneys, salsa, jams and jellies and many more!)
Save money, eat healthier, with no additives or chemicals... and with much better taste! This page provides the links to our illustrated recipes and canning* directions - so easy ANYONE can do it, along with a multitude of other recipes, guides and canning instructions from government food authorities and many universities. I'm busy converting each page to UK standards, equipments and units, so if you encounter a problem, or have a question, just email me!
The recipes were originally developed using U.S. jars and equipment, but they work perfectly in the England, Scotland and Wales, with the following changes:
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Wherever it calls for a "Water Bath Canner", use the largest pot you have, in which the jars can be submerged by 1 to 2 inches of water.
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Wherever it calls for "Pressure Canner", any pressure cooker will do, as long as the jars fit inside and it seals properly.
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Instead of the separate ring and disposable lid "Ball jars" used in the use (which are rare in the UK), you can buy single piece lid canning jars at many farm shops and pyo's OR use the Weck jars (glass lid with a rubber ring) OR wash and re-use jars of sauces, like Patak's curry jars, Bolognese sauce, etc. The lids are intended for single use, but I found during my years in the UK, that they'd actually work a few times. Many farm shops (like Garson's in Esher) sell just the lids.
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If you are looking for equipment and jars for the U.K., see this page. And this page has some excellent and inexpensive cookery books specific to the United Kingdom.
As time permits, I am re-writing the pages below to be specific to equipment and measures used in the UK, so if there's one that interests you, write to me and I'll move it to the top of the list!
Recipes and directions
- General know how and fruit/vegetable picking tips
- Why you should use a canner and how to choose one.
- Summary of approved home food preserving methods
- bottling/canning methods that are considered to be unsafe: steam, microwave, dishwasher, oven, or just sealing the jars without further processing?
- If you are new to home bottling/canning - see these do's, don'ts and tips
- Frequently asked questions about bottling/canning
- Frequently asked questions about freezing
- Jams and jellies
- Bottling/canning - anything that can be safely canned at home!
- Juices: bottling/canning fruit and vegetable juices
- Freezing directions
- Pie fillings
- Sauces, Salsas, Syrups, Fruit Butters and Chutneys
- Soups - bottling/canning vegetable and meat soups at home (see this page for tomato soup)
- Preserving Venison
- Pickling - more than just cucumbers
- Drying / food dehydrating
- Ice cream, gelato and sorbets
- Other recipes - roasted peppers, basil pesto, pies, cakes and much more
- Using honey in place of sugar
- Equipment and supplies
- USDA Food Grades - Ever wonder what was "Grade A"? And why you don't see grade B? How to select different foods, including fresh, frozen and canned? Wonder no more with this one-page guide!
- Food safety - what is botulism?
- NEW! Table of the pH and/or acidity of common fruits, vegetables, grains, breads and common food products
- NEW! This page provide basic facts regarding food poisoning and pathogenic microorganisms and natural toxins related to home food preservation (canning, bottling, drying, jams, salsas, pickling, sauces, etc.). Look up any pathogen (botulism, salmonella, Staph, etc.) and find out what it does and how to prevent it.
- NEW! Label Templates! Click here for labels your can download, edit and customize in Microsoft Word and print on standard Avery label paper for your own jars!
General bottling/canning know-how
- Glossary of Home Preserving (bottling/canning, Freezing, Jam & Jelly-Making, Pickling and Drying) Terms
- How much do I need to pick? Yields and conversion tables
- General bottling/canning tips
- Why do I need a canner?
- How can I test or examine my jars to see if they sealed properly or have spoiled?
- FAQs - bottling/canning questions and answers: Answers to common questions and problems
- Acid content of common fruits and vegetables
- Canners and bottling/canning supplies: descriptions, photos, prices and ordering information
- Pressure bottling/canning: how it is different from water bath bottling/canning and how to use one!
- Hot Pack or Raw Pack? Which is Best in Home bottling/canning?
- How do I fix a jam or jelly that turned out too runny?
- All about pectin - what it is, how it works, types, etc.
- bottling/canning without sugar
- Questions and answers to many questions about home bottling/canning, freezing and making other preserves!
- Can I Sell My Home-Canned Jams and Other Preserves?
Picking tips
Blake's Easy and Illustrated bottling/canning, Preserves and Jam Directions
Jams, Preserves and jellies:
You can use a Water Bath Canner OR a Pressure Canner for all of these recipes:
- Berry jams (strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, loganberry, mixed berry, etc.)
- Apple jelly
- Apricot, peach, plum or nectarine jam.
- Blackberry jam
- Blueberry jam
- Blueberry jelly
- Cherry jam and cherry preserves
- Fig jam
- Fig-strawberry jam
- Grape jelly from fresh grapes
- Grape jelly from grape juice (canned, bottled or frozen)
- NEW! Jelly - from bottled or frozen fruit juices
- Mulberry jam
- Muscadine or scuppernong jelly
- Orange marmalade
- Peach jam
- Pear jam and pear jelly
- Pepper Jelly, hot or sweet, including chilies, jalapeno, and pimiento
- Plum Jam
- Pomegranate jelly
- Raspberry jam
- Strawberry jam
- Tomato Preserves
- Watermelon jelly
- Other jam recipes and jelly recipes.
- What happens if my jam or jelly doesn't gel? Remaking cooked runny jam or jelly instructions can be found on this page
- Foam in Home Jam Making - What It Is and What To Do About It!
Fruit Honeys
Ice Cream, Gelato and Sorbets with your own fruit
- Electric and Manual ice cream makers that require ice and salt:
- How to make ice cream with your own fruit! (strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, blueberry, peach, etc.)
- How to make Gelato
- How to make sugar free, fat free ice cream (strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, blueberry, peach, etc.)
- How to make sugar free, fat free coffee ice cream
- How to make sweet corn ice cream
- Coming in April: How to make frozen yogurt
- Coming in April: How to make sorbet
- Electric ice cream makers that have a bowl that must be frozen in
your freezer:
- How to make ice cream with your own fruit! (strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, blueberry, peach, etc.)
- How to make Gelato
- How to make sugar free, fat free ice cream (strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, blueberry, peach, etc.)
- How to make sweet corn ice cream
- Coming in April: How to make frozen yogurt
- Coming in April: How to make sorbet
- Ice cream makers and manuals
- Lost your manual? We have most manuals here free to download!
- Looking for an ice cream maker? See reviews and information to select one and great prices, too
Sauces, Salsas, Syrups, Butters and Chutneys
You can use a Water Bath Canner OR a Pressure Canner for these (except for spaghetti sauce with meat!):
- How to make applesauce - W, P
- How to make applesauce for a meal (not bottling/canning it) with NO special equipment
- How to make apple butter - W, P
- How to make homemade, home-canned barbecue sauce - W, P
- NEW! How to make Blueberry butter - W,P
- How to make blueberry syrup (it works for strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, too) - W, P
- How to make cranberry sauce - Perfect for thanksgiving and Christmas - bright, colorful, loaded with vitamin C and incredibly easy to make! - W, P
- How to make jellied cranberry sauce - W, P Now, make your own, no nasty store canned glop!
- How to make cran-applesauce - GREAT for the holidays - bright, colorful, not too sweet, not too tart and loaded with vitamin C! Kids love it! - W, P
- Horseradish sauce - refrigerator storage only photos coming shortly!
- NEW! Hot Sauce (like Tabasco Sauce)
- How to make GREAT mango chutney! - W, P
- How to make mango salsa - W, P
- Mint Sauce - for lamb! - W, P
- How to make peach butter - W, P
- How to make peach chutney - W, P
- How to make Peach salsa - W, P
- NEW! How to make fresh and SAFE homemade peanut butter (to eat fresh or store in the fridge or freezer)
- How to make pear butter - W, P
- How to make Raspberry Chipotle Sauce - W, P
- How to make tomato salsa - W, P
- How to make tomato sauce - W, P
- How to make tomato paste - W, P
- How to make spaghetti sauce - without meat - W, P
- How to make spaghetti sauce - with meat - P
bottling/canning miscellaneous fruits and vegetables
Some of these require a pressure canner to prevent potential spoilage and
food poisoning, due to the low acid content of the food. For others, you
can use a Water Bath Canner OR a Pressure Canner. I've noted what's
required for each, below, following each entry, with
W for water bath,
P
for Pressure canner, and
W, P for either may be used!
- bottling/canning apples
- NEW! bottling/canning asparagus - P
- NEW! bottling/canning fresh shelled beans
- How to bottle beets - P
- How to make home canned carrots - P
- How to bottle blueberries (and raspberries, blackberries, currants, dewberries, elderberries, gooseberries, huckleberries, tayberries, loganberries and mulberries.) - W, P
- How to bottle cherries - W, P
- How to bottle corn (hot pack method) - P
- How to bottle corn (raw pack method) - P
- How to bottle figs - make your own figs floating in a jar of light syrup or fruit juice! - W, P
- Candied figs - a tasty but high-sugar Southern treat
- How to make bottled greens, like Spinach, Turnip Greens, Collards, Kale, Swiss Chard
- How to bottle green beans, yellow beans, snap beans, broad beans, etc - P
- How to make bottled dried beans and peas (from kidney beans, peas, lima beans, broadbeans, chickpeas,pole beans, etc.) - P
- How to Make Homemade Canned Baked Beans With Tomato or Molasses Sauce - P
- Elderberries - jams, jellies, syrups and more. (from Utah State)
- How to make ketchup.. or if you prefer... How to make catsup - W, P
- SUPER-EASY homemade ketchup recipe
- How to bottle mangoes - W, P
- How to bottle oranges, grapefruit, lemons, limes, tangerines, clementines and other citrus - W, P
- How to make bottled pears! In sugar solution, water, fruit juice or Splenda! - W, P
- How to make your own home canned peaches, plums, cherries or nectarines (in a light sugar, regular sugar, natural fruit juice or no calorie sweetener solution) - W, P
- How to make bottled spiced peaches - W, P
- How to bottle peas (English peas, crowder peas, blackeye peas and purple hull peas) - P
- Boiled Peanuts! Now Southerners who move to other parts of the country can make their own home-canned boiled peanuts to eat later or give away as gifts
- How to bottle peppers - P
- How to bottle Hot peppers in oil - W, P
- How to make fresh basil Pesto (only fresh and frozen - this can't be home-canned)
- How to bottle potatoes - P
- How to home-can pumpkin (in a cooked, cubed form) and why you shouldn't home-can the pureed forms. Note: Pumpkin is difficult to can safely - it is a low acid food, so that rules out open water bath bottling/canning immediately. Pressure canners can be used, but according to the health authorities (like the National Center for Home Food Preservation) only if the pumpkin is cubed, rather than mashed. I usually just freeze the cooked pumpkin! - P
- How to make pumpkin pie from a whole, fresh pumpkin - the easy way! for fresh or frozen use
- More pumpkin recipes (roasting seeds, pumpkin soup, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cheesecake, pumpkin cookies, etc.) - fresh or frozen use
- How to bottle your own soups and chowders at home - P
- How to bottle sweet potatoes
- How to bottle tomato soup or tomato-basil soup - W, P
- How to bottle tomatoes using a water bath canner - W, P
- How to bottle tomatoes using a pressure canner - P
- Diced, chopped or crushed tomatoes - W, P
- How to bottle Yams
Juices: bottling/canning fruit and vegetable juices
- Apple juice - make and bottle your own apple juice!
- Apple cider - coming soon!
- How to make your own grape juice, scuppernong, juice, muscadine juice, or juice from berries, like blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc. - W, P
- How to make home-canned lemon, orange or other citrus juices
- NEW! Tomato juice
Pie Fillings
- Apple pie filling - with or WITHOUT any added sugar! - W, P
- Blueberry pie filling - W, P
- Cherry pie filling
- Peach pie filling - W, P
- NEW! Strawberry pie filling - W, P
Pickling Recipes - Including Peppers, Okra, Beans and more
You can use a Water Bath Canner OR a Pressure Canner for these:
- Pickled asparagus - W, P
- Pickled beets - W, P
- Bread and butter cucumber pickles - W, P
- Bread-And-Butter Zucchini pickles - W, P
- Pickled green beans - W, P
- Pickled Dill beans - W, P
- Pickled cabbage - W, P
- Pickled carrots - W, P
- Southern Chow-Chow (also called Piccalilli) - W, P
- Pickled corn relish - W, P
- Pickled garlic - W, P - (photos coming!)
- Cucumber pickles (kosher dill, bread & butter, or processed etc.) using mixes - W, P
- Dill pickles, from scratch - W, P
- Old-fashioned fermented general store barrel dill pickles - W, P - (more photos coming)
- Cucumber pickle relish! - W, P - This is the classic hamburger relish!
- No-canning-needed refrigerator cucumber pickles (kosher dill) - W, P
- How to Make Pickled Eggs (to store in the fridge!)
- Mixed vegetable pickles (cauliflower, pepper, onion, celery, cucumber mix) - W, P
- Pickled dilled okra! - W, P
- Pickled peaches (also nectarines, apricots, etc.) - W,P
- Pickled peppers - W, P
- How to make sauerkraut - homemade and naturally fermented! - W, P
- Pickled watermelon rind - W, P
Freezing instructions
- How to freeze apples
- How to freeze berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, tayberries, loganberries, strawberries, saskatoons, cranberries, marionberries, boysenberries, etc.)
- How to freeze basil
- How to freeze beets
- How to freeze broccoli
- How to freeze Brussels Sprouts
- How to freeze green beans (and other beans) from your garden, farm, or store.
- NEW! How to freeze cantaloupes, honeydew, watermelons and other melons
- How to freeze carrots from your garden
- How to freeze celery
- How to freeze corn (niblets style) from ears from your local farm
- How to freeze whole cob corn (corn on the cob) from ears from your local farm
- How to freeze eggplants
- How to freeze kale, collards and other greens - photos coming soon
- NEW! How to Freeze Lima Beans, Broad beans, Butter Beans and/or Pinto Beans
- How to freeze mangos
- How to freeze okra
- NEW! How to freeze orange, lemon, grapefruit or other citrus juices
- How to freeze peaches, plums, nectarines, figs and cherries
- How to freeze peas (snap, English, snow and mangetout)
- How to freeze peppers
- How to freeze potatoes
- How to freeze pumpkin to use later in pumpkin pies and other pumpkin recipes!
- How to freeze summer squash - zucchini, yellow squash, crookneck, scallop, pattypan, etc.)
- How to freeze sweet potato
- How to make Grilled Summer Squash with Feta - which you can freeze for the winter, or serve fresh!
- How to freeze tomatoes from you garden or the farm; for that fresh taste this winter!
- How to freeze turnips and parsnips
- How to freeze winter squashes (like Acorn, Banana, Buttercup, Butternut, Golden Delicious, Hubbard, Spaghetti Squash, etc)
- Products:
Vacuum
Foodsealers for freezing, dried foods, and refrigerated foods - the
FoodSaver line
Other Recipes
for fresh or frozen use
- How to make your own roasted peppers!
- How to make fresh basil Pesto
- World's best apple pie!
- Easy Rhubarb-Strawberry pie
- Christmas Recipes!
- Halloween recipes!
- Blake's Ambrosia - a GREAT tasting dessert, which is ALSO healthy!
- Apple Bread (also known as "Ellijay Apple Bread")
- Apple crunch - best of all! Moist, low sugar and using oats!
- Apple crisp - ever-popular, low sugar and using oats!
- Apple, blackberry, cherry, and/or peach cobbler
- Apple-blackberry, crumble - a English favorite (or favourite)
- Blueberry pie, recipe and directions and illustrated!
- Blueberry buckle coffee cake: illustrated directions for this great crumb-topping blueberry coffee cake
- Other easy directions to make blueberry desserts: cobblers, etc.
- Peach Cobbler directions - easy and great tasting!
Did I miss a recipe?
- And write to me, if you
want directions for something I've missed.
Easy Dehydrating Instructions
See the photos and links at right for a good and inexpensive food drier.
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Bottling/canning, Freezing and Drying Equipment and Supplies
- Books on bottling/canning, freezing, drying, preserving and jam making
- Canners, both water bath and pressure canners. Canners for glass top stovers?
- Strainers, pit removers, seed-skin-stem removers, jelly strainers, etc.
- Vacuum Foodsealers for freezing, dried foods, and refrigerated foods - the FoodSaver line
- Canning Lids, Rings, Jars, mixes, pectin, etc.
Trivia
Other Detailed Bottling/canning, Freezing and Drying Guides and Recipes
- Comprehensive bottling/canning Guides and Recipes - look here for recipes that you don't see above!
- FAQs - Answers to common questions and problems
- Free government and university publications about bottling/canning to download and print
Bottling/canning, Freezing and Drying Equipment and Supplies
- Books on bottling/canning, freezing, drying, preserving and jam making
- Canners, both water bath and pressure canners. Canners for glass top stovers?
- Strainers, pit removers, seed-skin-stem removers, jelly strainers, etc.
- Vacuum Foodsealers for freezing, dried foods, and refrigerated foods - the FoodSaver line
- Canning Lids, Rings, Jars, mixes, pectin, etc.
Trivia
Other Detailed Canning, Freezing and Drying Guides and Recipes
- Comprehensive Canning Guides and Recipes - look here for recipes that you don't see above!
- FAQs - Answers to common questions and problems
- Free government and
university publications about canning to download and print
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Home Canning KitsThis is the same type of standard canner that my grandmother
used to make everything from applesauce to jams and jellies to tomato and
spaghetti sauce. This complete kit includes everything you need and
lasts for years: the canner, jar rack, jar grabber tongs,
lid lifting wand, a plastic funnel,
labels, bubble freer, and the bible of canning, the Ball Blue Book. It's much cheaper than buying the items separately. You'll never need anything else except jars and lids (and the jars are reusable). To see
more canners, of different styles, makes and prices, click here! |
Lids, Rings, Jars, mixes, pectin, etc.Need lids, rings and replacement jars? Or pectin to make jam, spaghetti sauce or salsa mix or pickle mixes? Get them all here, and usually at lower prices than your local store! |
This page was updated on 16-Nov-2012





