What Preps are you doing this week? Part 12

[Snowhunter]

Pressure canned 72 jars of rabbit meat

What sort of jars do you use, out of interest? I'm slowly building up a armada of Wecks, but it's always interesting to compare notes, I feel we pressure canners are a rare breed in the UK!

[pseudonym]

Pressure canned 72 jars of rabbit meat

What sort of jars do you use, out of interest? I'm slowly building up a armada of Wecks, but it's always interesting to compare notes, I feel we pressure canners are a rare breed in the UK!

Kilner for me, mainly dry storage though.

[Frnc]

First thing in the morning, moved the drawers back. Decided against decorating my room bit by bit.

Got a bit more junk to get rid of, and loads in the prep room. Loads of wires to sort out.

Ordered 3 big storage bags, so I can put some stuff in the loft, eg my other duvet I use in winter. Got some Nido coming soon.

Found a way of hiding 10 litre water(s) container under the bed. Lift the bed. 5s fit under a bit easier, but I had to tilt them to get them under the bed frame. I also have an electric radiator under the bed. Another is in the wardrobe on the landing. I have a third one currently cluttering up the prep room, but it's not too bad, could stay there permanently.

[Frnc]

Fifth bike ride of the year. Was feeling a bit stronger, but still getting a bit of sit bone pain. It's not easy getting my bike stuff out of the prep room because of all the junk I've put in there recently. Sorted some old music magazines for chucking.

[Adjee]

Pressure canned 72 jars of rabbit meat

What sort of jars do you use, out of interest? I'm slowly building up a armada of Wecks, but it's always interesting to compare notes, I feel we pressure canners are a rare breed in the UK!

I am not UK based but agree that not many use Pressure canners in the UK.

Started with Ball jars and lids but when they move production from their original base the quality dropped so we stopped buying them.

We had difficulty sourcing usable jars and lids here in Bulgaria so we approached a company that imports all food storage items (jars, lids, plastic containers, food buckets etc.) for help and once we showed them what we wanted them for (most of the Old School Bulgarians mainly use the water bath method of preserving) they contacted their suppliers and we then experimented with the jars and lids they suggested/provided. We had several breakages and jars cracking in the canners normally on the second or third test but we found a variety that worked well.

So we now have a selection of sizes of no brand generic glass jars. The lids we use a standard pop button so we know the jars have sealed properly.

Our pressure canners are:

Presto 23 Quart (x2)
All American 21 Quart

Presto is more user friendly but the All American is virtually indestructible!

[Snowhunter]

Thanks for that, good you've arrived at a setup which works. I stick to jars with the rubber ring seal rather than metal lids, keeps the cost per use down! Flip top Kilners and LeParfaits, and I buy a shipment of Wecks as and when I can afford.

I have an 18-quart Presto but am on the lookout for a larger All-American- I like that they seal without needing a replaceable rubber seal.

[Adjee]

Thanks for that, good you've arrived at a setup which works. I stick to jars with the rubber ring seal rather than metal lids, keeps the cost per use down! Flip top Kilners and LeParfaits, and I buy a shipment of Wecks as and when I can afford.

I have an 18-quart Presto but am on the lookout for a larger All-American- I like that they seal without needing a replaceable rubber seal.

We buy the lids in by the box (700 in a box) and they are reusable. The All American is a beast and I agree about the seal. We olive oil the presto seals after every use and every two weeks when not in use and have yet to need to replace one. The difference in weight and build quality between the two is vast but you can hear the wobbler on the Presto clearly so can complete other tasks whilst it is on where as the All American is a solitary soft rattle, once a minute so you have to keep a closer eye on it. Well worth the money though, it will out live me.

[Kiwififer]

Getting fitter. I’ve lost about a stone, two to go before I’m back in my green zone (I’m 14st 8lbs, I’m aiming for 12st something).

I’ve cut the booze out, I’ve stopped eating rubbish and I’m walking around 20-27k steps a day. It’s easy to walk in the woods at the back of me in the beautiful Edinburgh sunshine, it will be a lot more difficult to do this in winter…

[ForgeCorvus]

I remember a discussion on a US prepsite about pressure canners. One person said they'd love an All American but they were expensive, they got several replies along the lines of "Yes, but you can use it all your life and your grand daughter can leave it to her kids in her will"

I've only water-bathed stuff and have struggled finding a big enough pot to do several ltr Kilners, but I just got a catering pot thats the size of a small dustbin !

[Frnc]

Swapped out one 10 litre water container. Took ages to find my Milton, since I put most stuff like that into plastic bins. They are sort of categorised, but it's not something that fits into an obvious category. I'll leave it out, or put it at the front of a bin (they are translucent). I need to do some more anyway.

Ordered 25 saline pods for eye wash or wounds. Had a look at the expiry date spreadsheets for my home, bike and bugout first aid kits. Swapped out hand wipes in the bike one. All need saline swapping. Got a large dressing due this month, so ordered one.

Watered my defence bushes, which haven't grown much due to shade. But a burglar could easily climb over the back wall next door, and go over the fence. So there's nothing I can really to to stop burglars getting into my back garden. I think the gardens of the new houses will end part way along next door's wall, so part of it, and mine, will be easy access to burglars. The back door has two mortice locks, but the top half is glass. Still, risk of burglary is pretty low here, and they prefer to come in from the front. At the front, I have a mortice lock as well as the Yale, and a London Bar on the frame. Plus an alarm.

Tidied up the cables in my room, as best I can. I could clip them, or get them buried, but I might be moving into the front room.