Ever wanted to make your potatoes last longer? If you’re like me, in the past, you may have found your once-tasty taters sprouting and going bad before you’ve had a chance to try them.
Have you ever tried dry canning potatoes, however?
Learning how to dry can potatoes can help you prevent waste, and ensure that you have delicious potatoes long after your harvest is over. Properly canning your dry potatoes is essential to ensuring that your potatoes stay delicious for time to come.
Don’t have time to read the entire guide? Here’s a quick run-through of how to dry can your potatoes.
First, wash and peel your potatoes. Cut them to fit inside of your canning jars. Put ½ teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of butter into the bottom of your wide-mouthed jars. Put the potatoes in the jar until it is full. Process them as usual.
That’s the basics – but keep reading for my full lowdown on canning those potatoes for tasty, long-lasting crops.
Dry Canning Potatoes
To dry can potatoes, you’re going to need to follow what’s known as a ‘rebel canning’ method. Rebel canning methods are those that are not traditionally used during the canning process – but for this guide, we’re going to be following a cheat sheet!
To rebel can your taters, you don’t boil them. Instead, simply wash and peel your potatoes, put your ingredients in your jar, and can them as you normally would.
Through a non-rebel canning, you would typically expect to fully submerge your canning jars in water. However, this method lets you try it dry – though, there are going to be some risks involved.
So, how to can potatoes? let’s take things step by step. Firstly, you need to begin the canning process by preparing your potatoes. To do this, wash them with warm water. This removes dirt and residue on your crops.
Then, you need to peel them. Peel the potatoes the same as you would if you were about to cook them.
Next, you need to make sure that the potatoes fit inside of your canning jars! It’s best to pick wide-mouthed canning jars when canning potatoes – simply because these crops can be particularly hefty at times!
TOP TIP: you can cut your potatoes in strips or halves if necessary. If you own a french fry cutter, go ahead and trim your potatoes down to help them fit.
After this, you’ll need to fill up your canning jar with your ingredients. Although you are not filling up the jar with water, you still have to put something in the jar to help preserve the potatoes.
It’s popular to use the salt and butter method. Just add ½ teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of butter into the bottom of the jar before adding the potatoes. If you are not comfortable with this or do not have salt on hand, there are other options. You can also use oxygen absorbers, for example.
Once your jars are filled with these ingredients and the potatoes you wish to can, wipe them with a clean cloth. Then, put them through in a pressurized canner as usual.
Is Dry Canning Potatoes Safe?
Several people claim this dry canning method is unsafe and can result in people getting ill. This is due to the fact that there is no liquid involved, so potatoes are less likely to reach the desired temperature to kill harmful bacteria.
Normally, heat will get trapped in the liquid during canning. This would then lead to an even warming and, therefore, kill off any bacteria lingering behind.
It’s a necessary part of the canning process to prevent bacteria from growing. When the contents inside the jar do not get hot enough, harmful bacteria can propagate – making the process very risky indeed.
Some claim that because there is no liquid in the jar, people are more likely to get botulism from dry canning. However, as long as a high temperature is still reached, this is unlikely. It is possible to safely can your potatoes without liquid – I wouldn’t advise you otherwise!
What Is Botulism?
Botulism can be caused by improperly canning your fruits, vegetables, meats, and more.
Clostridium botulinum spores can be found on most fresh foods, including those that are grown in your garden – but don’t panic, as they are usually harmless. However, under certain conditions, they are going to multiply before dying.
During this process, they produce a toxin that can cause botulism.
Botulism is a high concern because there are often no signs that it exists – for example, you won’t see bulging lids or notice a funny taste!
Instead, you’ll have no idea that it exists until you find yourself ill – and, depending on your own personal health, botulism can be deadly.
You can, however, stop this process by making sure that your potatoes are placed under a high heat during the canning process. As such, they need to reach a temperature of at least 240 degrees Fahrenheit, which is enough to effectively kill off botulism.
How Long Do Dry Canned Potatoes Last?
When stored properly, you can enjoy your potatoes for a year or longer after canning. There is a general guideline that home-canned goods have the best quality for one year after they are canned.
This doesn’t mean that they are bad after one year, but the quality lessens. So, the sooner you tuck into your potatoes, the better they’ll taste!
How To Store Dry Canned Potatoes
Proper storage will guarantee that your potatoes last longer. That means keeping an eye on light, temperature and moisture. Let’s break this down further.
No Natural Light
Potatoes should be stored in a cool, dry place. Consider an area that does not receive a lot of natural light, such as a basement. If a basement is not an option, consider a closet or pantry with a door that closes.
Avoid Warm Areas
It’s important you don’t store dry canned potatoes with the rest of your food in the kitchen – too much warmth, too, will spoil the mix!
Dry canned potatoes should be stored in a room or area that has a temperature of 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Less Humidity, The Better
Too much moisture can make your potatoes go bad quicker. If you’re storing your canned potatoes in a room or environment where moisture is high, be sure to pick up a dehumidifier.
Summary
Dry canning potatoes is a great way to preserve potatoes for months without them becoming soggy due to the water in the jar! Make sure that the proper temperature is reached during the canning process to avoid illness, and as always, follow proper storage recommendations. Give it a go!
Originally posted 2021-12-22 04:52:06.