Canning Food to Save Money - Valley News Live - KVLY/KXJB - Fargo/Grand Forks

Home canning is making a comeback, though some say it never really went away.  Taking up the old-fashioned trend that could save you money on your grocery bill.

If you've seen more jars and canning supplies in grocery stores lately, it's because of an increase in demand.

"It's really taken off, it's what I call having skipped a generation. We're now seeing a really big resurgence in it, " said canning instructor Lyn Deardorff.

She leads a canning class and says if you're willing to spend some time you can save some serious money. "You pay a premium price for organic. But if you're doing your own... Whole lot cheaper."

And fresher, and healthier! For example, preserved apples don't contain preservatives, they also don't contain chemicals or extra sugar, not to mention bacteria.

"Absolutely, safety is everything in canning because the difference is it's going to sit on a shelf for a year or more, Deardorff adds."

Deardorff teaches the proper heating and sealing methods, many of which have been revised since your grandmother put up preserves.

The United States Department of Agriculture changed its guidelines for canning temperatures and techniques in 1990, so Deardorff advises not to use cookbooks and recipes written before then. They might not be as safe as modern ones.