5 Fabulous Favorite Kitchen Tools

Our grandmothers or great-grandmothers didn't worry about GMO's or any of the other crazy things we have to watch out for in today's society.
They managed by growing gardens and preserving their harvest for their families to last through out the winters. They didn't have a Wegman's or Trader Joe's to run to in the country. I am encouraged to see a new generation that care about what they feed their families and wanting to learn vintage skills. I learned later in life to appreciate these skills and I really enjoy doing these new things.
High-quality tools make this new journey an effortless process now & these 5 Fab Fav Kitchen Tools will make your life incredibly easier and save you a lot of money in the long run.
The longer I am on this journey the more I find that the pressure canner, food dehydrator, vacuum sealer and water bath canner are indispensable equipment. I am also adding a steamer/juicer to my Fab Fav list, since I have learned how simple it is to make various types of juices for jelly & drinking.

1. Why You Really Need a Pressure Canner. Tips & Tricks to buying the correct pressure canner for your needs. Learn from my mistakes.
The most important kitchen tool on my list would be a good quality pressure canner. Pressure canning is easier than you think. From meats to milk, all protein based, non-acidic foods NEED to be pressure canned.

Instructions here.

2. Dehydrator: Little or Big?
When you start dehydrating food for long term storage, you eventually be decide you need a dehydrator. Find out how I decided which to get. In the end the answer will probably surprise you.

Instructions here.

3. Vacuum Sealer to the Rescue
Using a vacuum sealer if one of the best ways to prep & store dry foods long term. From grains & beans to chocolate! The possibilities are endless. Learn how to use this simple tool. Bonus: Have an electric one for prepping now & a non-electric option for when the grid is down.

Instructions here.

4. Water Bath Canner
While you are able to water bath in a pressure canner, there are still benefits to having a water bath canner. Whether it is making jams & jellies or putting back your acidic produce for the winter, here you will learn a few tips and tricks. Plus I demonstrate canning tomatoes from this week.

Instructions here.

5. Love Juice? Make Your Own
Last, but not as critical I would recommend having a non-electric steamer/juicer on hand for high quality juice which you may drink or turn into jelly.

Instructions here.

BONUS: Canning Utensils: Why would you want to read a review of canning utensils? Well some brands are actually better than others and I will tell you what to look for and why. Plus, I am sharing my favorite super storage tip for canning utensils.

Read the reviews and tip here.

Well my gentle reader, I hope this list of tools for the kitchen was helpful & that you enjoyed the article. You will find that I simply share what I am actually doing as I have learned these new skills. We would love to have you join our community on Facebook at Perky Gramma Teaches, where simply share what we are learning.

Perky Gramma Teaches is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Your support is very appreciated, anything you choose to purchase through my link, is helping me to be able to share more things that I do with you. Perky Gramma Teaches Amazon link.

Do you "Zaycon" yet?

What & Why Zaycon?
Get your freezer bags, pressure canner and jars ready...
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Just recently picked up some incredibly awesome skirt steaks. I have worked really hard to get out of debt and one method I used was learning to buy in bulk and cutting out the middle man. I also work my tail off referring others to these deals. Read through for how much I had to pay for this already great deal.

Spring and fall are Zaycon Chicken Event time in my world. I get loads of canning jars, freezer bags & order my Zaycon chicken. 
The “Zaycon Chicken Event” runs a couple times a year, plus in some areas they are offering frozen Wild Sockeye salmon, frozen premium Alaskan cod, hickory smoked bacon, bacon wrapped pork fillets, just to name a few other delicious options available.  

Why Zaycon? My reasons:

It's such a great price for a pound for boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

But, even better it's 100 % natural chicken with no added hormones, additives or artificial ingredients, raised cage free. The feed they use for the chickens is non-GMO. Comes directly from the processor and has never been frozen. They are not "certified" organic. At $1.89 per pound you may find a cheaper price, but you won't get the quality of this chicken that they offer. It is truly that good!
I am not the only person who loves their products: Why My Friends Love this Thing Called Zaycon

Sold in bulk, by 40 lbs. cases. If need be, split a case the first time with a friend.  I did that the first time with a friend, the next time we each ordered 60 lbs.

How to "Zaycon"

1. Click the link & Register. This is my unique link (clicking on the link will list me as your referral): https://www.zayconfoods.com/refer/zf144734
2. After you register you will receive your unique referral link & SHARE YOUR LINK with your friends.
3. Then subscribe to an area (or two, depending how far you will travel) under the location tab. You may have to travel a little bit, I travel about an hour for my events. If there isn't a location fairly close to you at this time, still register and then spread the word. It took about 6 months for an event to start in my local area.
4. Order your chicken.
5. Then the day of your local event, you drive up, hand them your confirmation, they load it in your car.

This is really great chicken, I have been saving my money and waiting for this.
Look at the size of the breasts.

Want a better deal? Get credits for referring friends & family.

The power comes from sharing with your friends. This is an amazing deal. First you go to Zaycon and register. After you have signed up, you share your unique referral code with friends on Facebook, etc. and you received $1 credit each time they order. Those credits don't expire either. So spread the word.


So the cost for 14 lbs of skirt steak was -$114.66 ($7.99 a lb.), which is really a good deal. I paid nothing.  That's right. So get on board, try it out (I recommend chicken for your first order) & share with your friends.

Perky Gramma Teaches is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Sunshine & Tropics in the Country

After practicing delayed gratification, paying off those debts and scrimping and saving the payoff is starting to manifest itself. I finally got to purchase something that I simply wanted, not needed.
I love my new porch furniture. I went with the tropical print, if you look closely you will see my lovely giant seashells which my MIL left us. But, my UCO lantern is red, so I may have to add some red highlights.

I wanted to share how much I love sitting out here. My tropical vignette is a reward for myself.
After I started sharing our financial journey of purchasing our farm for cash series; I thought it would be nice to show you that eventually the hard work pays off. Really it does.
Now you may imagine me sitting out here, writing to you all.
Thank you for being here on the journey.

I am truly blessed. 

I participate in the Amazon Associate program, where I receive a small % commission for linking products that I recommend. I only recommend products I personally used and like. Your support is very appreciated, anything you choose to purchase through my link, is helping me to be able to share more things that I do with you. Perky Gramma Teaches Amazon link.

Super Storage Bag Tip(s)

Part of the reason I continue to post simple storage tips is that I remember when I began to can, I had so many little questions that I didn't know who to ask. I may appear to be organized now, but as I learned new tips I figured out for me that if I didn't use these tips, I would never be able to find my canning utensils when it came time to can.
This is one of those things I wished someone had thought to share, so I could have simply read about 'how to" instead of having to figure it out.

I actually store my canning utensils in this storage bag I got for $1 at Target. I keep the weight, timer and canning booklet in the little pocket on the front. 

When I get my pressure canner out to use, I then hang the bag out of the way on a shelf close to my stove (below left). I actually have two sets of utensils in this one bag. It has come in very handy several times when I have dropped one of my utensils on the floor. I just reach inside and get out a second one that is clean. I am tying to find a good location in my new kitchen. This one on the right seems to be working.

Then when the items are clean again, I put the bag inside my canner when I am not using it. As you see I have helpers. They always show up when I am canning. 

 Since I have two canners, I have one bag of utensils in each canner.

How To Use The Canning Tools

Jar Lifter: Actually this seems pretty self explanatory. But I take nothing for granted when it comes to newbie canning. The jar lifts is sort of like a wide set of tongs, used to safely lift the pressurized jars out of the steaming hot water.

I need to mention that while I have been pleased with the Presto, Norpro and Ball products over the years, one of them have change the handles on the lifter and I don't like them. The new handles are two piece plastic (previously they one one piece) and if you drop them (who drops their utensils) the handle can break in two. The older lifters have one solid molded piece on the handle.

Now they do pop back together, but they just don't seem as stable as they do come apart on their own. I just ordered another set of canning utensils made by Farberware that look REALLY well made. I will review them when I get my hands on them.

Tongs: Tongs are pretty self-explanatory. I keep my canning ones separate from my kitchen ones. Here I used them to lift the rack I used to double stack out of the canner.

Funnel: I find the funnel to be very handy. the funnel allows you to fills the canning jars with far less mess.
Just this week I wasn't canning, but vacuum sealing dry items. I grabbed by funnel from my canning set because it is specifically designed to fit the opening of canning jars. The nice thing is it fits both regular and wide mouth jars.

Jar Wrench: This is the tool that I felt I didn't need, well until I actually needed to open a canning jar ring that was stuck on really tight. Since then I now use this nifty tool for any jar I have difficulty opening, especially when Mr. Perky isn't home. 

Bubble Popper (Magnetic Lid Lifter): 
With the changes in Ball procedures you may or may not still be warming your lids and rings in hot warm before you use them. One end is a magnetic lid lifter, you use it to lift the lids out of the hot water. 
The bubble popper is used by sliding to release trapped air bubbles from the jar. This ensures that your jars are filled properly.

Timer: O.k. I am sure you know how to use a timer. What I found though is I actually preferred ordering the 7 Function Canning Utensil Kit (listed below) because it includes a timer.

I currently have four complete sets of canning utensils. 

    

I participate in the Amazon Associate program, where I receive a small % commission for linking products that I recommend. I only recommend products I personally used and like. Your support is very appreciated, anything you choose to purchase through my link, is helping me to be able to share more things that I do with you. Perky Gramma Teaches Amazon link.

A, B, C's of Water Bath Canning

I jumped right into pressure canning, so when it came to using a water bath canner I was a little more hesitant.
It is possible to water bath with a few extra essential items, it does pay to eventually get  water bath canner. 
First, let's start with the basics. You need a large pot, canning utensils and a canning rack of some sort to place on the bottom. The rack prevents the jars from bouncing around on the bottom of the pot and possibly breaking. 
If your purchase a water bath canner, pick one that has the rack included like in the picture above. But canning racks can be made at home or purchased. You may set canning jar rings in the bottom for a quick and easy rack which I did the first time I did a water bath. Or if you already have a pressure canner, you may use the rack from that set. 

 

Next you will need some canning utensils. Particularly helpful are the funnel, the bubble popper and jar lifter.
I recently wrote a post about the ins and outs of various brands of canning utensils: Canning Tools? How to Use & My Review, the post also includes my favorite recommendations and why.

Also you will want to have a good reliable canning book. By far the best is the "Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving". This contains the all important answers to how long do I water bath any certain item. 

Why a water bath canner? Actually the main reason I decided to purchase an actual water bath canner has to do with weight. The one most commonly recommended is made of Graniteware. Which is much lighter in weight that other pots I have used. They come in a variety of sizes.

Now, here are the tomatoes we water bathed this last weekend & directions.

A. PREPARE boiling water canner. Heat jars in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Wash lids in warm soapy water and set bands aside.

B. WASH tomatoes. Dip in boiling water 30 to 60 seconds. Immediately dip in cold water. Slip off skins. Trim away any green areas and cut out core. Leave tomatoes whole or cut into halves, quarters or dice.

 

C. ADD 2 Tbsp bottled lemon juice to each hot quart jar. This is now the preferred method to increase the acidity of tomatoes, since in more recent history a lot of tomatoes are being grown specifically with decreased acid levels. But, I won't argue with you if you choose not to add acid. 
D. PACK tomatoes into hot jars. You may add 1 teaspoon salt to each quart jar.
E. REMOVE air bubbles. Wipe rim. Center hot lid on jar. Apply band and adjust until fit is fingertip tight.

F. PROCESS filled jars in a boiling water canner 45 minutes for quarts, adjusting for altitude.
G. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.

 

We would love to have you join our community on Facebook at Perky Gramma Teaches, where I simply share what we are doing.
Items we used or mentioned today:

   

I participate in the Amazon Associate program, where I receive a small % commission for linking products that I recommend. I only recommend products I personally used and like. Your support is very appreciated, anything you choose to purchase through my link, is helping me to be able to share more things that I do with you. Perky Gramma Teaches Amazon link.

Back to Basics: Review on Canning Tools & How to Use

When I first started canning, I stated out with a basic set of canning utensils. I hadn't read a review of caning utensils, didn't understand exactly how to use the individual canning tools or what a bubble popper was.
Here is what I wish someone had told me before I bought my utensils.

Funnel: The funnel is specifically designed to fit in regular and wide mouth canning jars and allows for easier filling of the jars. It also helps keeps to rim of the jar clean.
Since I vacuum seal at lot of dry items in canning jars, I also find the canning funnel perfect to use for adding the dry items to the jars since the funnel is much wider.

 


Magnetic Lifter/Bubble Popper: Sometimes this comes together as one piece, sometimes it comes as two separate pieces.
The magnetic lifter is used if you are still warming your lids in hot water, it is used to lift lids safely out of hot water and to place the warm lid on your jars. 

 




The Presto which I prefer, has the combo & the other end of this tool is your bubble popper.
You use it by inserting it into to the filled jars and moving it around the inside to release the trapped air bubbles in the jar. This is called bubbling. 
You may use something like a rubber spatula to perform the same job. It's best not to use a metal item to release the bubbles because it could scratch the inside of the glass surface.
It’s important to get the trapped air out of your jars. During the canning process the heat pulls the oxygen out of the jars to create the vacuum seal. You want to insure all that air is pulled out, not have some air trapped inside of your food.

 

Jar Lifter: Means just that. Those jars coming out of your canner when they are finished canning are super hot. The jar lifter is something I am particular about. Examine the handle. I have one (which I can't identify the manufacturer or I would tell you) in which the handle is terrible. it is made from two hard plastic pieces and once you drop it, the handle splits into two pieces. Once I took this picture for this article I threw it away.

 

Tongs: The tongs are great for handling hot food. But, I use it most often for lifting the rack(s) out of my canner. Particularly when I am am double stacking my canning.

Jar Wrench: Honestly this tool languished in my bags for awhile. The jar wrench is used to open those hard to open rings. I rarely use it for canning, since I remove my rings after canning for storage. But, there has been a tie or two where the rings didn't want to come off. Now I use it all the time for other hard to open jars in my pantry. It's great.

Now ranking my choice of manufacturers. 
The Ball Canning Utensil Set works fine, it just lacks the combo magnetic lid lifter/bubble popper. 

What I recommend most often is the Presto 6 Function Canning Utensil Set. It has the wonderful lifter/bubble popper and includes a timer. You get everything you could need for canning in one set.

Recently I purchased this Faberware Canning Set to add to my collection. It is a bit pricier, but I LOVE the sturdier jar lifter. 

Plus, the funnel has head space markings on the actual funnel on the bottom.

Know you know which tools I recommend and why. Keep reading for my Super Helpful Storage Tip:

The reason I appear to be organized is that if I didn't use these tips, I would never be able to find my canning utensils when it came time to can. I actually store my canning utensils in this bag I got for $1 at Target. I keep the weight, timer and canning booklet in the little pocket on the front. 

When I get my pressure canner out to use, I then hang the bag out of the way on a shelf close to my stove (below). I actually have two sets of utensils in this bag. It has come in very handy several times when I have dropped one of my utensils on the floor. I just reach inside and get out a second one that is clean. 

Then when the items are clean again, I put the bag inside my canner when I am not using it. As you see I have helpers. They always show up when I am canning. Since I have two canners, I have one bag of utensils in each canner. 

 

These two sets are the canning utensil that I personally recommend.

I participate in the Amazon Associate program, where I receive a small % commission for linking products that I recommend. I only recommend products I personally used and like. Your support is very appreciated, anything you choose to purchase through my link, is helping me to be able to share more things that I do with you. Perky Gramma Teaches Amazon link.

Tips & Mistakes to Avoid: Buying a Pressure Canner

I pretty much knew that I want to purchase an All-American Pressure Canner from the beginning. But at the point I decided to start canning I didn't have enough money saved up. So I first bought a Presto Pressure Pressure Canner. Both are excellent products.  
First things first, do you need a pressure canner? The answer would be YES! My goal was to start learning and practicing my self-sufficiency skills as quickly as possible.
For the health and safety of your family you need to memorized this...

You can cook in a pressure canner,

but you can not can in a pressure cooker!

Please make sure it actually says "Pressure Canner" on the box or ad.

First, I would recommend buying the largest capacity pressure canner that will fit on your stove. I have found personally as I learned how easy it was to can, that being able to double stack (two layers of canning jars in the canner) really deceased the amount of time I spent in the kitchen. I highly recommend a pressure canner that you are able to double stack when canning.

Measure Carefully: One of the biggest mistakes I made when purchasing my All-American was not measuring accurately. Sadly I am not the only person who has made this mistake. Imagine how disappointed I was when my brand spanking new All-American canner came and it wouldn't fit between my stove top and the mini-oven that was above my range.

Needless to say, when we were purchasing our new home, I carried a tape measure with me to measure every stove.

Since I made my initial purchase without knowing what to ask; I started with a 16 qt. Presto Pressure Canner, which I wasn't able to double stack. 

There are advantages and disadvantages to The Presto brand. One big advantage is it is lighter weight and easier to move back and forth.

You may want to opt for buying the 23 qt. Presto Pressure Canner. if it fits on your stove.

I quickly made it a priority to purchased a double stack pressure canner, saved up my money and purchased my All-American within 4 months. Remember to measure carefully before you purchase.

Recently I was canning a large batch of green beans using my All-American.

I loved that I was able to get some much done because of being able to double stack. In my opinion, the All-American is a much sturdier appliance & really worth the extra cost. Would you like to see the All-American in action? How To Pressure Can Green Beans Tips & more...

Having two canners certainly has it's advantages. If I have a big canning day, like when I get 40-80 lbs of Zaycon chicken to can, I am able to run two canners at a time and knock out my canning three times as fast.

Don't forget other items you will need to can. You definitely will need some canning utensils. I tend to keep extra on hand, which comes in handy if I drop a utensil when canning.

I also recommend a having a good canning book. Most people get the "Ball Complete Book on Home Preserving".

Last point is to sit down and read your instruction manual that come with your canner. It has a wealth of information. I actually still read mine often to keep the safety measures and canner maintenance fresh in my mind. 

It may seem like a lot of up front money to start canning; but it is well worth the investment when you are able to start storing real, healthy food that you have grown or purchased instead of having cans of store bought stuff.

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What you see, is what I do. I simply share my journey of learning vintage skills. You might enjoy joining our community at Perky Gramma Teaches on Facebook.

        

I participate in the Amazon Associate program, where I receive a small % commission for linking products that I recommend. I only recommend products I personally use and like. Your support is very appreciated, anything you choose to purchase through my link, is helping me to be able to share more things that I do with you. Perky Gramma Teaches Amazon link.