Quick pumkin canning question
 

I plan to can pumkin for the first time. Is it necessary to do this in a pressure canner? Or will a water bath do? I'm really hoping for the water bath. Thought I'd ask the experts! Thanks!

Re: Quick pumkin canning question
 

Do you have to get special seeds so that the pumpkins you do harvest fit in the canning jars?

Re: Quick pumkin canning question
 

Silly boy... I think I'll process it and have it "pumkin pie ready". Sugar and spice added to make everything nice.

Re: Quick pumkin canning question
 

Hi acid foods you can use the water bath method.
Low acid foods you have to pressure can them
and I think pumkin is a low acid food.

Try these links.

http://www.theneitherworld.com/pumpkin/canning.htm/

http:///www.uga.edu/nchfp/tips/fall/pumpkins.html

http:///www.pumpkinnook.com/cookbook/canning.htm

Re: Quick pumkin canning question
 

Ya, in a good mood today. I had a vision of a ton of little pumpkins the size of corn kernels in a glass jar...

Re: Quick pumkin canning question
 

Actually, about everything I currently read says be VERY careful about canning pumpkin.....don't mush it down, and yes, you have to pressure can, and yes, the process time is LONG......

Re: Quick pumkin canning question
 

Dude, you really got me laughing at that one... I'm picturing jars of those little candy pumpkins!

Andy and Gold Dust, thank you for your wise advice... maybe I'll just make some pies now, sounds much easier... then I can freeze them. (We used to do this at the restaurant I used to manage, works great!).

Re: Quick pumkin canning question
 

That's one route MrsTnAndy uses.....the other is to stick the mushed down pumpkin in Seal-a-meal bags ( 2 c per bag, the amount for a pie ) and freeze them.

Re: Quick pumkin canning question
 

Yep, might do some of that too,... really just wanted to save freezer space, there is currently 1 1/2 steers and a pig in the 2 freezers I have (along with a bunch of other goodies).

Re: Quick pumkin canning question
 

Yup - I've read the same thing. Using a pressure canner, it's safe to can CHUNKS of pumpkin, not pumpkin puree (as in "ready made pumpkin pie filling").