As the summer harvest peaks, home cooks and gardeners face a dilemma: what to do with the abundance of ripe, juicy produce? Enter water bath canning, a time-honored technique that allows you to capture the flavors of the season in jars, ready to enjoy throughout the year.
However, proper canning procedures must be followed when preserving foods for later use to ensure safety and quality. You can create a pantry full of delicious, nutritious, and preservative-free foods with the right techniques and patience.
Here are the 20 delicious foods you can easily preserve using the water bath method.
1. Strawberry Jam
Nothing beats the taste of homemade strawberry jam on a slice of warm toast. This classic preserve is a perfect starting point for novice canners. With just three ingredients – strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice – you can create a spread that captures the essence of summer in a jar.
Water bath canning strawberry jam is a straightforward process that yields delicious results.
The strawberries’ high sugar content and natural acidity make this jam an ideal candidate for long-term storage. Properly canned strawberry jam can last up to 18 months when stored in a cool, dark place.
2. Dill Pickles
Crisp, tangy, and oh-so-satisfying, homemade dill pickles are a canning staple. These vinegar-brined cucumbers are not only delicious but also incredibly easy to make.
You can create a jar of crunchy goodness that rivals any store-bought variety with a few simple ingredients, such as fresh dill, garlic, and pickling spices.
Water bath canning is the perfect method for preserving dill pickles, as the high vinegar content creates an acidic environment that prevents bacterial growth. This preservation technique allows you to enjoy your homemade pickles for up to a year after canning.
Whether you prefer them as a snack or a sandwich accompaniment, these dill pickles will surely become a household favorite.
3. Tomato Sauce
Transform ripe, juicy tomatoes into a versatile sauce that is the foundation for countless meals. When properly canned, homemade tomato sauce retains its fresh flavor and vibrant color far better than its store-bought counterparts.
You also have complete control over the ingredients, allowing you to create a sauce tailored to your taste preferences.
Water bath canning tomato sauce is trickier than other high-acid foods due to tomatoes’ borderline pH levels. Adding lemon juice or citric acid to increase acidity is crucial to ensure safe preservation.
When done correctly, your homemade tomato sauce can last up to 18 months in storage. This long shelf life means you’ll have a taste of summer ready to enhance your pasta dishes, pizzas, and stews all year round.
4. Peach Preserves
Capture the sweet, juicy essence of ripe peaches in a jar with homemade peach preserves. This delightful spread is perfect for slathering on biscuits, stirring into yogurt, or using it as a glaze for grilled meats.
You can create a preserve that tastes like summer sunshine with simple ingredients.
Water bath canning is ideal for peach preserves due to the fruit’s high acid content and the added sugar in the recipe. The process ensures food safety and helps maintain the peaches’ vibrant color and flavor.
Properly canned peach preserves can last up to 18 months in your pantry, allowing you to enjoy the taste of fresh peaches long after the season has ended.
5. Salsa
Spice up your pantry with jars of homemade salsa. Whether you prefer mild or fiery hot, canning your salsa allows you to customize the flavors. Made with fresh tomatoes, peppers, onions, and a blend of spices, this versatile condiment is perfect for chips, tacos, or a zesty topping for grilled meats.
Water bath canning salsa is a safe and effective method of preservation. Thanks to the acidity of tomatoes and the addition of vinegar or lemon juice, this technique ensures that your homemade salsa remains shelf-stable for up to 18 months.
By canning your salsa, you’ll always have a tasty, preservative-free option for impromptu gatherings or quick meal additions.
6. Apple Butter
With homemade apple butter, autumn’s bounty becomes a rich, velvety spread. This concentrated apple sauce is slow-cooked until it reaches a deep brown color and spreadable consistency.
Apple butter, flavored with warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, is a delicious way to preserve the taste of fall. Due to its high sugar and natural acidity, apple butter is perfect for water bath canning. The process ensures food safety and helps develop a deeper flavor profile.
When properly canned, apple butter can last up to 18 months in storage.
Spread it on toast, swirl it into oatmeal, or use it as a unique ingredient in baked goods for a taste of autumn any time of year.
7. Pickled Peppers
Add a spicy kick to your meals with homemade pickled peppers. Whether you prefer sweet bell peppers or fiery jalapeños, pickling is an excellent way to preserve these colorful vegetables.
The tangy brine enhances the peppers’ flavor and creates a versatile condiment for sandwiches, salads, or as a zesty garnish.
Water bath canning pickled peppers is a straightforward process that yields long-lasting results. The high vinegar content in the brine creates an acidic environment that prevents bacterial growth.
Properly canned, pickled peppers can remain shelf-stable for up to a year. This preservation method allows you to enjoy fresh peppers’ crisp texture and bold flavors long after the growing season.
8. Blueberry Syrup
Capture the essence of summer berries with homemade blueberry syrup. This vibrant, flavorful syrup is perfect for drizzling over pancakes, mixing cocktails, or swirling into yogurt.
Made with just a few simple ingredients, blueberry syrup is an easy and delicious way to preserve the taste of fresh berries.
Water bath canning is ideal for blueberry syrup due to the fruit’s natural acidity and the syrup’s high sugar content. This preservation method ensures food safety and helps maintain the syrup’s bright color and intense flavor.
Blueberry syrup can last up to 18 months in storage when properly canned. By making your syrup, you’ll have a versatile, preservative-free ingredient to add berry flavor to your culinary creations year-round.
9. Pickled Beets
With homemade pickled beets, earthy beets become a tangy, sweet-and-sour delicacy. This classic preserve is delicious and a great way to add color to your meals.
Flavored with aromatic spices like cinnamon and cloves, pickled beets are a versatile addition to salads, charcuterie boards, or a standalone side dish.
Water bath canning is perfect for pickled beets due to the high vinegar content in the brine. When stored properly, this method ensures that your pickled beets remain safe and flavorful for up to 18 months.
By canning your beets, you’ll have a ready-to-eat, nutritious vegetable on hand, free from preservatives and artificial colors often found in store-bought versions.
10. Marinara Sauce
Create a pantry staple with homemade marinara sauce. This versatile tomato-based sauce is the foundation for countless Italian dishes and can be customized to suit your taste preferences.
Made with ripe tomatoes, aromatic herbs, and olive oil, homemade marinara sauce offers a fresher, more vibrant flavor than its store-bought counterparts.
Water bath canning marinara sauce requires careful attention to acidity levels to ensure safe preservation. Adding lemon juice or citric acid helps achieve the necessary pH level for safe canning.
When properly processed, your homemade marinara sauce can last up to 18 months in storage. This long shelf life means you’ll always have a flavorful, preservative-free sauce ready to elevate your pasta dishes, pizzas, or breadsticks.
11. Cranberry Sauce
Elevate your holiday meals with homemade cranberry sauce. This tart and sweet condiment is not just for Thanksgiving; it’s a versatile preserve that pairs well with roasted meats, cheese plates, and even breakfast dishes.
Made with fresh cranberries, sugar, and a hint of orange zest, homemade cranberry sauce offers a depth of flavor that canned versions simply can’t match.
Water bath canning is ideal for cranberry sauce due to the fruit’s high acidity and the added sugar in the recipe. This preservation method ensures food safety and helps maintain the sauce’s vibrant color and tangy flavor.
Properly canned cranberry sauce can last up to 18 months in your pantry, allowing you to enjoy this festive condiment long after the holiday season has passed.
12. Pickled Green Beans
Give your green beans a tangy twist with homemade pickled green beans, also called dilly beans. This crisp and flavorful preserve is perfect for snacking, garnishing Bloody Marys, or adding a zesty crunch to salads and charcuterie boards.
Pickled green beans, flavored with dill, garlic, and red pepper flakes, offer a delightful balance of heat and tang.
Water bath canning is the perfect method for preserving pickled green beans, as the high vinegar content in the brine creates an acidic environment that prevents bacterial growth.
When properly canned, pickled green beans can remain shelf-stable for up to a year. This preservation technique allows you to enjoy fresh green beans’ crisp texture and bold flavors long after the growing season.
13. Peach Salsa
Combine the sweetness of ripe peaches with the zesty kick of traditional salsa ingredients for a unique and flavorful preserve. Peach salsa is a versatile condiment that pairs well with grilled meats, fish tacos, or as a dip for tortilla chips.
Juicy peaches, crisp bell peppers, onions, and jalapeños combine to create a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors.
Water bath canning peach salsa is a safe and effective preservation method, thanks to the acidity of peaches and the addition of vinegar or lemon juice. This technique ensures that your homemade peach salsa remains shelf-stable for up to 18 months.
By canning your peach salsa, you’ll have a unique, preservative-free condiment to add summer flavor to your meals year-round.
14. Applesauce
Capture the essence of autumn with homemade applesauce. This classic preserve is not only delicious but also incredibly versatile.
Whether enjoyed on its own, used as a topping for pork chops, or incorporated into baked goods, homemade applesauce offers a pure apple flavor that store-bought versions can’t match.
Due to the fruit’s natural acidity, water bath canning is ideal for applesauce. The process ensures food safety and helps develop a deeper flavor profile. When properly canned, applesauce can last up to 18 months in storage.
Making your applesauce gives you complete control over the ingredients. You can adjust the sweetness and spices to your liking while avoiding preservatives and added sugars often in commercial varieties.
15. Pickled Onions
Homemade pickled onions add a tangy crunch to your meals. This quick and easy preserve is perfect for topping burgers and tacos or adding a zesty kick to salads and sandwiches.
The pickling process transforms raw onions into a vibrant, flavorful condiment that elevates even the simplest dishes.
Water bath canning pickled onions is a straightforward process that yields long-lasting results. The high vinegar content in the brine creates an acidic environment that prevents bacterial growth.
Pickled onions can remain shelf-stable for up to a year when properly canned. This preservation method allows you to enjoy the crisp texture and bold flavors of pickled onions whenever you need a quick flavor boost for your meals.
16. Tomato Jam
With homemade tomato jam, ripe tomatoes can be transformed into a unique and versatile preserve. This sweet and savory spread is perfect for cheese boards, as a glaze for meats, or simply spread on toast.
Combining tomatoes, sugar, and spices creates a complex, familiar, and intriguing flavor profile.
Water bath canning tomato jam requires careful attention to acidity levels to ensure safe preservation. Adding lemon juice or vinegar helps achieve the pH level for safe canning.
When properly processed, your homemade tomato jam can last up to 18 months in storage. This long shelf life means you’ll have a gourmet condiment ready to elevate your meals and impress your guests year-round.
17. Pickled Carrots
Give your carrots a tangy makeover with homemade pickled carrots. This colorful and crunchy preserve is perfect for snacking, adding to salads, or serving as a unique side dish.
Pickled carrots flavored with garlic, dill, and your choice of spices offer a delightful balance of sweetness and acidity.
Due to the high vinegar content in the brine, water bath canning is ideal for pickled carrots. This preservation method ensures food safety and helps maintain the carrots’ crisp texture and vibrant color.
When properly canned, pickled carrots can last up to 18 months in storage. By making your pickled carrots, you’ll have a healthy, preservative-free snack or condiment ready to add flavor and crunch to your meals.
18. Plum Butter
Capture the rich, deep flavor of ripe plums with homemade plum butter. This luscious spread is perfect for slathering on toast, swirling into yogurt, or using it as a unique ingredient in baked goods.
Slow-cooked until thick and velvety, plum butter offers a concentrated fruit flavor that’s sweet and slightly tart.
Water bath canning is perfect for plum butter due to the fruit’s natural acidity and the added sugar in the recipe. The process ensures food safety and helps develop a deeper, more complex flavor profile.
When properly canned, plum butter can last up to 18 months in storage. This long shelf life allows you to enjoy the taste of summer plums long after the season has ended, adding a touch of luxury to your breakfast or afternoon tea.
19. Pickled Asparagus
Preserve the crisp texture and delicate flavor of asparagus with homemade pickled asparagus. This elegant preserve is perfect for garnishing Bloody Marys, adding to charcuterie boards, or enjoying it as a unique appetizer.
Flavored with garlic, dill, and a hint of spice, pickled asparagus offers a sophisticated twist on traditional pickles.
Thanks to the high vinegar content in the brine, water bath canning pickled asparagus is a safe and effective preservation method. This technique ensures that your pickled asparagus remains shelf-stable for up to a year.
By canning your asparagus, you’ll have a gourmet, preservative-free option on hand to add a touch of elegance to your meals and gatherings throughout the year.
20. Pear Sauce
Create a smooth and creamy alternative to applesauce with homemade pear sauce. This delightful preserve captures the subtle sweetness and delicate flavor of ripe pears.
Pear sauce offers a unique twist on a classic favorite, perfect for enjoying on its own, stirring into oatmeal, or using as a natural sweetener in baked goods.
Due to the fruit’s natural acidity, water bath canning is ideal for pear sauce. The process ensures food safety and helps develop a richer flavor profile.
When properly canned, pear sauce can last up to 18 months in storage.
By making your pear sauce, you have complete control over the ingredients, allowing you to create a preserve free from additives and perfectly suited to your taste preferences.
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Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.