Canning food at home is a great way to preserve fresh food and reduce food waste. But, if problems occur, that food is wasted. Of all reported canning failures, 99% are due to user error. Here are the most common reasons:
- Following old or unsafe recipes
- Using untested recipes
- Using old, unsafe family canning methods
- Using the wrong jar size
- Using improper processing methods for the food being preserved
- Storing the canned food in the wrong type of location such as the garage, shed, crawl space, etc.
- Adjusting the screw band too tightly
- Not adjusting for altitude
Source: Newell Brands Inc., owners of Ball and Kerr products
