Dry Pack at Home: Did you know that the LDS Cannery has dry pack canners that can be scheduled for home use? You can schedule the canner for about 3-4 days and have the flexibility of canning at home. Dry packing at home is ideal if you'd like have your kids help, if your schedule conflicts with the dry pack facility hours, if you'd like to do a little at a time over several days, or if you have product at home that the LDS cannery is currently out of.
Photos: Here are some pictures of our latest dry packing experience, done at home:
Step 1: If you want to dry pack at home, you need to prepare by buying commodities in bulk. Prices are great at the LDS cannery, but you might find cheaper product elsewhere. Gather the items ahead of time. Be advised that not every commodity is suitable for long-term storage due to high water content or oily components.
Step 2: Estimate how many cans you'll need, which is based on the pounds of product you have. Here are some estimates to guide you in your planning:
Step 3: Buy your #10-sized cans & other supplies from the LDS Cannery. Don't forget the metal lids, oxygen packets, labels, and boxes. You will need one oxygen packet for every can, except those cans that contain sugar (it turns the sugar rock hard). Six cans fit into a box (called a case). The LDS Cannery gives out free labels. Get one for every can and one for every box (that way each case is labeled on the outside).
TIP: Spend the time to calculate before you go to the cannery. That way you'll know exactly what you need and how much.
Step 4: The canner weighs about 40 pounds, so two people should lift it. I got it out of the tub on my own, but it was a battle. It is secured to the countertop with two C-clamps. Use a double-folded towel to prevent damage to the countertop.
Step 5: Fill the cans within 1/4 inch from the top (we topped these cans off later). You don't want to leave the oxygen packs out too long because they are activated after about 30 minutes. So, get the cans all ready for sealing and put the oxygen pack in at the last minute (remember, no oxygen packs for sugar!)
Step 6: Seal and label each can. I let kids help fill the cans, but an adult should use the machine.
Step 7: Label the box with a product sticker, the number of cans in the box, and the year. If you have a case with, for example, 3 wheat cans and 3 sugar cans in it, use a sticker for each product. That way you'll know how many of each you have in the box.
Tip: if you decide ahead of time where and how your boxes will be stored, you can put the label in the correct spot. It helps!
WOW! That was fun to look at and very informative.
ReplyDeleteQuestion? How much do the cans cost?
ReplyDeleteCheck out the current prices under the "LDS Dry Pack Cannery Current Price List" link in the sidebar. The prices vary a little, depending on if you are going to can at the facility or if you are going to buy the cans separately and then can at home. All the prices are available at that link.
ReplyDeleteI clicked on the link and this is what it said,
ReplyDeleteThe requested object does not exist on this server. The link you followed is either outdated, inaccurate, or the server has been instructed not to let you have it.
Just wanted to let you know that the link isn't working.
It's been fixed. They just changed their price sheet, so the link must have changed as well. Let me know if you have anymore problems.
ReplyDeleteFYI, you can find this PDF file at www.providentliving.org just in case the link breaks in the future.
Thanks Bren! I could not find it when I went on the site. I think I was being a little lazy trying to find it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information! We loaded up at the cannery and will be spending all day Friday dry pack canning! Woohoo!
ReplyDeleteDo you have to be a member to purchase items?
ReplyDeleteDear anonymous: Good question. Honestly, I'm not sure. I know that members primarily use it but I don't know if sales are limited to members only. Check out this link for a location near you and give them a call.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.providentliving.org/location/map/0,12566,2026-1-4,00.html
I looked at the list and it rely doesn't make sense.
ReplyDeleteIf you store Items in mylar in buckets its cheaper then cans.Cans make sense for things you use less of like Butter but you don't offer that for canning.
Just really confused, printed out the order form, if I go with the no.10 can how much of the product come with it. or should I choose bulk?
ReplyDeleteDear Anon: Sorry if it was confusing. There are two ways you can do this.
ReplyDelete1) Buy the bulk product, buy the empty cans and lids from LDS cannery, and check out the dry pack canner from the LDS cannery, then dry pack at home as is shown in this post. The advantage of this is that you can buy bulk product anywhere, not just at the LDS cannery. Some families like to look for sales on bulk, stock up, and then check out the canning machine when they are ready.You can do the project over several days rather than be confined to an appointment time, and children can help.
2) You can make an appointment at the LDS cannery and dry pack in their facility. The price sheet tells you what you'd be paying per can (a full can, not an empty one) of each product. The price listed includes the can, the lid, the oxygen pack and the product to go inside. You can dry pack as many cans as you want. The advantage is that the mess all stays at the cannery, you can dry pack the exact number of cans you want (you don't have to buy/use the entire bulk sack when it is opened), and you don't have to haul any large bulk sacks home. I like dry packing at home because my kids can help. Younger children are not allowed into the LDS drypack facility. Please note that when you dry pack at the facility, they do not allow you to bring your own bulk product in.
It just depends on how you want to do it.