tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213451500927367783.post3159591437606211079..comments2023-03-29T08:30:21.398-07:00Comments on Grocery Store in the Basement: Steam Canner ControversyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213451500927367783.post-39692224928107664902009-09-11T15:28:50.023-07:002009-09-11T15:28:50.023-07:00Heather:
There has not been enough testing on st...Heather: <br /><br />There has not been enough testing on steam canning yet for consumers to have confidence that it is a SAFE and effective canning method. <br /><br />That you and your MIL have avoided illness and contamination thus far is NOT satisfactory evidence to declare steam canning "totally fine."<br /><br />There are acidity differences from recipe to recipe, so steam canning may be UNSAFE in many circumstances.<br /><br />Second, I agree that a failed seal will result in food spoilage, and that you'll definitely know it. Air will seep into the jar and spoil the food, resulting in a foul odor, taste, and look.<br /><br />However, the more serious concern is botulism; it should be differentiated from food spoilage in that botulism grows in an airless, low-acidic, moist environment. <br /><br />It is my understanding-- correct me if I am wrong-- that a jar of food tainted with the botulism toxin would not necessarily be identifiable by taste, smell, or appearance. A person could consume it without realizing it.<br /><br />Therefore, people get into trouble they use an untested recipe, process using an incorrect method, or process for an inappropriate amount of time. <br /><br />What is needed is adequate steam canning testing so that home food producers can know how and when to use them safely.Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14894256499698116992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213451500927367783.post-61848985879417173192009-09-11T12:41:04.085-07:002009-09-11T12:41:04.085-07:00I just came across your blog on a google search ab...I just came across your blog on a google search about canning with steam. I just barely found out yesterday that there even is a "controversy". I've always used my steam canner (I've been using it for about five years and my mother-in-law used it for years and years before that) and it's totally fine. I've never had a problem. Well, once I did: one of my jars of salsa didn't seal properly and when I opened it, it stunk like crazy. I figure if something's gone bad, you'll know it! Anyway, this link http://www.canningpantry.com/steam-canners.html had some of the same info as yours, plus some research that has been done.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08213514826661790158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213451500927367783.post-67242969926142074932009-08-20T13:24:46.115-07:002009-08-20T13:24:46.115-07:00I know I was thinking the same thing. Steam canni...I know I was thinking the same thing. Steam canning has been a controversy for more than 80 years(according to an article I read). They should do some proper testing. It would take awhile to see how the steam canned shelf life is,but they have had 80 years.Jodie Cheshirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08572062882328288203noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1213451500927367783.post-538792377252770912009-08-20T05:13:27.047-07:002009-08-20T05:13:27.047-07:00It would REALLY be nice if the government agency w...It would REALLY be nice if the government agency would DO the necessary experiments/tests to tell us HOW to steam-can, rather than just condemn the process. It's GOT to be a good method, because heat is heat. It's not like boiling water has "more heat" than steam. They're BOTH 212 F!<br /><br />Typical, useless, doughnut-eating, government pieces-of-trash.foodstr2https://www.blogger.com/profile/08514741729952874673noreply@blogger.com