Pressure Canning Field Peas Food

CANNING PEAS

Steps:

• If you are starting with peas in pods: Wash pods. Shell peas. Wash peas again.
• Put peas in a large pot, and cover with water.
• Bring to a boil, then let boil 2 minutes.
• Drain, rinse in / under hot boiling water to get some starch off, then drain again.
• Pack hot peas loosely into heated half-litre (1 US pint) OR 1 litre (1 US quart) jars.
• Leave 3 cm (1 inch) headspace.
• Optional: a pinch of pickling salt or non-bitter, non-clouding salt sub per jar.
• Top jars up with either the blanching liquid, or fresh boiling water from a kettle, maintaining 3 cm (1 inch) headspace.
• Debubble; adjust headspace.
• Wipe jar rims.
• Put lids on.
• Processing pressure: 10 lbs (69 kPa) weighted gauge, 11 lbs (76 kpa) dial gauge (adjust pressure for your altitude when over 300 metres / 1000 feet.)
• Processing time: either size jar 40 minutes.

CANNING DRIED BEANS OR PEAS

Steps:

• 1. Sort out and discard any discolored beans or peas.
• 2. Rehydrate beans or peas by one of the following methods: A) Place dry beans or peas in a large pot and cover with water. Soak 12 to 18 hours in a cool place; drain. OR B) Cover beans with boiling water in a saucepan. Boil for 2 minutes and remove from heat; soak for 1 hour and then drain. (I boiled my water, and then added beans to boiling water) NOTE: I used the "B" method.
• 3. Cover beans or peas that were soaked by either method with fresh water and boil for 30 minutes. NOTE: I drained the hot water and added fresh water.
• 4. HOT PACK: Fill clean, hot Mason jars with hot beans or peas. Add 1/2 tsp salt to each jar. Add hot liquid from beans or peas to jar, leaving 1-inch headspace. Adjust jar lids.
• 5. Process in pressure canner at 11 pounds of pressure - Pints for 75 minutes and Quarts for 90 minutes. NOTE: Processing above 2,000, the pounds of pressure and cooking time could vary. Check you pressure canner guide for guidelines.
• 6. NOTE: If while pressure canning, the pressure drops below the recommended pressure, you will need to the start the process over.
• 7. Once process is complete, remove canner from heat. Allow canner to cool down before attempting to open and remove jars. Gauge should be at zero and air vent should have dropped down.