How does Ball mason jar size affect canning processing time?
I'm new to canning and food preserving and bought a basic starter kit including a water bath canner (I'll get into pressure canners later if I have success with this method).
One thing that is often cautioned is that the size of the container (pint or quart Ball mason jar) affects the cooking/processing (boiling) time, as well as the altitude!
Interestingly enough, in most recipes I see specific values given to adjust the processing time based on altitude (for example: if between 3000 and 6000 ft above sea level, add 5 mins to the processing time, etc.).
However, I have never seen anything that tells me how the jar size affects the processing time! Does anybody know if there is a rule of thumb here?
Best Answer
As pretty much always in canning, there are no rules of thumb for calculations/changes (the altitude thing is an exception, admittedly).
Each recipe has been developed and tested for a given jar size, and the institution which developed it should give you the size of jar you have to use. You cannot change the size to a larger one and add some number of minutes.
In general, you can change the recipe to a smaller jar size, but without reducing the time. This ensures that you don't run into problems with food safety, but you will likely end up with an overcooked product.
Bottom line, don't change jar sizes on your own, use the ones in the recipe.
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Quick Answer about "How does Ball mason jar size affect canning processing time?"
You can use smaller jars than a tested recipe calls for, but not larger. The reason is that larger jars usually requires a longer processing time for proper heat penetration to the food in the centre of the jar, and thus would require a longer tested and verified processing time to ensure quality and food safety.Does jar size affect processing time?
Because different sizes of jars require different processing times (larger jars take longer for proper heat penetration), for food safety, you should always use the jar size listed in the recipe. Remember: "You can always safely go down and process at the same time, but you cannot go up in jar size," Piper says.Does jar size matter in canning?
Jars larger than a half-gallon in size are too large for canning. It is safe to use a jar in a smaller size than listed in the recipe. Process the jar for the same length of time recommended in the recipe, even if using a smaller jar. If making a large batch, use multiple small jars rather than one large one.What size jars are best for canning?
Regular Mouth Canning Jars8 oz Jelly Jars \u2013 Best for jams, jellies, conserves and preserves. 12 oz Jelly Jars \u2013 Best for large portions of jams, jellies, and marmalades. Half Pint Jars \u2013 Best for fruit syrups, chutneys, pizza sauce. 16 oz Pint Jars \u2013 Salsa, sauces, relishes, and pie fillings.Can you pressure can different size jars at the same time?
Yes, it's totally safe to do that, as long as you always process for the larger jars time. You can also go down a jar size when canning, but never up.Canning Process: Times \u0026 Jar Sizes
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