Why hot pack when raw pack is just as fast?
To pick an example, this green bean canning recipe gives the same processing times for both hot and raw pack. Presumably even with raw pack, the 20-25 minute processing time is enough to thoroughly cook the beans. Why would you cook them additionally first? Is it just for people who like very well-cooked vegetables?
Best Answer
According to Pick Your Own, the main reason is that in raw packing, more air is introduced into the jar. This may lead to discoloration over time, which is an aesthetic issue, rather than a safety issue.
Regarding hot packing, they describe the benefits:
This practice helps to remove air from food tissues, shrinks food, helps keep the food from floating in the jars, increases vacuum in sealed jars, and improves shelf life. Preshrinking food also permits filling more food into each jar.
They provide the following guidelines regarding which method to use:
- Use the hot-pack method, especially with acid foods to be processed in boiling water rather than a pressure canning method.
- The Raw pack method is fine for pickles and for vegetables to be processed in a pressure canner.
See also: National Center for Home Preservation describing the differences, benefits, and reasoning in great detail.
Pictures about "Why hot pack when raw pack is just as fast?"
Which is better raw pack or hot pack?
Hot-packing is the best way to remove air and is the preferred pack style for foods processed in a boiling-water canner. At first, the color of hot-packed foods may appear no better than that of raw-packed foods, but within a short storage period, both color and flavor of hot-packed foods will be superior.Why would you use the hot pack method?
Hot pack canning helps remove the air from the food you're about to can. Many foods when fresh can have 10% to 30% more air. Hot packing removes air, shrinks the food, and keeps the food floating in the canning jars. This all improves shelf life and the amount of food you can pack into a single can.Is it better to hot pack or raw pack peaches?
Raw pack peaches on the left leave half filled jars as the peaches shrink during cooking. Raw packed fruit also floats since it contains quite a bit of air. Hot pack (right) results in a much more attractive jar and higher quality canned peaches.What does raw pack method mean?
Raw-packing is the practice of filling jars tightly with freshly prepared, but unheated food. Such foods, especially fruit, will float in the jars.Heat Vs. Cold (Ice) Pack? Avoid This Common Mistake. Infrared Heat?
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