canning chicken in 1/2 gallon jars

[silvergramma]

a neighbor long ago did a lot of whole or 1/2 chickens in 1/2 gallon jars.. does anyone else do this and what kind of luck have you had?

[Shamrock1121]

a neighbor long ago did a lot of whole or 1/2 chickens in 1/2 gallon jars.. does anyone else do this and what kind of luck have you had?


I hope others aren't using this dangerous canning method....

Source: National Center for Home Food Preservation

At least one canning jar manufacturer is selling half-gallon canning jars. That manufacturer has a printed note on the top that says half-gallon jars are only used for some highly acidic foods in a boiling water canner, with instructions to call a toll-free number for the instructions. When we last called, the only choices are grape juice and apple juice, as we also recommend.

The only processes that USDA, the National Center for Home Food Preservation and the University of Georgia have to recommend for half-gallon jars are for very acidic fruit juices (and juice only): Apple Juice (http://www.homefoodpreservation.com/how/can_02/apple_juice.html) and Grape Juice (http://www.homefoodpreservation.com/how/can_02/grape_juice.html). This process time is not to be used for tomato juice, for example.

There are no other research-tested processes for half-gallon jars. Boiling water processes for other foods for jars larger than those published with recipes (usually pints and/or quarts) cannot be extended by any formula to a larger jar.

We are aware that there are historical recommendations for canning foods in half-gallon jars. However, these are not currently accepted or endorsed by the USDA, Cooperative Extension System or U.S. manufacturers of home canning jars.

-Karen

[flourgirl]

Chicken has to be pressure cooked. Pressure canning in half gallon jars is not recommended. I use half gallon jars to vacuum seal things like dried fruits and veggies and for making kefir.

[pcrowder]

I do alot of plain beef and chicken broth pressure canned in 1/2 gal jars and have never had a problem. I do all of my chicken meat in quarts and pints.