Canning tomato juice in 1/2 gallon jars?

[lostinthewoods]

Hello all.

I have been flirting with a new canner from Lehman's hardware. It will hold 4,,, 1/2 gallon jars. I know there is some disagreement about the safety of canning in a 1/2 gallon jar (low acid foods).. Is it safe to can something like tomato juice in a 1/2 gallon jar? I have about 20, 1/2 gallon jars and would like to use them for something productive.

Any thoughts?

lost

[Shamrock1121]

I LOVE 1/2-gallon jars and use "tons" of them for storing dry grains/seeds/beans and dehydrated apple slices and other dehydrated foods. I seal them with a FoodSaver vacuum sealer.

This is written on the Ball Wide Mouth Half-Gallon Jar box:

Home canning in half-gallon jars is limited to select high-acid foods using the boiling-water canner. To request a processing time chart for these foods which may be canned in half-gallon jars, or for questions....

1-800-240-3340 or www.freshpreserving.com

Contact them for more information concerning tomato juice. I tried the phone number but was too late since I'm in a different time zone.

Only high-acid liquids are recommended for canning in 1/2-gallon jars (using a boiling-water canner) - apple and grape juice are the only ones I know of.

At Presto's web site, they DO NOT recommend using 1/2-gallon jars in a pressure canner... http://www.gopresto.com/recipes/canning/index.php

-Karen

[sbemt456]

Growing up we had bunches of 1/2 gallon jars and we used them for tomatoes and fruit juices. I still use odd size jars for juice, the ones that are too big for the pressure canner. I remember my mother canning in 1/2 gal jars in pressure canner when I was growing up and she didnt have a problem with the food being safe to eat, never did poison us. But still I dont pressure can in them.

I also use them to store dried stuff in the pantry as you can always find a lid to fit.

stella

[lostinthewoods]

Thanks guys!

Once again, you all rock!

lost