Pantry moths
In response to the reader asking about pantry moths, please let them know that cedar will repel them. We slice young cedar tree trunks into thin discs and place these on pantry shelves, cupboards and anywhere food, dogfood or grain is stored. Our home was severely infested when we bought it and cleaning and cedar cured the problem. And it smells nice also.
Judith Enke
Rolla, Missouri
Thanks for the tip, Judith. I’m sure plenty of us will try it! — Jackie
Glass-top stove
In issue July-Aug you answered Betsy P. re canning. Why can’t she can on a stove with a glass top? I have a wood cook stove that has a glass top and now I am worried about using it for canning also.
Arlene Shako
Schoharie, New York
I’ve never heard of a wood cook stove with a glass top! Wow. That’s a first for me. The reason you shouldn’t can on a glass-topped kitchen range is that sometimes the heavy weight of the hot canner can crack the glass. That’s why manufacturers of modern glass-topped ranges advise against canning on them. — Jackie
Michelle,
I’m so glad you liked the Half-Time spoon roll recipe. We really love it too, and it’s so easy. (Pg 107 of the Pantry Cookbook).
Our next seminar will be August 17, 18 and 19th. If you can come it’d be awesome!
Jackie
All,
As glass-top stoves have cracked during canning, I can’t recommend canning on one but, as I’ve said, I know a whole lot of you folks do it and get by.
Jackie
I’ve learned from experience and reading about the glass top stoves that the contributing factor is the bottom of your canner. If you have one that has an elevated ridge on the bottom it’s OK to use. If you have one that covers the whole burner space, it is not OK to use. It’s about containing the heat in that central point. The ridged bottom canners don’t cover it all and let the heat come up and out.
I have an older (15-18? year) old glass top stove and have haved canned a few batches of meat over the last couple of years. I have the 16qt Presto canner with the smooth bottom (says on box it is for glass top stoves) so it is not the real heavy canner. I am also very careful to not slide the canner on the stove top as they scratch easily (this takes some effort with the weight of a full canner) but my stovetop continues to look nearly brand new.
I have been canning on my glass top range for the past two seasons without a problem. Sherrie in Ohio
Hi Jackie – I just wanted to take a moment to tell you how much I enjoyed meeting you and Will at the MREA Energy Fair in Custer!! You are so easy to talk to and to have just an “inth” of your knowlege…. Thank you for signing my cookbook. I have already tried several recipes and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the spoon roll recipe you recomended. I have been asked to consider switching the weekend I currently work as we will soon be having 2 new people and they are both on the other weekend. If I do and you hold another workshop on my weekend off, you can bet your bottom dollar I’ll be there.
Thank you for taking time out to talk to me – what a lovely woman you are (are you blushing yet?).
Michele
My in-laws bought a wood cook stove with a “glass” top. It’s not really glass but ceramic. When I read the manual it didn’t mention anything about canning but it did talk about not dragging pots as it may scratch. I know with a glass top stove the concern is that the glass will break because the canner is larger than the range and we actually bought a new stove that wasn’t a glass top for that reason. I’m guessing since there are no “ranges” on a wood cookstove that is not a concern.
Jackie, I LOVE your blog and hope some day to be as self-sufficient as you.
My son-in-law, who is a chef and cooks with high heat a lot of the times has had his glass top stove crack two different times. I am not sure if the brand makes a difference or not. I remember a lady who also had a “Corningware” top stove and had no problems with it. I guess what I am saying, it really depends on how you use it and perhaps the brand as well. Not sure if this will help or not.
Regarding canning on glass top stove. I had the same question and before I asked Jackie I had written to my stove manufacturer and asked the people (engineers) who designed the stove for their opinion and they also said it would be wiser not to can on it. Please remember there are different qualities of glass top stoves too. I did take Jackie’s advise and bought a professional table top one burner to can on, the metal plate was made of cast iron so it can handle the weight of the canner, about 63 dollars on Ebay. Tried a two burner from Harbor Freight Tools and it didn’t produce enough heat. A new glass top stove would have run a lot more than the cost of the one burner.
Glass Top Canning! We have a glass top cook top and can on a hotplate. It easier cause we can even use it hear the sink. On hot days in July we use it on the screened porch.
Cedar?!?! I’ll have some by tomorrow night if that will help. Mine appeared a few years ago as I burn corn for heat. I just killed a few tonight again. I’ve cleaned, pitched, frozen, sealed . . . to no avail.
Thanks I’ll give cedar a try!
I have a glass top stove too.. it came with the house when I moved in. I have been happily canning pressure canned and water bath items on it for 1.5 years now, ever since I have been in the house. I also just want to say thank you Jackie.. you inspired me to learn to pressure can because I was really afraid to try for a long time. My home canned pantry is really expanded now that I pressure can also.. and you have saved me money and taught me to have a better quality food item along the way. I use your “Growing and Canning Your Own Food” cookbook all the time. I really look forward to getting my Backwoods Home magazines for your articles and all the other interesting articles that are contributed. Keep up the great job!
I have canned a lot on my glass top range, 10 years +, no problems. And I can venison and chicken at 90 minutes. If it breaks tomorrow I will by another just like it! Beth in Ky
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